Photography

Our people — students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members — are the lifeblood of Springfield College. They are the driving force for what we do, as well as the audiences we wish to reach. With this in mind, our image library should reflect the diverse, collaborative, and engaging experience we offer.

Images of people should be candid, natural, and in the moment, never posed or generic. The subject should never be looking directly at the camera.* Representing people in their natural environments is important.

Depictions of students in a classroom setting or working environment should feel intimate and authentic. Natural light should be used whenever possible. Single students should never seem lonely, and groups should always seem collaborative. Capturing moments of curiosity, interest, or discovery is a great way to do this.

People play a key role in defining the subject matter of our topical photography. Finding the humanity in our stories helps us connect to our audience in a powerful way. Object shots should also be used, in a supporting role.

People also play a key role in our cultural photography. This is how we show our energy, diversity, and spirit. We can also use beautiful shots of our environment to capture the feeling of the Springfield College campus.

Use architectural photography sparingly. Not only is it hard to communicate the energy and dynamic community of Springfield College through this type of image, but our publications also begin to look the same when we repeatedly use similar photos of buildings on campus.

Our photography style is warm, airy, and natural, using natural light whenever possible. A short depth of field and a large amount of negative space provide atmosphere for our images; these techniques also create areas for text placement and dynamic cropping.

Short Depth of Field

Dynamic Motion

Negative Space

By hiring talented local photographers to take photos for particular communications or to capture one-off events, we can steadily build an excellent photo library. Below is sample work of photographers working in the Springfield region.

Formal portraits use a combination of natural and artificial light. Any strobes used should be softened using a light modifier such as a beauty dish or softbox. Portraits are shot in different environments that represent each subject’s area of interest.

Informal portraits use natural light (or the appearance of natural light). A shallow depth of field will create space for type and graphic elements in layout. The subject should look and feel relaxed.

In both formal and informal portraits, subjects should be looking at the camera, as if they were engaging the viewer.

Formal

Informal

While we recommended using a professional photographer whenever possible, it isn’t always feasible. Please follow the guidelines below when submitting photos to the Office of Communications.

Resolution

Photos need a minimum resolution of 1200 by 1800 pixels. Always send the original photo from your digital camera, shot at the highest resolution that your camera will support.

File Format

All photos submitted must be in .jpg, .tiff, or .png format.

Filters

Please do not adjust the color or apply photo filters in apps such as Instagram or VSCO.

Cropping

In framing a photo, it’s best to leave space around the subject to ensure that there’s enough background for use in any number of layouts.

Lighting

Lighting is the single most important aspect of taking photos. Natural light is always best. Indoors, you can use natural light projected from windows or doorways. Outdoors, you should avoid direct sunlight on subjects. If at all possible, wait for cloud cover to diffuse direct sunlight.