patrick_schneider

Can employee photos help reverse manufacturing's stigma?

Tue, 02 Jun 2020 15:33:48 GMT

What happens when employees become the face of manufacturing?

Jobs in manufacturing are growing a double-digit rates, and millions of these positions remain unfilled. One reason: Manufacturing's negative image among young people. What used to be considered a great job and safe career path now carries stigma.

In response, HR professionals and talent acquisition teams are taking more-creative approaches to attract workers into manufacturing jobs. High on their action list is overcoming an industry image problem in which Generation Y job prospects age 19 to 33 ranked manufacturing as their last possible career choice.

What are they doing? Creating storytelling photography that's focused on showing the human side of industry and letting current employees be the face and ambassadors of the company brand. These companies are taking photos of younger employees doing rewarding work in interesting environments. Then they're using these images in strategic communications and employee recruitment campaigns. After all, what good is a carefully planned facility open house or fast-track training program if your audience won't show up?

Generation Y is a visual, social-media driven generation. Seeing themselves working in your operations can entice job prospects toward a career in manufacturing and heavy industry, and create images of an attractive work environment they can proudly show their family and friends.

Are you finding it hard to attract talent to your industry? Have you tried using a visual, human-centric talent acquisition strategy to bring new workers to your doors? We'd like to hear what's working for you.

The hidden value of photographing incentive reward trips

Tue, 12 May 2020 12:52:47 GMT

Years ago I would scratch my head when clients hired me to photograph the annual incentive rewards trips for their top performing employees. Beyond giving trip participants beautiful photos of themself enjoying luxury accommodations in a spectacularly gorgeous location, I figured the images had otherwise limited use. I mean, wouldn't using my images in communications be like pouring salt in the non-attendees' wounds?

Then one of my clients educated me on how badly I was wrong.

The valuable lure of appealing rewards

Corporate incentive trips help organizations drive success by showing top-performing employees they're important and appreciated. Beyond that, an appealing rewards package can attract top talent to your company, keep high performers from jumping ship, and motivate everyone to go the extra mile.

Putting your money where your mouth is

It's one thing to say you value hard work. It's another thing to spend tens of thousands of dollars taking employees on trips they otherwise might not consider taking. Not only will the photos be cherished by the employees in them, the images also will inspire and motivate their colleagues who see the photos. Incentive travel has the power to boost employee morale, build bonds among team members, encourage loyalty and drive productivity.

After all, wouldn't employees be more likely to put in the effort once they see the size and excitement of the carrot they're chasing?

Compelling photos need people

Tue, 28 Apr 2020 15:20:19 GMT

Even as secondary elements, there's power in people

Maybe I'm just biased from my days making pictures for major metro newspapers like the Charlotte Observer, Indianapolis Star, Detroit News, or the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. I believe -- actually, I know -- your corporate marketing or employee recruitment photographs should include people to capture audience attention.

Am I saying people must be front and center on your screen? Heck no. Sometimes a person's shadow or silhouette works better to frame the story you want to tell (just check out the silhouetted shape of a lab researcher in the image above). But here's why having that human element is important to your visual assets: People give context, scale, demonstration and significance. Even more importantly, they make viewers curious... and interested.

In today's quick-scrolling environment, your corporate photography must make people stop just to begin hearing what you want to say. So remember to keep people in front of your camera if you want your photographs to connect.