https://bloomerang.co/resources/speaking/ Laura Huth-Rhoades will show you the difference great photos make in nonprofit communications and teach you easy, quick, and no-cost techniques for upping your nonprofit’s photo game.

1. DOLLARS
When PHOTOS Speak 1,000
Laura Huth-Rhoades
Chief ChangeMaker, do good Consulting
www.dogoodconsulting.org

3. POLL: My biggest photo struggle is:
❑ I can’t remember to take photos of our work!
❑ I don’t know how to work my phone settings
❑ Getting ANY photo content from others in
my group to use
❑ Getting GOOD photo content from others
in my group to use
❑ I don’t have a good eye: my pictures are
dull and boring
❑ Knowing how to USE photos in our work
❑ Something else: _____________________

4. Seeing is believing
• Humans are visual first, verbal second.
• Good visuals make people feel first and think second.
• Visuals are more persuasive than words alone.
• Visuals help us understand and retain information better:
• Our brains process visuals 60,000x faster than text.
• Hear something and 3 days later you’ll remember 10% of
it. Add a picture and
remember 65%.
• Great visuals (stories, too!) add
supercharging powers to
your nonprofit’s marketing and
communications!
/dogoodconsulting
/lauraehuth
@LauraDoGood

5. /dogoodconsulting
/lauraehuth
@LauraDoGood
What
makes
these
images
so much
better…
…than
these?

6. Take the time to do
it…and do it right
• Are you drawn to look at
uninspiring photos?
• Do they invite you in to
read more or click a link?
• Would you publish a
newsletter without editing
or proofreading?
• Photos are no different!
/dogoodconsulting
/lauraehuth
@LauraDoGood

7. Think about what viewers should – and will – see:
• Does it really grab
attention and draw
viewers in?
• Does it tell a story
(and the right
one)?
• Does the entire
frame contribute to
the story you want?
• Does it pair with
the text it’s with?
• What will the
viewer think after
seeing it for 1-2
seconds?

8. Don’t let the need for
anonymity shut you
down. Get creative.
Get clever.

9. Photo releases
• Public spaces have no expectation of
privacy so you don’t need to get
releases.
• For events or public spaces, post a
small, general notice.
• For non-public events, always get
waivers for minors.
• Make waivers part of your regular
forms and intake process.
• If in question, get that waiver signed.
/dogoodconsulting
/lauraehuth
@LauraDoGood

10. Telling stories
through GREAT
pictures:
• Editing
• Crop
• Color balance
• Color
• Composition
• Angles
• Lighting
• Camera settings

11. Color + balance: See the difference
Unedited Edited
/dogoodconsulting
/lauraehuth
@LauraDoGood

12. /dogoodconsulting
/lauraehuth
@LauraDoGood

13. Two of our Kalamazoo team
members, Cindy and Betty,
drumming up volunteers the
Find Your Cause event hosted
by the Kalamazoo Community
Foundation.
Missed the event but want to
help build a stronger
Kalamazoo? Contact us!
A few of our Kalamazoo team
members at the Find Your Cause
event. Thank you to everyone who
came out to learn more about what
nonprofits are doing throughout the
Kalamazoo community!
Composition: Capture what matters most

14. Get close to the subject.
You are the zoom.
BUILD THE SCENE: Take time &
arrange props, people, and objects

15. Change the
camera’s
setting for
dramatic
interest
Normal
setting/no crop
Selective
focus setting w/crop
• Draws attention to
true focus of image
• Highlights action/
people
• Minimizes
distractions
• Crop removes
other distractions
• Picture of a pink
wall with red
background
• Hello, blue fire
alarm thing
• Oh, there are some
people there, too.

17. • Good composition = viewer easily deciphers information
• Intention and subject should be immediately clear to viewer
Ditch the distractions!
NO YES
What else?

18. More Considerations:
• ‘One & done’ or living tool?
• Rule of thirds/head room
• Frame composition/fill the
frame
• Focus/background/blur
• To color or not to color
• Anonymity
• Dramatic flare

19. Professional DIY Stock & Free
• Time crunch
• Experience
• Need that
excellent
shot…NOW
• Budget, or
lack thereof
• Time, yes…
money, not so
much
• With help of
a coach
• Google
Advanced
image search
• Flickr
Creative
Commons
• Shutterstock
What do I really need?
/dogoodconsulting
/lauraehuth
@LauraDoGood

20. Free Purchased
• Canva.com
• PicsArt
• Microsoft Word
• Paint
• Photoshop Express
• Instagram
• Photoshop
• Lightroom
• Adobe Bridge
• Magix
• Apperature
You have options!
/dogoodconsulting
/lauraehuth
@LauraDoGood

21. Picture Perfect:
The 10 Best Photography Tips for Nonprofits
1. Move toward the subject. You and your feet are the zoom.
2. Rule of thirds: More visual interest + room for text/quotes/logos
when needed.
3. Build the scene: Ditch distractions + compose people & objects.
4. Clean that lens! Get ride of the haze.
5. Boost saturation + vibrancy for pop. Make your images stand out.
6. Crop! Get exactly what you want viewers to see.
7. Change your perspective. Different angles give deeper visual interest.
8. Find your focus. Use background blur or tell the camera where to focus.
9. Don’t take just 1. Take 10 and select the best image.
10. Edit! Yes, it’s totally worth 30 seconds.
/dogoodconsulting
/lauraehuth
@LauraDoGood

22. 10 Photo Don’ts
1. DON’T flash subjects directly
in their faces
2. DON’T pin people
against the wall
3. DON’T be shy
4. DON’T stand in the
same place every time
5. DON’T backlight subjects
6. DON’T have things seem to
stick out of peoples’ heads or bodies
7. DON’T take just 1 picture
8. DON’T settle for just any shot
9. DON’T skip edit and review
10. DON’T default to color every time
/dogoodconsulting
/lauraehuth
@LauraDoGood

23. • Fundraising
• Marketing/Outreach/Communications
• #WordMagic Writing & Editing
• Brochures, Presentations, Annual Reports &
Newsletters
• Special Event Planning
• Media & Public Relations
• Strategic Planning
• Organizational Growth Strategies
• Professional Coaching
From an hour of advice to
help with a large, project, I can help!
www.dogoodconsulting.org
Training & Consulting Services
for Nonprofits
/dogoodconsulting
/lauraehuth@lauradogood