I’ve had a “fancy” camera for almost 3 years now. I don’t know if I just thought I would become an instant photographer when I got the right equipment or what, but it hasn’t happened. Some photos are great, but other times I really struggle.
Can you relate?
Your social media pages for your school are all about the pictures, and there is a true art to capturing a photo that can tell a story! With so many great stories to tell from your school, we need to get better. But where do you start?
I’m no expert – as I said in the opening paragraph – so I asked Christina Beam, Marketing and Communications Specialist for the School District of Baraboo to share a few tips. She’s actually a professional photographer, so it is amazing to view the photographs she snaps at her school. Her top 3 tips are:
- Get in on the ground level. Getting great photos of children means a willingness to be on their level and engage in what they’re doing. For example, when taking photos of students working at desks, don’t stand above them and get photos that mostly show the tops of their heads; crouch down so you can capture expressions that show concentration and the moment of understanding. If kids are working together on the floor, sit down or lie down alongside them. Give your viewers the feeling of being right there with the subjects, and your images will have so much more impact.
- Keep it tight. Be conscientious about how you compose your images and do not allow anything in the frame that doesn’t contribute to making it a great photo. Get close to your subjects so that they take up more of the photo, and crop out elements that distract the viewer, like classroom clutter or bystanders who aren’t part of the story you’re trying to tell.
- Wait for the decisive moment. The difference between a strong photo and a great photo is whether or not it shows a moment that tells a story. A student and a teacher working next to each other while both are looking at a student’s paper could be a strong image. But when the student finally “gets” what is being taught, looks up in excitement and pride at the teacher, and the teacher mirrors that expression back to her — that is a decisive moment that tells a story, the story of what education is all about. Be patient and observant and hold on for the great photo that really tells a story.
Brilliant yet easy tips, aren’t they? This is one article that you should pass on to anyone involved in taking photographs that are used on your social media pages!
If you’d like even more insight to visual storytelling, there is a recorded webinar on this topic that can be accessed by members only. If you are interested in joining us, learn more here!
