5 Reasons Businesses Put Off Getting New Photos & Videos (& Why They Shouldn’t)

Key Takeaways

• Most businesses delay custom photography and video for practical, human reasons—not because they don’t see the value.
• Common pushback includes time constraints, being camera shy, uncertainty around planning, and assuming existing photos are “good enough.”
• Ongoing marketing without a strong photo library often forces teams to rely on stock images, which can quietly erode trust.
• A flexible, well-planned photo and video process reduces disruption, supports real people, and gives marketing room to adapt over time.

Most businesses don’t push back on custom photography or video because they don’t see the value.

They delay it because it feels inconvenient, uncomfortable, or hard to fit into an already full schedule. The timing never feels right. The team is busy. Someone’s camera shy and hoping it can wait.

We hear these concerns all the time. They’re reasonable. But when custom photo and video stay on the back burner, they often limit what marketing efforts can realistically do.

Here are the most common objections we hear when recommending professional photography and video—and how we work through them.

“We don’t have time for a photoshoot”

Many people imagine an all-day photo or video production that shuts everything down, pulls people away from work, and adds stress to an already packed calendar. If that’s the expectation, postponing it feels like the responsible choice.

In reality, the most effective photo shoots are planned around real workdays. We focus on short, intentional windows and capture people doing what they already do. Work continues. Meetings still happen. Phones still ring.

That approach keeps operations moving and produces brand photography that feels natural—because it reflects real moments, not staged ones.

Pro tip:
If a photoshoot requires blocking off an entire day, it may be trying to do too much at once.

“I’m camera shy. I’m going to be awkward.”

Many people feel self-conscious on camera. They worry about how they look, how they sound, or how they’ll come across. That discomfort has nothing to do with marketing and everything to do with being human.

This is where environment and experience matter. Professional lighting, thoughtful framing, and a calm, unrushed setup make a bigger difference than most people expect.

We pay close attention to how people are positioned, how the space feels, and what needs to change in real time if something feels off. If someone needs a break, we pause. If a setup isn’t working, we adjust. If a take feels stiff, we reset and try again.

The goal isn’t to push through discomfort. It’s to create conditions where people can settle in.

Read: Getting Ready for Your Headshot? Do These 5 Things

“We don’t know what we’d even use the photos or video for”

Businesses often feel like they need everything mapped out before committing to professional video—exact messaging, exact placements, a locked-in plan. Without that clarity, waiting feels safer.

Our process helps clients establish a clear direction, then gives the video team room to capture more than we think we’ll need. That might include different levels of structure across videos, along with extra coverage to keep things flexible in editing.

Sometimes that structure is very light. Other times it’s more defined. The specific tools don’t matter nearly as much as using the right amount of guidance for the message and the person on camera.

The goal isn’t choosing one method. It’s choosing the right level of structure for the goal.

“We already have some photos…we can probably make those work”

Maybe you’ve got a few photos already. They’ve been used on the website, in emails, or on social media. For a while, that can seem like enough to do what you want.

Over time, though, the same images start showing up everywhere. Social posts feel repetitive. Website updates stall. Anything new leans on stock photography or filler graphics because there aren’t many other options.

Even when stock photos look polished, they create distance. People can usually tell when visuals don’t reflect the actual business they’re researching—and that hesitation adds up.

Eventually, the issue isn’t about wanting better photos. It’s about not having enough real ones to support even basic, day-to-day marketing.

“Professional photos always feel staged”

Over-posed group shots. Forced smiles. Photos that look clean but don’t feel like the business at all. If that’s your reference point, of course you’re going to be skeptical.

A good brand photographer knows that the most effective photos come from real environments and real moments. People mid-work. Spaces as they actually look. Interactions that feel familiar rather than manufactured.

The best photos don’t call attention to themselves. They just make everything else feel more believable.

Why businesses hesitate to invest in professional photography and video

Most hesitation around custom photography and video isn’t about cost. It’s about time, comfort, and uncertainty. The work isn’t to push past those concerns — it’s to plan around them and make the process manageable.

When photo and video are handled this way, they stop feeling like a disruption and start supporting the marketing that’s already happening. And if you’re actively marketing but feel limited by the visuals you have — or keep defaulting to stock photos because it’s easier — it may be worth talking it through.

We offer free marketing consultations where we’ll look at what you’re doing, what’s getting in the way, and how custom photography or video could realistically fit into your workflow. Interested? Let’s talk.