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Tips for Better Portrait Photographs

19 July 2011 By Lydia Edwards Leave a Comment

TIPS FOR BETTER PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHS FOR BUSINESS & SOCIAL MEDIA SITES

  •  Don’t have a distracting background, something plain is better. We’re all naturally curious, if there’s something going on behind you, people will be inclined to look at whatever it is, taking their attention away from you.
  • Get in close, fill the picture with your face.  Nobody is going to recognise you from your arms or the top that you’re wearing that day.
  • Don’t wear sunglasses, especially if you’re indoors. It may look cool in the summer but not in January.  Also people want to see your eyes, they’re the “window to your soul”.  You want people to trust you, let them look you straight in the eye.
  • Look straight at the camera, similar to above, you want to engage with people who are viewing your profile.  Beware though you don’t want to end up with a passport photograph.  Don’t sit or stand straight on, possibly have one shoulder towards the camera, be slightly three quarters on and turn your head a bit to the camera.
  • Smile.  Not too much, you don’t want to look scary or manic.  On the other hand, you don’t want to look too serious or mean (unless you’re a bailiff).  Just a relaxed, welcoming half smile. People like to engage with people who they think will be pleasant to deal with.
  • Dress smart, wear something professional looking. The visual equivalent of having a polished C.V.
  • Try, wherever possible to find a soft light source such as from a large window.   Avoid harsh lighting such as direct sunlight, as not only will the subject most probably be squinting but it will be very unflattering.  Most advertising photographs are very softly lit and you are in essence advertising yourself.  On camera flash should also be avoided as it often gives “redeye” and can cast hard shadows against the background.
  •  If all this sounds way to difficult, go to a professional photographer.

 

By Colin Crisford – Photographer

29th June 2011

www.colincrisford.co.uk

 Tel: 07956 142077

Filed Under: Marketing Tips

Media, Networking & Presentation Workshop

13 July 2011 By Lydia Edwards Leave a Comment

The workshop outline is as follows:

Peckham Voluntary Sector Forum (PVSF) is repeating its Media, Presentation & Networking workshop on Tuesday 22 November 2011 (10am – 1pm)  as part of its innovative Making Connections Marketing Project.  Please note, you will be required to prepare some material to present to the group (full details will be supplied on application). Topics will include:

  • Public Relations
  • Media Relations
  • Event Publicity
  • Networking
  • Presentation Skills

Making Connections is a pioneering marketing communications project, that helps community groups and charitable organisations in Peckham and Nunhead promote the good work that they do.  This innovative project empowers organisations to implement low cost high impact marketing communications tools which will help to attract volunteers/trustees, raise funds, find potential partners, and increase the number of users of their services.

  • Time: 10am to 1pm
  • Refreshments: Tea & Coffee Provided
  • Address: PVSF, 48 Willowbrook Road, London SE15 6BW
  • Cost:  Free to PVSF Members (£15 to non members).
  • Tube:  Elephant & Castle
  • Train: Peckham Rye or Queens Road
  • Buses: 363, 63 or 78 to Peckham Hill Street

To book, please contact Lydia Edwards, PVSF, Marketing & Communications Project Officer, Email: lydia@peckhamforum.org.uk, Tel: 020 7732 2220

Filed Under: Events, Marketing Workshops, Training

The Importance of Good PR

12 July 2011 By Tricia Edeam Leave a Comment

The closure of the News of the World newspaper after 168 years of  publication demonstrates the power of media and the impact that public relations (PR) – good and bad - can have. 

PR can be used to protect the reputation of your non-profit organisation, its message and what it stands for.  PR can help to inform the public about your cause, create a positive attitude but most importantly build a reservoir of goodwill.

Therefore it is important that you understand which audiences you are trying to target and the different people or organisations that will be interested in the work you do.  Once you know this, you can target your public relations activity to these groups and use different techniques and types of media to get your message across. 

Apart from promote your services to the community within which you work you should also engage with employees and/or volunteers about up and coming events, project and fundraising activities.  ’Internal Public Relations’ as a great tool to inspire staff about your cause.

The next question is which type of media can you use to connect with your target audience? 

  • Traditional media – newspapers, radio, TV & magazines.
  • New/Digital media - the internet, blogs, websites and emails.
  • Social media – Facebook, Twitter, Utube, Flickr etc.
  • Ambient media – non intrusive advertising e.g. on the back of bus tickets, in public toilets or on the back of receipts. 

Here are some examples of low-costtools that can be used:

  • Your website.
  • Word of mouth / recommendations. 
  • Email newsletters or printed direct mail to people on your database who may have previously donated.
  • Press releases to local media about your events and fundraising activites. 
  • Presentations to stakeholders including staff and volunteers about your organisation’s vision for the future.
  • Annual reports to show that your non-profit organisation is transparent.

 The Making Connections Project is running a workshop which will include Public Relations in the near future.  For more details contact Lydia Edwards at lydia@peckhamforum.org.uk or have a look at the Making Connections workshop information.

Filed Under: Marketing & Communications, Marketing Tips

What’s in a Photograph?

27 June 2011 By Tricia Edeam Leave a Comment

Photographic images can help tell a story of an organisation and what their true values are.  In non-profit organisations it can be used for so much more, for example:

  • To gain more supporters.
  • To aid fundraising activities.
  • To raise an organisation’s profile in their arena.
  • To help support a branding message and develop your story.

Your organisation is your brand; one which you need to develop and market for the following reasons:

  • To encourage volunteer participation.
  • To develop partnerships with other organisations.
  • To ensure your community is aware of what you do and how you can help them.

The community will want to see your work in action. Include photographs of open days, community projects or just yourselves at work!  Part of marketing is striving to make a connection with all your stakeholders.  A powerful image can last for just as long as a verbal conversation. As the saying goes ‘A picture tells a thousand words’.  If you use photos that you’ve taken, remember to gain the consent of any living individuals included.

Images stay in the memory for a long period. Relate your photos to the message of your organisation.  Set your digital camera to a high resolution so that images can be reproduced at their best.  At least 300 dpi (dots per inch) is necessary to get a decent print quality. 

Remember to log dates of when and where they’ve been taken so you can also produce a photographic folder on your computer and keep an actual photograph album.  The first can be used for PR purposes; the other to show interested parties what you’re about.  And guess what?  In the future you’ll be able to look back – history as the name suggests cannot be reproduced.

The Making Connections Project is running a a series of workshops to help you with your marketing communications. For more details contact Lydia Edwards, Marketing & Communications Project Officer at lydia@peckhamforum.org.uk or find more details here.

Filed Under: Marketing Tips, Recent News

Photography Workshop for Community & Voluntary Groups

31 May 2011 By Lydia Edwards Leave a Comment

Date: 29 November 2011

Time: 10am to 1pm

Venue: PVSF Offices

Cost: Free to PVSF members (£15 non members)

The workshop outline is as follows:

Peckham Voluntary Sector Forum (PVSF) is running a ‘Photography for Community & Voluntary Groups’ workshop as part of its innovative Making Connections Marketing Project.

  1. Part 1 : This will include a workshop/presentation on photography issues i.e. image resolution, copyright, where to use, royalty free images, getting consent, photographing vulnerable groups, photographers rights etc.
  2. Part 2 :  A photographer will be attending to give you tips on the importance of good photography and how to achieve it (approx 15 minutes).  He will then take photographs of the groups there (head shots) for each organisation – please note, if more than one person from your group attends, it is very likely that only a group shot will be taken.  I will ask you to complete a consent form as we would like to use material created as part of this project as part of our marketing materials.

Please note, as there will be dangerous photographic equipment in the buiding, it will not be a safe environment to have children in the room with the photographer.

Making Connections is a pioneering marketing communications project, that helps community groups and charitable organisations in Peckham and Nunhead promote the good work that they do.  This innovative project empowers organisations to implement low cost high impact marketing communications tools which will help to attract volunteers/trustees, raise funds, find potential partners, and increase the number of users of their services.

  • Date: 29 November 2011 (10am to 1pm)
  • Refreshments: Tea & Coffee Provided
  • Address: PVSF, 48 Willowbrook Road, London SE15 6BW
  • Cost:  Free to PVSF Members (£15 to non members).
  • Tube:  Elephant & Castle
  • Train: Peckham Rye or Queens Road
  • Buses: 363 63 or 78 to Peckham Hill Street

 

To book, please contact Lydia Edwards, PVSF, Marketing & Communications Project Officer, Email: Lydia@peckhamforum.org.uk , Tel: 020 7732 2220

Filed Under: Events, Marketing Workshops, Training
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