An interesting question that often comes to mind,
especially when we come across prominent school’s websites, is that if a school
can spend so much in building a website and have dozens of strategic meetings
about it, why do they find it difficult to spend half as much money and
strength on good photographs that will suit what they have built?
In our previous post, we talked about picture moments one should never miss around the school area. We sure know it could have been envisaged that these pictures are basically photographs that can go anywhere, some school owners will even think they don’t need to pay a professional photographer since these pictures can and are already generated in-house.
We understand that it is an investment for a school to undertake to obtain this level of imagery, but the schools we work with regularly can readily see the value of what it is WE do. Every Social media and digital platform has its analytics, the kind of pictures that can go on and usually how they are being run. Spontaneous day to day pictures can go on an Instagram and twitter and maybe a Facebook sometimes, but for a Website, the pictures that should go in there should be photographs that are well defined and planned.
Every Social media and digital platform has its analytics, the kind of pictures that can go on and usually how they are being run. Spontaneous day to day pictures can go on an Instagram and twitter and maybe a Facebook sometimes, but for a Website, the pictures that should go in there should be photographs that are well defined and planned.
If you’re serious about your school’s
marketing image, this is one area where you don’t want to try to do this
yourself! Leave it to a road-tested, seasoned veteran shooter to make that
website sing! Also, remember that Photos can be used for lots of other
purposes: e-newsletters, posters around campus, any type of communication
between school and home can be augmented with great photography.
In a day and age where everyone is a photographer with their Smartphone, why is it important for a school to invest in professional photography?
A photograph is often the very first impression a school can make on its potential customer, so for a Photographer’s money, you want that impression to hit hard and hit deep on an emotional level. This digital age really has deemed each of us a photographer in our own right on some level, but we are not so sure you want to entrust your skills on a Smartphone with the job of connecting emotionally with your prospect in marketing materials!
If a school is serious about its
marketing and the impact of that marketing, they are going to want to make sure
the photography that represents that school does a great job of instantly
conveying why a parent would want their child to attend that school.”
What Standard Photos Should a School Capture?
There are certain shots that just always make great photos. Science labs, art classes, math classes, even foreign language classes all make for great shots because what is happening is easily identifiable, which solidifies the purpose of a marketing photo, to begin with.
Sports photos also share this quality
but are harder to capture. Kids having a positive experience while learning and
being engaged with each other and teachers will always make classic marketing
photos.
How Should a School Plan For a Professional Shoot?
We always recommend shooting on a day that really
doesn’t have anything special going on but if it would happen on a busy day, it
is important to inform the student body and of course, the teachers, to know
that this is happening ahead of time so kids can get haircuts, wear their best
clothes, and generally be in great visual shape goes a long way toward the
effectiveness of a marketing photo.
We are going to end this by reiterating what has been mentioned earlier in this article if a school can spend so much in building a website and have dozens of strategic meetings about it, why do they find it difficult to spend half as much money and strength on good photographs that will suit what they have built.
