Let’s talk about one of the most powerful and effective types of images you can use for your brand’s PR: cut-out imagery. If you’re not familiar with cut-out imagery, or how it can help you get more media coverage and customer engagement, you’re in the right place.
Cut-out images, also known as deep-etched images, are a type of product photography where the background is removed, leaving only the product itself in the frame. Having good quality images easily available to journalists is essential for any brand that wants to secure more press coverage in both print and digital publications. In fact, cut-out images on a crisp white background tend to be the more popular image type on Press Loft (accounting for 60% of downloads).
In this post, we’ll explain why cut-out imagery is the go-to for many journalists when it comes to their features, as well as how you can create and use it to boost your brand’s PR.
Why media need cut-out imagery
Journalists are constantly searching for the perfect images to compliment their upcoming features, and cut-out images often play an essential role. Here are some of the reasons why cut-out imagery is in such high demand (and why you need it for your brand’s PR):
- It saves valuable time: Media members appreciate receiving cut-out images that are ready to use. They don’t have to waste time and resources on editing the background themselves, so this lets them concentrate on what they do best – creating and sharing content about your brand.
- It puts your product in the spotlight: With the background removed, your product becomes the main attraction and the focal point of the image.
- It’s more flexible than lifestyle imagery: Cut-out imagery can be utilised for so many types of content (for both brands and media), and provides far more flexibility with regards to the layout of gift guides and articles compared to lifestyle imagery.
- It helps your brand stand out from the crowd: With so many brands competing for media coverage, you need to do everything you can to stand out. Providing media with high-quality lifestyle and cut-out images demonstrates that you’re a professional brand that cares about your image and product presentation. If you only offer lifestyle images, you run the risk of losing out on potential coverage as journalists may simply choose someone else’s cut-out product instead.
How to create cut-out imagery
Now that you know why cut-out imagery is essential for your brand’s PR, you might be wondering how to create it. There are two main options: you can do it yourself or you can hire a professional service.
If you want to do it yourself, you will need some basic tools and skills:
- You will need to have good quality and up to date product images, preferably taken with a plain background and good lighting.
- You will also need a photo editing tool that can remove the background and create a transparent or white background. There are many online tools and software options that can help you with this, such as Clipping Magic, Canva, or Adobe’s Background Remover. These tools are easy to use and affordable, but they may not always produce the best results for complex or detailed products.
If you want to hire a professional service, you will need to find a reputable and experienced product photography studio that specialises in deep etched imagery. There are many advantages to hiring a professional service, such as:
- You will get high-quality, consistent, and accurate images that match your brand’s style and standards.
- You will save time and hassle, as you won’t have to take the photos yourself or edit them afterwards.
- You will get access to expert advice and guidance on how to best showcase your products and use the images for your PR purposes.
- You will get more options and flexibility, as you can choose from different angles, perspectives, and effects for your images. You can also request lifestyle images to complement your deep etched images, or work with hand models to effectively capture your product.
There are so many professional product photography services available in the UK, such as Poco ImageWork, Lux Studio London, or Uniq Studios. These studios have world-class equipment, facilities, and photographers that can produce perfect product images with white backgrounds for your brand.
How to use cut-out imagery as part of your PR
Once you have your deep etched imagery ready, you need to use it effectively for your PR. Here are some tips on how to do that:
- Upload your images to Press Loft, a platform that connects brands with a growing network of journalists, bloggers and influencers. Press Loft allows you to easily share your images with media members who are looking for products to feature in their stories and articles. You can also track the results of your PR efforts with Press Loft’s download and coverage reports.
- Send your images with your press releases and pitches to media outlets that are relevant to your brand and product (or you can simply submit images for consideration in response to requests submitted by our media members). Make sure to include a link to your Press Loft profile or website if you’re doing traditional outreach so they can download the images in high resolution. Also, make sure to follow up with the media contacts and offer them any additional information or assistance they may need.
- Use your images for your own marketing and promotional channels, such as your website, social media, email newsletters, and blog. This will help you create a consistent and professional image for your brand and product, and drive more traffic and conversions to your online store.
Cut-out imagery is a powerful tool that can help you boost your brand’s PR and exposure. By providing media outlets with the images they need, you’ll increase your chances of getting featured and reaching new audiences tenfold!
What is Press Loft?
Press Loft www.pressloft.com is a PR platform specialising in the home, gift, and lifestyle sectors that helps thousands of brands to get their products into the press.
Their PR tools allow companies to easily secure press coverage and quality backlinks for SEO by connecting with their network of 26,000+ journalists, bloggers, and influencers.
If you are looking to get your products featured in the press, Press Loft offers a 60-day free trial (only available to new customers).
