Let’s Talk Advertising for Small Businesses

Helping Monterey business After Hour Plumbing & Drain with branding photography

I recently had the team from After Hour Plumbing & Drain visit, and the shots we took were specifically for an ad they were creating for the local Carmel Pine Cone newspaper.

The whole thing here is that, yes, you need images for your website and social, but what’s often not talked about these days is how useful these same images can be for creating ads in local community newspapers.

While community news has had its challenges and continues when you look at the recent closure of KION and Telemundo 23 here in Monterey County.,, However, I believe community news still has a place for small businesses, and whether it's through newspapers or TV, both can help you reach your target audience. That’s why it’s critical to have a collection of high-quality photos of your company in action. Case in point: After Hour Plumbing & Drain needed these images to showcase their team so they could use them in the local paper. The owner, Cedric Johnson, wanted a set of images that really showed off his team.

“We wanted photos that show the people behind the name,” Cedric said. “Our goal’s always been simple—treat the customers right and go above, and beyond for them.”

At the end of the shoot, that’s exactly what we accomplished—bringing the team to the forefront and really showing their personality. And the final product? Well, it turned out great! (See below.) Cedric sent me a copy of the final ad, and it’s now running in the paper. Mission accomplished.

Most people think branding photography is just for your website or social media, but these kinds of ads still reach loyal readers who care about their neighborhoods and the people who serve them. I mean, those are the people who actually pick up the phone when they see a business they trust.

In this case, the ad was a thank you to the community for voting them Best Plumbers three years in a row—2023, 2024, and 2025. It also served as a reminder that the company is here to help, no matter the time of day.

As Cedric told me later, “We always believe in delivering our best. Having amazing photos of the team just helps people feel that before they even pick up the phone.”

I’m glad we could work with the team and get them what they needed. It’s been a great project, and I know the ad will help build familiarity and trust.

Why? Well, we’ve seen it with so many of our clients. There’s a reason for that old phrase: a picture tells a thousand words. It can really communicate the right message at the right time.

Get in touch if you’re a small business looking for the best photos for local community advertisements.

We’d be happy to help.