Image quality matters (a lot more than you think)

Do you see the difference between the two photos below? Can you explain what that difference is? Is it a big difference? A small difference? Color? Lighting? Quality, perhaps?

Here's the difference:

• The left photo was taken with an iPhone, which creates a pretty high quality image when compared to point-and-shoot cameras, flip phones, or even disposable cameras from 5-10 years ago. iPhones are also not cheap - I paid $200 for this iPhone 6 two years ago. Now they're even more expensive.
• The right photo was taken with a DSLR camera - a Canon 70D with a Tamron 90mm prime lens. This creates a higher quality image than an iPhone - and reasonably so, since the camera + lens = nearly $2,000. (Not to mention the value of my time considering I had to learn how to use these tools.)

I share this example because I had a conversation with a client recently. It was my job to find models for a photoshoot we were planning. I sent photos to my client and asked for her to choose her 5 favorite models out of the roughly 10 photos I sent. (Photos were shared by the models - some were professional and some were not.) 

My client's response: "Just based on the quality of the pictures (because I had to choose somehow), let's go with these five models." ... which means she chose models for a shoot based on image quality alone. Imagine how people are choosing which products to buy, which restaurants to try, or even which stores to visit.

Image quality matters. Photography is compelling.

Happy Friday!
Autumn