Here is my last blog posting in a series of three. For this post I will focus on the importance of choosing the proper images for your website.
Choosing The Proper Image
Just because you have taken a photo for your website, doesn’t mean you should use it on your website.
This statement is particularly important if your website contains images from a fundraiser, a benefit concert, a game or tournament, an open house, or a charity event. During these types of functions a lot of candid photographs are often taken.
A candid photograph is a photo that is taken without any direction or guidance given to the subject; most of the time the subject doesn’t even know that their photo is being taken.
As a side note, I LOVE candid photography. I love the purity of the moment and how genuine people look in this style of photography. People don’t always look happy or “proper” in a candid photo. That is partly why I like it so much.
Candid photography can also capture some very awkward and flat out embarrassing facial expressions and body language.
If you hire a professional photographer for your event who specializes in candid and/or photojournalistic photography, you won’t have to worry about awkward and unflattering photos. They will know what to look for in a great shot and will be quick to capture it.
If you have to either photograph an event on your own or choose from varies photos that were taken by others, you need to be very mindful and picky about the photos that you choose to add to your website.
Keep the following things in mind:
Eating: Do not photograph people when they’re eating and do not include photographs of people when their mouths are full. No one looks good when they’re eating (regardless of what the yogurt commercials will try to make you believe).
Speaking: Be aware of your timing when you are photographing a speaker. Try to photograph them when they are smiling during a pause in their speech or even if they aren’t smiling, during a break. Try not to photograph them in the middle of a sentence. People look very awkward when they are captured in the middle of a sentence. Try this. Go to a mirror and say, “Thank you very much everyone”. Stop on the “v” of “very”. Look at your mouth. Is that a flattering look? Nope.
Mingling: Include photos of people when they look happy or interested in the conversation. Don’t include photos of people if they look bored or distracted. If you use photos of people who look this way it will look as though your event was boring and that people wish they were somewhere else.
View: Try to get a head on shot of your subject. If you can’t, try to photograph their profile (the side of their face/body). Do not include the back of someone’s head/body.
I recognize and appreciate that people may want to include a photo of everyone who was at their function. However, if you are including a photo of everyone and half of the photos are not very becoming or are embarrassing, you’ll be doing yourself (and your subject) a dis-service. If you must include a photo of everyone at an event, organize a group photo.
Once again, I must say that the images used on your website will reflect the quality, attention to detail, professionalism and service that your company provides. Website images should not be dismissed and taken lightly. I hope that these postings have been helpful. Feel free to add a comment if you have any tips for great website photography!
