SAY CHEESE

If your customers come from close by, your reputation within the local community is going to be important to you and the local papers are a great place to start.  I know I have already done a blog post on the best way of generating coverage but I thought I would devote one just on photography as I think it deserves it!

And for me it is topical because having secured a fantastic profile piece in the business pages of the local paper for a retail client of mine, the paper sent round a photographer and my client refused to be in the shot.  She decided that the shot she wanted was just of the shop front.  Naturally the paper had written the piece about her great entrepreneurial spirit and without a shot of her the feature did not make sense.  Needless to say they didn’t run with it.  So it was also a great lesson for me in never leaving a client’s side once the press arrive.

Anyway,  it started me thinking about press shots and having worked as a journalist on local newspapers I have been on the receiving end of many terrible photos submitted with the sure fire expectation that they will be dominating page three or five in next week’s edition.  Sadly the great majority went on the spike but not because the story wasn’t good enough but because the photograph wasn’t.

So to maximise your chances of your story getting in, support it with a great photo and here are some crucial dos and don’ts:

PEOPLE, PEOPLE, PEOPLE

Papers are about people so make sure there are some in the shot.  But be choosy, readers need to see who the people are so don’t stuff it full so everyone is just a tiny spec.  Two or three is the perfect number but try not to go over six.  And always remember to add the names of the people in the shot.

READY FOR YOUR CLOSE UP

This leads on from the last point about being able to see the people in the photo.  Get nice and tight in to the top half of your subject.  Unless the story is about doing a marathon in huge clown shoes, the most interesting thing about the photograph is the people’s faces so don’t stand way back and get a full length shot.  Head and shoulders is great, but never further than the waist if you can help it.

CONTRIVED IS GOOD

If the story is about raising money, handing over a cheque or includes the subject showing something you will need to get them to hold it as close to their faces as possible.  I once did a shot for a restaurant running a chocolate morning for children.  I chose two children, asked them to kneel down at the table really close to the bowls of chocolate and asked them to pop marshmallows in their mouths.  Although it felt a bit awkward for the kids to be squashed down, the shot looked great and make the front page.

DO SOMETHING

Unless it is handing over a cheque sometimes the photograph might not be obvious and you will need to be creative which isn’t always easy.  Getting the people in the shot to be doing something to illustrate the story will help your chances of it getting picked.  For instance another client of mine runs an activity club for pre-school children and was running a healthy eating week offering fruit to the kids after the session.  Rather than just a couple of kids standing by a fruit bowl I asked one to hold up plums for his eyes and the other to hold up a banana for a smiley mouth.  It was such a cute shot and made the paper.

BE HAPPY

For heaven’s sake smile!  In most instances the story will be a happy one:  a new contract, a new position, a sponsorship, raising money for charity so make sure the people in the photo at least look like they are pleased to be there.

Good luck and don’t forget to let me know how you get on through the blog comments of via email: lindsay@redyellowblue.biz.  Don’t forget to visit our website:  www.redyellowblue.biz.

Lindsay