How crucial are stock photos to your club’s website? In the past few months I’ve noticed the presence of more and more stock images comprising the majority of photographs on club websites. In fact, I even stumbled upon a club’s site last week that had a photo section comprised of 100 percent stock photos. There wasn’t a single photo of the inside of the club, members or employees.
It never crossed my mind that a fitness club might use stock images. Why would it? Stock images, in my opinion, are used when all other options have been exhausted. In a club, there are members and employees everywhere that are using equipment and participating in classes.
Fact — not all your members or employees will want to have their pictures taken and blasted onto your website. However, it would be naïve to believe that at least a few wouldn’t be willing to participate in a quick photo opp.
If you don’t feel comfortable asking a member if you can take a photo of them while they’re exercising, use one of your trainers, or another employee, when they come in to exercise. If you don’t want to photograph trainers with clients, use one of your trainers, in their uniform, training another employee in workout clothes.
What’s important is to convey the true nature of your facility, and its people, to potential members and employees. You can’t do that by filling photo galleries with stock photos, no matter how good they may look.
Although, now you’re asking where you might find a photographer? It might not be as difficult as it seems. I’ve been finding at least 12 photographers a year for the last four years to do photography and video sessions. It’s not hard, but it might take a few minutes of your time. But, if you’re not willing to browse your local market for a photographer, use your design skills and create an advertisement for your front desk looking for a photographer. You might luck out and find a member that has a background in photography or photojournalism.
Additionally, if you’re savvy enough, you might be able to sway the photographer to do one shoot for you for a free membership for a year. Would one membership be worth having exclusive photos for your club’s website and future marketing projects?
Tyler Montgomery is the editor of Club Solutions Magazine. Contact him at tyler@clubsolutionsmagazine.com.
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Rachel Zabonick-Chonko is the editor-in-chief of Club Solutions Magazine. She can be reached at rachel@peakemedia.com.
