Nothing torments a journalist more than a shocking bad pic sent in with a press release.
Most media outlets now have online platforms and quite often, even if you don’t get on air or print, you still have an opportunity to have a story printed online.
This is actually great as you can share online stories.
But you should really have a press pic to go with it.
Otherwise, you risk your story NOT making it online or will see it going online with a file pic.
This is a wasted opportunity!
Press pics tips. What journalists and photo/news editors want:
- Landscape size
- Horizontal
- In-colour
- Engaging composition
- Tell the story you want (so no pics up against a tree, unless you’re an arborist!)
- High res, but no more than 2MB for web or 4MB for print (always double check with journalist about print)
- Have the subject’s face visible
- In focus, unless it’s appropriate to the artistic nature of the shot to be out of focus
- Without background distractions (wait for people to move or politely ask them to move out of shot). Look out for items that might appear to be sticking out of your head when you look at the photo.
- Appropriate for a news audience. No boobs or bums – again, unless done tastefully and as long as it is relevant to the story. Might want to take some safer options too. Also, always tuck in fugitive bra straps etc.
- No big crowds – less is more so don’t bring your pet dog, children and entire team in for the pic (unless the story is about them all)
- Pics without branding – no signs, posters, pull ups or HASHTAGS cardboards. (while these cardboard hashtags are great for social media use, they are boring and unimaginative in print).
- Just ONE PIC – do not send the album, unless the journalist specifically asks for that
- Offer the pic to the journalist when you contact them first. Don’t block up their inbox.
- Write a photo caption that explains who, where, what and when. This is a line added to the email or press release. Ten out of ten if you can invent your own one-word KICKER in front of the caption.
- Include a photo credit – always credit the photographer who took the pic.
- Photos can be sent via We Transfer or Dropbox or by email for smaller images.
TOUGH: Hannah Gough, Survivor NZ participant and body positivity advocate posing during a photo shoot with Christine at Solas Media. PHOTO: Solas Media Solutions
ATMOSPHERE: Cast on the set of Troy Kingi’s music video for Break a Bone. PHOTO: Solas Media Solutions.
Contact Christine today to book a photo session to ensure your press pics are ready to go.
