Smile Please – Get the Picture?

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Well some of the pics we receive here leave us speechless.

I always shudder when I hear people say, ‘We’ve got a great digital camera in the office, so we can take a snap of so-and-so for the website.’ Having a great digital camera does not make one a great photographer, just as having a John Bull Printing Set (whoops! showing my age!) doesn’t make one a publisher.

BUT, if you are determined to take your own pics of staff (the product one’s are not quite so bad) then please at least look at the following tips that a photographer colleague helped me put together.

1. Make sure the subject knows they are going to be photographed at a certain time so they can be prepared and we are spared the startled look.

2. Give them a minute to get into position and be comfortable. Make sure they are looking at the camera and SMILING, or at least not scowling.

3. Choose a suitable, preferably plain, light-coloured background. Cluttered notice boards, pictures, curtains or fussy wallpaper look awful in the background. Make sure there are no plants apparently growing out of the head of the subject or other objects protruding above or behind them.

4. Never photograph with glass or mirrors in the background as you will see the reflection of yourself and your flash.

5. Make sure you have good lighting. Flashes from domestic (as opposed to powerful professional) cameras are designed to augment available light, NOT to provide the light source.

6. Get close up to the subject and hold the camera still.

7. Make sure the overall composition is as good as you can make it. Some people think the overall look will be better when it’s printed, but it usually looks worse.

8. Take several shots to be on the safe side as people may blink or open their mouths at inappropriate moments. Even professionals take several shots to be on the safe side.

9. If using digital format, use the largest format available. The journal or website that is using it can always cut it down, but can’t always boost it up.

10. Send a caption identifying those in the pic – don’t leave the editor to guess who’s who.

We will be creating a Rescoure Centre on the website where previously printed and new Top 10 Tips, including this one, can be stored for reference. So, if you feel you’ve got particular expertise you’d like to share, then e-mail me with your suggestion and I’ll send you the format.

Carole Bull
Editor

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