The Value of a Custom Photo Shoot for eLearning: When Stock Photos Aren’t Enough

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In eLearning, the images we choose matter just as much as the words we use. Photos help bring learning to life, make it more relatable, and keep learners engaged. But sometimes, stock photos don’t quite measure up - they can feel forced, off topic, unrelatable, or simply not realistic enough to get the intended message across. 

That’s where a custom photo shoot comes in.

While stock images are quick and easy to use, it can be difficult to find imagery that accurately represents more specific training topics. A custom photo shoot provides the opportunity to create images that are true to the audience and message, adding authenticity to the learning experience.

Let's talk about why investing in custom photography can make a big difference in your eLearning course and how you can make it happen.

Why a Custom Photo Shoot?

Building Your Own Image Library

One of the biggest advantages of a custom photo shoot is creating your own in-house library of images. Rather than continually purchasing stock imagery, you’ll have access to a collection of photos designed specifically for your organization, audience, and training needs. This consistency will strengthen and elevate your brand, avoiding the mismatched look that comes with pulling stock from different sources.

Photos That Fit Perfectly into Your Course 

When we plan a custom photo shoot, we can get specific about what we need. For example, we can create wide shots with plenty of negative space around the main subject, making it easier to add text, graphics, or buttons directly on the image without overcrowding.  Controlling angles, lighting, and scenery helps us avoid the frustration of trying to crop or resize awkward stock photos.

Authenticity Matters

Stock photos can sometimes look too staged or generic, which makes them feel out of place, especially if your training covers unique or serious topics. With a custom shoot, we can capture real, authentic images that reflect the situations your learners will actually face.

For example, we can accurately capture details of uniforms or dress codes that relate to a specific industry. It also helps us keep inclusion in mind, ensuring that the actors and settings better represent the intended audience. This kind of attention to detail builds trust and makes the learning experience more engaging. Learners are more likely to connect with the material when the images feel real and relevant to their lives.

How to Plan a Successful Photo Shoot

Write a Creative Brief

A creative brief is the perfect starting point for any custom photo shoot because it lays out exactly what you need to capture and why. It helps ensure the photos align with your training goals, audience, and style, so everyone is on the same page before the camera even comes out. A creative brief for a custom photo shoot can include the following sections: 

1. Project Overview – A high-level summary of the training project, its purpose, and the role of the photography within the content.
2. Objectives – Specific goals the photo shoot aims to achieve, such as visually demonstrating key processes, behaviors, or skills.
3. Target Audience – Details about the learners, including demographics, job roles, and the learning context to ensure the photos are relevant and relatable.
4. Key Messages – The main ideas or concepts that the images should convey, such as teamwork, safety procedures, or customer service scenarios.
5. Shot List – A detailed list of specific shots needed, including actions, emotions, environments, angles, and compositions.
6. Visual Style and Tone – Guidelines for the desired aesthetic, including lighting, color palette, composition, and mood, as well as how images should align with the brand’s visual identity.
7. Setting and Location – Information about the environments where the photos will be taken, ensuring they reflect real-life scenarios relevant to the training.
8. Talent and Wardrobe – Details about who will be photographed (employees or professional models), as well as any guidelines for clothing and appearance to maintain consistency. Be sure to keep diversity top of mind so that learners can see themselves in the course.  
9. Usage and Adaptability – Instructions on how the images will be used (eLearning courses, videos, print), and whether they should leave room for text overlays or be adaptable for multiple formats.
10. Budget and Timeline – Information on the budget allocated for the shoot and the deadlines for production, editing, and final delivery.
11. References or Inspiration – Sample images, mood boards, or visual references that provide guidance on the desired look and feel of the final photos.
     

Find the Right Vendor 

Different types of photography require distinct skills and approaches, so it’s important to choose a vendor whose expertise aligns with your specific needs. For instance, a wedding photographer may excel in capturing candid moments and emotions but may not have the technical skills needed for product imagery or instructional photography.

On the other hand, photographers who specialize in corporate, commercial, or educational photography will have a keen eye for creating images that convey training concepts clearly and effectively – and bonus points if they also have eLearning design skills on staff to support in a consulting capacity on the shoot.

This consideration ensures that you hire the right professional to achieve the best results for your custom photo shoot. They can frame shots in a way that make it easy to incorporate them into the course design. Furthermore, these types of vendors may also have a talent database or be able to seamlessly cast talent for the shoot if you are not using volunteers or employees.

Case Study: Law Enforcement Training

A great example of how a custom photo shoot can transform a course comes from a series of projects we created for police officer training. The courses needed images of officers in real-world situations like traffic stops, interacting with the public, and working with their team. After searching for stock photos, we kept running into the same problem—the images felt staged and unrealistic. Some of the officers in the stock photos weren’t wearing the right uniforms, or the scenes just didn’t feel believable.

So, we partnered with our parent company, JPL, and partners at Hartman Benzon Media, who set up a custom photo shoot. We worked with real officers and staged scenarios that looked and felt authentic.  As a senior eLearning content designer who works closely with the training materials for this client, I served as an art director on the shoot. My knowledge of where stock photos fell short and the details they were lacking gave us complete creative control, from uniforms and facial expressions to the way scenes played out. The officers themselves were even able to provide suggestions to ensure their processes were accurately represented. The result? We had images that fit perfectly into the course, were easy to integrate with text, and most importantly, felt real to the officers taking the training. These custom photos helped the course feel more professional and relevant, building trust with the learners.
 

Wrapping It Up

When stock photos aren’t cutting it, a custom photo shoot is a smart solution. It gives you the power to create images that truly represent your message and audience. You’ll end up with a collection of photos that fit seamlessly into your eLearning courses, making them more engaging and authentic. And depending on the number of images you need, a custom photo shoot could be comparable in price to purchasing stock images. 

Whether it’s showing how to handle a tough customer or guiding someone through life-saving training, custom photography can make all the difference in creating meaningful learning experiences.