This document provides an overview of photography basics for libraries. It discusses the importance of public relations (PR) and marketing library services. It also covers different types of digital cameras, camera lenses, pixels, aperture settings, shutter speed, ISO, composition techniques like the rule of thirds, lighting, focus, location selection, subject size, image considerations, uploading and sharing photos via email.

1. Photography 101
Good PR and
Photography Basics

2. Good PR
• If they don’t know what you’re
library is doing, then you’re
not telling them!
• Understanding your
community.
• How does my potential library
customer find out about
library services, events,
programs?
• Budget for PR!

5. Types of digital cameras
•
•
•
•
•
•
Webcams/phone cams
Point and shoot
Intermediate
Advanced Consumer
Prosumer dSLR
Professional dSLR

6. Camera lenses
• Wideangle
zoom
• Standard
• Superzoom
• Telephoto
zoom
• Macro
• Fisheye

7. Pixels
What are pixels? The word "pixel" means a picture
element. Every photograph, in digital form, is made up of
pixels. They are the smallest unit of information that makes
up a picture. Usually round or square, they are typically
arranged in a 2-dimensional grid.

8. Setting the
Right F-Stop
for Your
Digital Photo
• Use an almost-wideopen f-stop to boost
sharpness.
• Adjust
your depth of field by
moving f-stops.
• Avoid too-small fstops.

9. Shutter Speed
The unit of measurement which
determines how long the
shutter remains open as the picture
is taken. The slower the shutter
speed, the longer the exposure time.
The shutter speed
and aperture together control the
total amount of light reaching the
sensor.
Shutter speeds are expressed in
seconds or fractions of a second. For
example 2, 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/15,
1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250, 1/500,
1/1000, 1/2000, 1/4000, 1/8000.
Each speed increment halves the
amount of light.

13. • A prefix on film speed ratings that stands for
International Standards Organization, the
group that standardizes, among other things,
the figures that define the relative speed of
films.

16. Think Critically About
How Your Library Is Portrayed
• Review the next few
photos
• + / ∆ (Plus / Delta)
• What do you like?
• What would you
change?

22. DSLR Basics
http://www.digitalslrphoto.com/dslrbasics/

23. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWxo6Dl3E14

24. What makes a good
photograph?

25. Composition
• Rule of Thirds
– The rule of thirds is the simplest rule of
composition. All you do is take your frame and
overlay a grid of nine equal sections. This means
you split the vertical space into three parts and
the horizontal space into three parts.

29. Perspective
• Photographing your subject straight-on is
sometimes the right choice, but you can
create visual impact by moving the camera
left, right, above, and below.

32. Light
•
•
•
•
Manual settings
Natural light
Indoor lighting
Consider all options!

33. FOCUS
• Auto focus
• Focus Points
http://photographylife.com/dslr-autofocus-modes-explained

34. Location
•
•
•
•
•
Indoor
Outdoor
Landscape mode?
Portrait mode?
“Frame” the image

35. Size of subjects
•
•
•
•
Consider settings
Lens type
Tiny?
Giant?

36. Considerations
•
•
•
•
Skin tones
Hair and makeup
Eyeglasses/sunglasses
Other details?

37. Uploading and
Emailing Images

41. Tagging and Descriptions
• Tags are “Subject headings” (flickr)
• Tagging someone (Facebook) - considerations
• Image descriptions, titles, etc.

42. Emailing images
• Consider image size
• Make a call to confirm
• Only send 2-3 images per
email
• Best option: upload to site
and share URL via email
• NOTE: you can share photo
albums from Facebook to
those not on Facebook!

44. Thank you!
• Pamela Hoppock
• Library Development
Consultant
• 803-734-8646
• Dr. Curtis R. Rogers
• Communications
Director
• 803-734-8928
• phoppock@statelibrary.sc.gov
• crogers@statelibrary.sc.gov