7 CRUCIAL PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS FOR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
A picture is worth 1,000 words.
It’s completely cliche, but for good reason. As much as 65 percent of the population are visual learners, which is why infographics, pictures, and videos are so powerful when it comes to marketing your nonprofit.
Keep reading to discover seven crucial photography tips for nonprofits to use today.
1. LEARN YOUR SETTINGS
With whatever camera you use, you should know how to use the settings. Whether you’re working with a fancy DSLR or an iPhone, take time to learn how exposure works and how to turn on the grids.
If the camera that you’re using has the ability to shoot in manual, aperture priority, or shutter priority, you should absolutely learn how to use these. Having a working knowledge of how shutter, aperture, and ISO work together will allow you to capture beautiful pictures in any condition.
2. SPEND MONEY ON SKILL NOT GEAR
One of the biggest mistakes that nonprofits make is spending thousands on expensive camera gear, from fancy camera bodies and lenses to tripods that never get used. Instead of buying the gear, spend your budget on educational tools.
Online photography classes will be far more effective than purchasing a fancy camera that you have no idea how to use. Odds are, you know someone with the latest and greatest iPhone, so task them with taking an online photography course and then using their mobile phone to take some shots. Unless you’re planning on blowing the image up to the size of a billboard, the quality of a phone shot should be just fine.
3. LEARN BASIC PHOTOGRAPHY RULES
There are a few basic rules of photography that are a great place to start.
The rule of thirds, says that you should use the grid on your camera (2 vertical lines and 2 horizontal lines to create 9 boxes), to position your subject in a third of the frame. So, for example, if you’re shooting images of a fundraising event and you want to capture an image of someone handing out raffle tickets, you should position that person in a third of the frame, not the center.
If you’re shooting a landscape image that features a building that is longer horizontally than it is vertically, put the building in 2/3 of the frame and try leaving the sky in 1/3 of the frame, using the guidelines to help you position. You can always switch these (2/3 sky and 1/3 for the building) to give a completely different feel to the image.
This is a small action that distinguishes professional photographers from amateurs. Once you’re comfortable with using the rule of thirds, try breaking it to see what you come up with.
4. DON’T RELY ON CROPPING
Often, amateur photographers will avoid getting close to their subject and will rely on post-processing techniques to get the image they really want.
You should always try to shoot what you want in-camera, and only ever make small cropping adjustments if necessary.
As a photographer, you can’t be afraid to get into the action. The most powerful shots that you’ll take for your nonprofit won’t be from far away with a telephoto lens from behind a bush, they’ll be the ones where you’re in on the action. The viewer wants to be transported and to make that happen, you need to be up close and personal.
5. CONVEY EMOTION
Just as the viewer wants be transported into the action, they also want to feel something. If you’re raising money for a charity and you’re shooting photos to use with the call for donations, capture the eyes and faces of the people or animals that are being helped.
Think about how your position, as the photographer, can convey different emotions as well. Are you standing above and looking down on someone? Are you face to face or are you looking up? Each of these different positions creates a different sense of emotion and need to be carefully considered.
6. TELL A STORY
Above all, in order to create photos that are successful for nonprofit marketing, you need to tell a story. With nonprofit marketing, it’s likely that you’re either looking for donations or for volunteers, and telling a story can help you get these.
You want the viewer of the photo to see and feel that they are the hero in the story, the person that saves the day. Your call to action will direct behavior, but a powerful photograph is the way to get people to take those actions.
7. HIRE A PROFESSIONAL
As much as everyone with a smartphone likes to think that they’re a professional photographer, powerful photography is a skill that takes years to learn. Hiring a professional photographer with experience working with nonprofits such as educational facilities might be expensive, but you’ll get so much more value.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN HIRING A PROFESSIONAL
When looking to hire a professional photographer for your nonprofit photography campaign, it’s important to look for someone who has experience in the field.
Although a photographer might have ten years of experience and shoot the most beautiful wedding photos, those skills don’t necessarily convert to the lifestyle shoots that are common among nonprofits.
The photography services provided should already be tailored to what you’re looking for and the portfolio should resonate with the style that your campaign will be in.
USE THESE PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS FOR NONPROFITS TODAY
Now that you know these seven photography tips for nonprofits, put them to practice! The best way to learn is by doing, so grab your camera or phone, and go practice around town or with your family.
If you’ve already got enough on your plate, contact us today to learn more about how we can help you create personal and beautiful photos for your campaign.