Church communicators manage a lot of media content, including photos. An entire album of photos is often taken for a single church event. Those photos might be used on a website or social media, but it’s important to choose the right shots. Here are three tips for managing event photos.
Minimize
Out of countless pictures from every church event, there are only a few that can really be used. Social media is fast-paced, and users are usually not willing to swipe through a hundred photos. Choose pictures that stand out and effectively represent your church.
“A photographer (paid) will usually send me a Dropbox of 30-100 selects after he has culled anything unusable and duplicates. I then usually pick 3-6 best shots to capture the event, and those are what make the FB and Insta.” – Michael Kieloch
“I try to keep an album under 20 photos unless it’s a special circumstance. No one wants to click through hundreds of photos of an event.” – Tricia Akerlund Moyer
Edit
It’s always important to edit photos. Sometimes all you need to do is crop a little bit. Many websites require images to meet size requirements. Other times, you may need to enhance the image or correct colors. Whatever the case may be, do your part to make sure the pictures are pristine.
“We always glean our pictures before we post. There will be some that didn’t turn out well, and there will be some we may choose to filter or enhance.” – Mike Meeks
Curate
Choose the right photos for the right channels. Some pictures are better for social media and others may be better for your website. Social media posts often include photos with faces while websites may benefit more from some wide shots.
“We have volunteers that forward their pictures, I pick out the cream of the crop and post anywhere between 1-20. It depends on the event.” – Jo Alley
Conclusion:
Photos are an important medium of communication for churches. Especially online, pictures allow people to visually interpret what your church is all about. At any given church event, countless pictures are taken, so pick out the best ones and edit them. Consider the information above and post some great photos!
