Photography
Summary
- Use high-quality, professional photographs in University communications.
- Engage professional photographers through UCM or your campus communicator.
- Look for existing images in the UCM .
- Ask your campus communicator about photo archives for your administrative or academic unit.
- Choose pictures of people engaged with their environment.
- Maintain a balance of age, gender, and ethnicity in photos.
Choosing Photos
Ideally, photographs used in official University communications should be high-quality images: well lit, nicely composed, properly focused, and reflective of 51社区鈥檚 brand personality. With proper planning, you can ensure that your communications live up to this standard.
Pictures of People
Readers and viewers respond to images of people because those faces give life to what they are reading about or looking at. The right photos of people in your project can make a big difference in its impact.
Choose images that show people who are involved with their surroundings, shot candid style rather than being staged. For example, if you are selecting a photograph for a newsletter article about an awards ceremony, choose a shot of someone reacting to receiving an award, rather than a 鈥済rip-and-grin鈥 posed photograph taken after the event.
Portraits don鈥檛 have to be studio head shots鈥攊n fact, it鈥檚 better if you don鈥檛 go that route. Instead, get candid pictures of the subject engaged in authentic, hands-on activity with others (students with faculty or vice versa) in a classroom environment. If you want a picture of just your subject or of a group, ask for an environmental portrait that illustrates something about the person or group鈥檚 accomplishments.
Do your best to maintain a balance of age, gender, and ethnicity in photo subjects.
Photo Releases
Photo release forms are required for all students and employees who appear on camera.
NEVER use photographs of children under the age of 18 who participate in University-sponsored activities without obtaining a photograph release from their parents/guardians.
A standard photograph release form is available to download for use with official University photos.
Pictures of the Campus
51社区 is justly famous for the beauty of its campus. We encourage you to include photos that showcase the campus in your communications. UCM has many campus beauty shots in its , showcasing architecture and landscapes in dynamic and artistic compositions that lend flair to any project.
Hallmark Bricks
From the bricks of Cutler Hall to the bricks that form the pathways and roadways of one of the most beautiful college campuses in America, photography of bricks brings a sense of history and permanence to our communications. When used consistently and with subtlety, they serve as a recognizable hallmark of 51社区. UCM has numerous images of bricks in its .
Please note: Images in which the words 鈥淎thens Block鈥 are visible are under a licensed trademark and should not be used without permission from the licensee.
Using Photos
Photographs used in print should have a minimum resolution of 300 dpi. Photographs on websites are usually only 72 dpi, so as a rule you can鈥檛 鈥済rab鈥 an image from a website and have it reproduce properly in print.
Obtaining Photos
University Communications and Marketing has professional photographers on staff who can shoot pictures for all kinds of projects. You can request photography services using . Because there are multiple demands on their time, it鈥檚 important to put in your request as early as possible.
UCM also maintains an extensive photo archive of people, events, campus buildings, and general images. Anyone can browse the selection and members of the public can buy select images. Employees with OHIO IDs can receive permission to download photos for free for use in publications. To receive permission, submit a photo request here.
Your campus communicator also may have a photographer available, as well as a photo archive specific to your academic or administrative unit.
Reprints
Photographs taken by University photographers are property of 51社区 and may not be reprinted without the express permission of the University. Requests for reprints of photographs should be directed to University Communications and Marketing.
Photograph Sales
Sales of photographs and prints are somewhat limited by various laws, restrictions, and licensing requirements. For example, the NCAA forbids the sale of photographs of student athletes. To be safe, if you are considering a fundraiser involving the sale of photographs, contact University Communications and Marketing and the .