Taking photos has always seemed a simple thing, but I never realised how much goes into a photo shoot. Steps are in place to ensure every possibility is thought of to take a simple picture.
Not only do you need to ask permission from a million people but you need to get that great shot to get the likes and shares a company needs to make an impact. Taking photos of kids makes things even more complicated, you need the permission of parents, teachers, and head of schools' and then your department's head approval of what your posting and the photos used.
Every click of the camera is overhung with a cloud of ill intent. Something as simple as children sports days and craft fairs has been denied to be taken due to parents not wanting their kids on Facebook or other social media. Perhaps worried that it will be used for inappropriate uses or simply not having control when that photo is taken. The process of giving consent is so inconvenient that perhaps the parents do not mind, but they don't want to spend 15 mins filling out a consent form.
Then you need to consider if a sporting event or home cooking expo is interesting, engaging and useful content to go on social media. As I would not personally be engaged in this topic, however, others will be such as parents, members of the community and faculty of the school will.
This is the part I find the hardest trying to know what the target market for certain social media sites wants to see; it is hard to consider something as interesting if you do not.
It is possible to say that you should work in an organisation that have your interests and values so you care more about what you post and publish. This would also be displayed greatly in your work when your write or prepare materials that genuinely interests you. However, not everyone is that lucky to get their dream job from the start or even at all.
The PR industry is so competitive I think of any opportunity to get experience on my resume as a good one.
Working in a consultancy seems even harder, you must spend most of your time working for so many different companies, learning all about their background, attitudes, values, goals so you can make a speedy release of materials.
1 comment:
The use of photography in PR content is really interesting!
You're right, so much consideration goes into the organisation of shoots, and also behind the scenes in photo selection, enhancement and use!
Really, anytime you put a frame around any thing it can look, better or worse or become a subjective 'view'. (In the case of a photo, the edges of the photo 'crop out' the rest of the world.)
Photography now-days is so easy to do, with smartphones and tablets all able to snap a memory at any given moment! Mastering the task of photo-taking and use is a lot harder, there are so many things to consider, the subject, composition, lighting, angle, focus, white-balance and lens choice can all effect the look of a photo and, in turn, the message that it sends to those who see it.
Photography is an art-form come PR tool which is unfortunately made all the more difficult by privacy law and consent forms, a really valid topic of reflection!
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