Photograph Requests

To request a photograph or photo shoot, contact the Communications and Marketing Office by phone at (325) 942-2248. In addition to the time, date and place, the photographer will need additional information to ensure the best quality photos for your specific use.

The ultimate use of the photograph(s) is an important factor to consider when making the request. A higher standard of lighting and composition is necessary for a photograph that will be used in a publication than for a photograph that is being used as a snapshot of an event, for instance. Further, an even higher standard of quality is necessary if the photograph is to be published in color.

When requesting a photo, be ready to answer the following questions:

• Will the image be used in a publication or on a Web site?
• Should the ultimate image be in black-and-white or in color?
• What size image will you need?
• Will the image be used in a public presentation, such as recruiting?

Once the photo(s) are taken, normal turnaround is three days, but that is dependent on the photographer’s schedule. The digital photo files will be made available to your department on the J Drive. You can also have them burned to a CD for a small fee (see below). If photos are needed sooner, a nominal charge will be added for rush service.

Images remain the property of the university and are also filed as contact sheets in our office for other possible uses. Contacts are available for review in our office, which is located in the Administrative Support Center (No. 3 on the interactive map.)

Photo Quality

Quality photographs not only take expertise and the proper equipment, but also time and thought. If you are planning to use the photographs in a publication, it is wise to discuss or establish a concept with the graphic artists on our staff. They can provide direction in setting up the photograph that will help carry through the design concept and improve the quality of the publication.

Lighting

Photographs are strongest when the lighting and setup are controlled. This is not always possible, of course, particularly for activities such as athletic games, commencement and many other campus events. When possible, however, staged photographs with controlled lighting and environment will provide the strongest images, particularly when color is involved. With a little imagination, staged photographs do not have to look posed. You have only to look at the feature photographs in most publications today to understand that staged photographs are common.

Lighting is always the primary concern for the photographer. As a result, certain nuances with both indoor and outdoor lighting can affect the quality of a photograph. Keep in mind, particularly for outdoor shots, that the time of day that might work best for your schedule is not necessarily the time that provides the best or most effective lighting.

Outdoor Photos

For outdoor, landscape or campus shots, the middle of a day is usually the worst time to shoot a photograph. The intense mid-day light creates deep, dark shadows which show up unnaturally on both film and digital capture. The camera does not have the capacity that your eye has to adjust to the variations of intense light and deep shadows. Image quality is better when the sunlight is more diffused, generally in the early morning, in the late afternoon or on cloudy days when shadows are minimal.

Indoor Photos

Indoor photos present a different challenge because the light is often inadequate and must be supplemented. Using a camera flash attachment can offset lighting deficiencies somewhat, but may leave discernible shadows on the background. Without a flash, the photographer may have to use a shutter speed so slow and an aperture setting so wide that the resulting images are blurred. The best way to overcome this is to use portable lights, which can compensate for inadequate interior lighting.

Consequently, it is important for you to work with the photographer to overcome the limitations you may encounter with a specific photograph. For many uses, these factors may not be significant for your photographs, but they certainly are critical for photos that will ultimately be used for publications, for the Web site, for public displays or for recruiting.

The bottom line is simply to be prepared to factor into your photo requests potential after-hours times and/or additional setup time for the photo shoot. The results will well be worth the effort.

Photography Fees

There are some minimal fees for special request photo shoots. They are used to cover the cost of equipment and supplies.

• Initial Charge (per job)
  $5.00
• After Hours Charge (per job)
  $10.00
• Blank CD
  $1.00
• Images Burned to CD            
  $5.00