Photography for Social Media: Tips for Austin Businesses

I’ve spent the last few years lugging cameras—from my Sony α7R V to a pocket-sized RX100—around every corner of Austin. From the neon glow of 6th Street at 2 a.m. to the burnt-orange sunrise over the Pennybacker Bridge, I’ve learned (sometimes the hard way) what plays on social and what sinks without a trace. Below are the lessons I keep returning to when I’m shooting content for local brands—woven with a few stories from the field.

Know Your Audience & the Algorithm
Back when I shot a product-launch teaser for a South Congress coffee start-up, we framed everything for Instagram Reels first, even though the client was convinced “static posts still do fine.” After we trimmed the hero shot to a 9:16 aspect ratio, added closed-captioned hooks, and posted at 8 a.m. (right when Austin’s morning-commuter scroll begins), the Reel hit 21 k views—six times the engagement of their previous square posts. Moral: start with the platform you care about most, then adapt downward.

Plan a Visual Story Arc
A single gorgeous image can stop the scroll, but a mini-series keeps viewers around. For a non-profit gala at The Line Hotel, I storyboarded five shots: behind-the-scenes setup, volunteer portraits, keynote hero frame, guest reaction, and a closing detail of the brand-color floral wall. Posting them over three days let followers “attend” the event virtually and drove 18 % more donations versus a one-and-done highlight reel the year before. Sketch that sequence before you ever uncap a lens—it’ll save you frantic late-night edits.

Leverage Austin’s Built-In Backdrops
Personal favorite: the teal-and-orange contrast of the “You’re My Butter Half” mural east of I-35. I once placed a boutique-candle brand’s product on a small acrylic pedestal in front of that mural; the colors matched their label perfectly and made the carousel post feel purpose-built. Scout murals, parks, rooftop bars, and industrial corridors ahead of time. A quick pre-sunrise drive can gift you powder-pink skies over Lady Bird Lake—ideal for wide hero shots before tourists flood the boardwalk.

Light Like a Local
Austin sun is punishing by 10 a.m. Eight months ago I filmed a tech-hardware demo on the shaded side of The Domain’s Northside lawn while the client’s handheld phone team baked in direct sun across the street. My clips needed one LUT; theirs needed frantic recovery in Lightroom. If you must shoot midday, bring a scrim or find open shade under live-oaks. For golden-hour stunners, aim for 40 minutes before sunset (check the Sun Tracker app—trust me, clouds off the Colorado River can steal light faster than you expect).

Optimize for Each Platform Without Losing Cohesion
One trick: capture a 24 MP frame for Facebook/LinkedIn, then punch in 4K video grabs for TikTok cutaways. During ACL Fest last year I filmed a sponsor’s booth visit in 60 fps for Reels, then exported a single still at 4,200 × 2,360 px to headline their LinkedIn case study. Same session, two deliverables, perfectly on-brand.

Maintain a Consistent Color Palette
I pulled brand swatches into Lightroom as custom profiles for a local solar-panel installer. Every grid tile now features the same deep blues and warm yellows, echoing their logo. The feed reads cohesive at a glance—critical when prospective clients decide in three seconds whether to click “follow.”

Show the Human Side
Audiences love seeing how the sausage is made. I’ll often hand my second shooter an iPhone 15 Pro and ask her to film me rigging lights or balancing a gimbal. Those shaky, authentic seconds—paired with a quick text overlay—regularly earn more shares than the polished hero clip. People buy from humans, not faceless brands.

• Gear Quick Hits (What’s in My Bag for Social Shoots)

  • Sony α7R V set to 4K 60 fps, S-Cinetone profile for minimal color grading

  • 24-70 mm f/2.8 GM II (versatile enough for product flats and street candids)

  • DJI RS 4 gimbal for silky Reels walk-throughs

  • A collapsible 5-in-1 reflector/scrim (Texas sun insurance)

  • Rode Wireless PRO mics—clean audio is 50 % of a good Reel

  • Peak Design clutch for rapid handheld angles in crowded venues

  Collaborate & Cross-Tag
  When I tagged @AustinEastciders in a BTS clip from their taproom shoot, they reposted it to 67 k followers within an hour. The client gained 340 new followers overnight, and I booked two additional beverage shoots the same week. Always list partner handles ahead of time so you don’t forget to tag.

  Track, Learn, Adjust
  I keep a shared Google Sheet logging post date, time, format, reach, saves, and clicks for every client. Over a quarter, patterns emerge—like Friday lunch-hour posts crushing Thursday evenings for B2B SaaS brands. Data guides art; don’t fly blind.

Final Frame

Austin’s creative pulse—murals, music, tech, tacos—gives every business a head start on eye-catching visuals. Pair that backdrop with thoughtful storytelling, platform-specific framing, and a dash of behind-the-lens personality, and you’ll turn casual scrollers into loyal fans (and paying customers). If you need a hand shaping your next shoot—or just want to talk shop over an espresso at Figure 8—drop me a line. Your brand’s next viral image might be one sunrise session away.