Photography

Whether for portraits or documenting an event, anyone can take great photos. Here are a few tips for getting great images that can be used to promote your department or the university on your web page, Facebook page, publications or in the media.

• Think about where you plan to use your photo before you start snapping away. If there is a specific purpose for why you are taking your photo, understand how it will fit in the space you need. If you are not sure about how you will use your photo, then get as many different variations of your subject as possible. This will give you a number of options when you decide to use your photo either online or in print. Also, try not to limit the edges of your photo to exactly what you need when taking the picture. Using image editing software, it is better to crop your photo afterwards.
• If you are staging a photo, be sure to direct your subject. If you are trying to get a specific photo, most times, the people in the photo won’t know what you want until you tell them. Whether you are taking a photo of an individual or a large group, figure out the balance you need for the image and that all faces are visible to you. In a large group, if someone can’t see you, you won’t see them in your picture.
• Think about your background and not just your subject. Whether posing a subject or photographing candid moments at an event, think about what is in your background. The colors of a wall may be distracting or a large flower arrangement may have stems coming from your subject’s head. As the photographer, you can make small adjustments either moving left, right, up or down to improve the background.
• When taking a candid photo, be patient and try not to distract your subject. If a person knows they are being photographed, the natural expressions on their face may be replaced with discomfort. Try to keep enough distance that they either don’t notice you or they don’t feel like they are the only one being photographed.

There are hundreds of tips for taking great photos that can be found online. But the best way to learn is through practice. Play with your camera so that you are comfortable with its features and you can easily make changes to get your best quality image. Keep your camera handy because you never know when a great time to practice may become available.

Charmaine Schmermund
Assistant Director of Public Relations
Southern Miss Gulf Coast