All it takes is one look, and the message is delivered.
Good photography makes great mail.
A beautifully lit family photo gives voters a glimpse into who a candidate is as a spouse and parent.
A perfectly timed candid photo opens voters’ eyes to a candidate’s confidence, personality, and reasons for running.
Capturing the look on a candidate’s face as they read to a group of schoolchildren, talk with neighbors at their doorstep, or meet with a group of seniors at the corner diner speaks volumes about who a candidate is, their plans for the community, and their commitment to those around them.
Cliché it is, but it’s worth repeating.
That picture can be worth a thousand words.
Here are some tips to ensure your campaign photography speaks to voters.
We strongly suggest using a professional photographer for the best results, but always follow these tips to keep your campaign photography sharply focused.
1. Angle: Make sure the angle of the photo puts the candidate’s best foot forward – we should always see more of a candidate’s face than anyone else’s face.
2. Exposure: An image that is too dark or too light distracts from the subject. Look for natural light whenever possible, but don’t forget about the importance of using a flash indoors to help expose the photo correctly.
3. Background: Don’t let a distracting person or sign in the background “photo bomb” you. Sure, you’re the focus of the photo, but what’s happening around you is important, too.
4. Red Eye: Red eye is one of the most common problems in photography and one of the easiest to solve. If you are using your own digital camera, be sure to use the red eye reduction setting.
5. Distance: It may feel a little unnatural to stand so close, but standing two steps closer to the other person in the photo will improve it tenfold (think Seinfeld “close-talker”).
6. Apparel: Leave the shirts with product logos and strong patterns at home and dress appropriately for the setting.
7. Setting: The best photos don’t appear posed, but instead look like a photographer just happened to catch a candidate in his or her regular routine – like having coffee with three seniors in a diner corner booth.
Remember to take your photos at a high resolution setting (think 300 dots per inch or greater at 5×7 or larger) to ensure crisp, clean photos in print.
Show your personality, your family and the things you love about your community.
Show you.