Always Carry a Camera

I’ve said it before on this blog, a picture is worth a thousand words. That’s why I always carry a camera with me. Consider the many ways that a photograph can be useful for sales or marketing purposes.

Sometimes a customer is looking for a replacement for a malfunctioning instrument. A quick photo of the old device, e-mailed to you supplier, is a great way to make sure that the replacement will do the job. It can also be a benefit for the manufacturer to see where the part will be used. Place an object like a ruler or a coin in the photo to give scale.

From a marketing point of view, it is great to have a photo of one of your products installed and working at a customer site.

You never know when a useful photo may present itself. I was visiting a refinery when I noticed a muddy brown sky hanging over the plants smoke stacks. I had my camera handy, and caught the photo that appears at the top of this blog.

If you need a quick copy of a document, your camera can serve well in place of a scanner. And a digital photo is easy to send by e-mail. You can send a page from a manual, or technical specs, with ease.

Just a few things to keep in mind. Some companies have strict policies restricting photography in production areas. Be sure and ask permission before shooting. And keep in mind that most digital cameras are not intrinsically safe, so be careful not to use your camera in a hazardous location without a hot work permit.

The camera in your cell phone may do in a pinch, but the resolution of even an inexpensive point-and-shoot camera will be better.