There are currently over 4 billion social media users which is almost 60% of the world's population. These platforms are incredible opportunities for churches to make a kingdom impact. But unless we are inspired and educated that isn’t going to happen. In this article we will look at how to become a better photographer before, during and after a shoot.
BEFORE THE SHOOT
TIP #1—Plan Your Shots
Look at your event’s agenda and think about what needs to be captured. Then lead and direct your photographers by giving them a list of must-have photos. This will give them confidence that they are capturing the photos you need. For example, if your church is doing a Christmas tree lighting ceremony, you’ll want to capture the tree dark, the tree illuminated and reactions to the lighting. Provide at least 10 needed shots on your shot list and encourage your photographers to look for additional shots as well.
TIP #2—Map Out The Space
Show up to the event early to get a sense of the space. Where are people entering from? Where are they going? Where are they exiting from? Mapping out the space helps you understand how the event will unfold. This will allow you to anticipate the event, and be one step ahead of the action, not behind it. You also want to get a sense of where you will be located. This will allow you to secure a side room where you can store gear and possibly edit photos during the event.
DURING THE SHOOT
TIP #3—Tell Linear Storylines
The most natural storyline when posting photos to social media is straightforward. So make sure your photos tell a basic story with a beginning, middle and end. This chronological approach might feel formulaic, but it works, especially for people that didn’t attend the event. The time to deviate from this basic three act story structure would be for events that don’t have a structure, like a pool party. So if the event is organized, then organize your photos. If it is free flowing then loosen your album structure.
TIP #4—Establishing & Concluding Shots
Remember to get establishing and concluding shots to frame the event. The only way to get these photos is to show up early and leave late. These shots also place the event in a storyline when you post them in an album on Facebook. Without these establishing and concluding shots the viewer will either feel like they came to the party late or left early.
TIP #5—Candid Not Posed
Candid photos are more interesting and livelier than posed photos. Posed photos focus on how the individual looks. Candid photos focus on what the individual is doing. We want more photos of what God is doing than how we are looking. The other big downside of posed photos is the comment section. It can digress into a back-and-forth of who looks more adorable for posed photos. Taking candid photos can be tricky because people might think you want them to pose. If they do, just ignore them. In a minute they will go back to being themselves and you can go back to taking great candid photos.
TIP #6—Keep It Simple
Frame your photos using a simple background that helps focus the viewer’s eyes on the subject matter. Use this technique to create a crisp and sharp photo. As you compose your photo, move around your subject to find the simplest background. Take a practice shot if you can, and make adjustments to reduce background chaos. If your camera allows, you can adjust the aperture or f-stops to bring the background into or out of focus. Unless the background is of interest, it may be best to leave it blurred so your subject stands out even more.
TIP #7—Be Boldly Inconspicuous
You need to be bold enough to get into the best position to capture the best photos. I once had to grab a young and timid photographer who was planted in the back row by the arm and drag him to the front row so they would be close enough to capture the event. But you also need to be inconspicuous enough so that the attention is not on you. I’m sure you have been at a wedding in which the photographer or videographer ended up stealing the show and being the main attraction. Not cool. So manage this tension by boldly navigating the venue but then being inconspicuous when you are in position.
TIP #8—Have Fun
Having your photo taken should be a fun experience. It means something interesting and exciting is happening that deserves to be documented. The tone and attitude of the photographer should match this energy. They should be having a fun time. Now here’s another reason why it's important for the photographers to have fun...sometimes it isn’t fun. Sometimes it is awkward, like when families are overdressed for the obligatory Mother’s Day photo booth. Sometimes it is artificial, like when babies are crying in the nursery and volunteers pretend they’re enjoying ministry. These moments are not fun. But they need to be documented. When you bring a fun attitude into the awkward and hectic settings, you change the tone and create an environment in which you can capture decent photos.
AFTER THE SHOOT
TIP #9—Curate And Edit
You don’t want photographers that click and dump — people who will hand you a full memory card with all their photos, the good, the bad and the "what were you thinking." When your photographer curates and edits their work, it ensures the team's output is scalable that it is not dependent on your ability to curate and edit. Creating this system allows for rapid growth. It also allows for instantly shareable photos because the team has already identified and edited the top twenty images. Also make sure to have a clear folder structure and naming convention for your team. This avoids hours of confusion and frustration on the back end.
TIP #10—Create A System To Store
After you have taken the photos you’ve got to store them. People often ask if they should store photos in the cloud or on a hard drive. The answer is both. But managing your content in two areas can seem overwhelming for some. And in the end, they don’t store them anywhere. If this is you, then I would archive your photos in the cloud now and on hard drives later. The cloud gives you greater flexibility in accessing the content. And because the cloud has grown its stability over the past 10 years, it gives you greater reliability than hard drives that can become corrupted. Great cloud storage options are Dropbox and Google Photos.
TIP #11—Release Forms
Include a release statement on your intake form for your family ministry. I say intake form because it only has to be done once. And I say family ministry because parents are the only ones really concerned with this. Here is a sample. “Our church uses photos and videos of our guests for communication purposes. Signing this release grants us permission to use your and your child’s image for these purposes.” To cover your butts legally for general church events you could have a small disclosure printed and posted at your welcome center saying something like “Photos and videos are taken at our events. By walking onto our site you grant us permission to use these for communication purposes.”
TIP #12—Pastor Your Team
Since photography can be done in isolation it can be a lonely experience. But it doesn’t have to be. If you pastor and mentor your team, you will not only sharpen their skills but you will also care for their souls. So get together for a couple of minutes every Sunday one-on-one as their leader to review their work. And consider connecting as a team monthly or quarterly to grow together as a group. Do group experiences like visiting galleries or doing photo walks --- anything that will connect the team and allow them to build community and grow their craft.
CONCLUSION
If you want additional help leveraging social media for your church then visit benstapley.com/coach to schedule a free consultation. I would love to help you win in this area. Thanks for reading. Have an awesome day.
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