Marketing and branding are closely related but distinct concepts:
Marketing involves the tactics and strategies used to promote and sell a product or service. It focuses on activities such as advertising, sales promotions, social media, and market research to drive awareness and generate sales. Essentially, marketing is about reaching potential customers and convincing them to purchase.
Branding is the process of creating and establishing a unique identity and image for a company or product. It encompasses the company's values, vision, mission, and the overall perception it wants to convey to the public. Branding involves elements like logos, color schemes, messaging, and brand voice, which collectively shape how customers perceive and connect with the brand on an emotional level.
Marketing drives awareness and sales, while branding builds a long-term identity and relationship with customers.
Think of BRANDING as the "personality" of a company, and MARKETING as the "party tricks" that help show off that personality.
Branding establishes who you are and what you stand for, while marketing is about actively promoting and showcasing those qualities to attract and engage your audience.
Professional photography typically falls into both marketing and branding, depending on its use:
MARKETING
Photography used to promote products, services, or events. For example, product shots, advertising images, and promotional photos aim to drive sales and engage potential customers.
BRANDING
Photography that helps build and reinforce a brand’s identity. This includes images that convey a brand's personality, values, and style, such as corporate portraits, lifestyle shots that align with brand messaging, and imagery used to create a consistent visual identity.
So, professional photography can play a key role in both showcasing a brand’s image (branding) and driving engagement and sales (marketing).
