Public Information - Photo Guidelines

Tips for Taking Photos                                            

• Quality Needed — Many digital cameras are not designed to take high-quality photos.  Most cameras list the resolution (quality) of photos that can be taken on the outside of the camera in terms of megapixels.  Generally speaking, a higher number of megapixels means a photo will be higher quality.  Please use a camera with photo quality of at least 2 megapixels, these will generally take pictures that can be reproduced in printed publications at a size of 3" x 5."  Many digital photos are not useable simply because they are taken with a low-resolution camera (less than 2 megapixels). Local newspapers require photos at least 250 KB. Photos cannot be used if they are under 250 KB.
  
• E-mailing Digital Photos - E-mail your images in JPG format as an attachment to your e-mail, not embedded in a Word or PowerPoint document. The resolution should be 200 dpi or greater. E-mail to bethannebradshaw@spsk12.net.
  
• Photo Captions - In the body of your e-mail, include the photo names with corresponding names and titles of photo subjects (pictured left to right) and information to be emphasized in the published photo caption, the who, what, where, when & how. Name your photo something other than MCV01.jpg change it to builders club 1.jpg, for example.
  
  
• Taking Photos
  • Hold the camera steady to reduce chance of blurring.
  • Concentrate as closely as possible on faces, action and emotions, but pay attention to the background.
  • Usually 4 or fewer people are plenty in one shot.
  • Think, "What makes this event unique and/or newsworthy?"
  • If using a digital camera with a preview feature, preview your photos on the spot to ensure that correct angles are being achieved and that light sources are sufficient.
  • Use a flash when appropriate.
  • Remind students to "ignore" the camera when taking action photos to avoid posed results.