PHOTOS AND ARTICLE
It’s a given that aspiring
public relations professionals
should know how to write, use
social media and network. When
the playing field is dauntingly
level, what can you do to make
yourself stand out? A great thing
to do is offer something that will
make you unique — something
that will give you value beyond
what the job description asks for.
Mastering the art of photography
is one way to do this.
Research has shown that visuals are increasingly important
in written communication. Being
able to supplement your writing
with an eye-catching image is
not only a great addition to your
skill set, but it will also go a long
way in impressing a future employer. Use these five tips to help
strengthen your photography and
give your message a little extra
life.
Great photography is created
by capturing the right amount
of light. It’s always important
to identify your light source
whether the sun, a window or a
lamp. Once you’ve identified your
source, utilize it. Using a flash
is always an option, but because
it often gives a harsh tone to
photographs, you should always
opt for natural light when possible. The first image of the dog
is dull because there is no light
source being utilized. However,
the image on the right has defined
highlights, shadows and midtones because it is well-lit.
The great thing about photography is the ability to capture
a moment and save it. Since
anything worth capturing is worth
capturing in detail, don’t shy
away from getting close to your
subject. This will help accentuate
your subject without zooming.
Zooming is a helpful tool, but can
reduce the quality of your picture
by reducing the amount of light
entering the lens. And remember,
light is your best friend, so the
zoom function should be avoided.
Because this photo was shot as a
close-up, you can see the texture
in the painting and get a feel for
the artist’s concentration.
Think about how you’re
cropping your subject, especially
if the subject is a person. A rule
of thumb is to avoid cropping at
bodily joints such as the neck,
elbows, wrists, hips, knees and
ankles. Doing so can make your
subject seem disproportioned and
unnatural. Notice how awkward
the musicians appear in the left
top image.
calm and pleasant effect, and high
contrast for a dramatic or playful
effect. Play around with your image until it best tells the story. In
the example on the left, it is easy
to tell how a change in contrast
can make a difference in the feel
of an image.
The center of attention
doesn’t have to be the center of
the photograph. Use the rule of
thirds to help guide your composition. Imagine your photograph
is divided like a tic-tac-toe board.
Place your subject where the lines
intersect to give it prominence in
the frame. A fresh composition
will grab the reader’s eye and pull
them into your writing. The photo
on the right places the subject
at the intersection and creates a
more wholesome composition.
EXPERIMENT WITH
COLORS, CONTRAST
For better or worse, we live
in the day of the Instagram filter.
Don’t get me wrong, I love how
X-Pro II can make my quick snapshots warm and bold, but there is
a time and a place for each filter.
Think about the tone you want
to convey with your picture. For
starters, use low contrast for a
Why You Can’t Miss National Conference
PRSSA PUBLICATIONS
EDITOR IN CHIEF
Let’s face it. Not everything
we do in college is fun. Hours
upon hours of reading textbooks?
Group projects? Cramming for
exam after exam? None of these
things are normally considered
fun — nor are they exceptionally memorable. So when we find
something that’s both beneficial
and enjoyable, we hold onto it for
all it’s worth.
Fellow PRSSA members, let
me tell you: National Conference
promises to be one of these rare,
precious college gems. Although
this fall will be my first National
Conference with PRSSA, I have
attended multiple national journalism and professional conferences. I can tell you with confidence that there’s nothing quite
like the rush that comes from be-
ing in a room surrounded by people who simply understand you.
Since conferences are only
as great as the people who attend
them, here are a few ways to overcome the obstacles that may stand
in your way of attending:
I CAN’T AFFORD THE PRICE
Because the deadline to apply for the National Conference
registration grant has passed,
you’ve got to get creative. Get
an on-campus job. Tutor a freshman. Offer to clean out a professor’s archives. Give up Starbucks
once a week. Start budgeting now
for this investment. As we’ve
all heard: Where there’s a will,
there’s a way.
MISSING CLASSES IS TOO
INTIMIDATING
Explain to your professors
that you’re missing their classes
for educational purposes — as
in, an investment in your future
career — and they will likely be
supportive. Plus, you probably
weren’t going to have perfect attendance anyways.
I DON’T KNOW ANYONE ELSE
WHO WILL BE ATTENDING
If this is holding you back,
then you definitely need to go to
the Conference. Meeting your
future public relations peers is
one of the first steps to becoming
comfortable in the profession. At
National Assembly, I discovered
that PRSSA members are known
for their quick bonding skills and
knack for making all feel welcome.
If this pa rt of Conference is
still daunting to you, just know
you’ll already have at least one
friend and supporter there — me!
Best of luck and can’t wait to see
you in D.C.,
Laura Daronatsy