COMM 362, Design for Print
Ross Collins, instructor

How to choose a photo for publication

Finding photos: Many graphic artists rely on professional photojournalists, either on staff or free lance, to provide quality images that fit needs of specific publications. Alternatives include stock photography and free images ("clip art"), mostly from the net. Free images are tempting but you need to be careful: many are poorly composed or exposed, and have a "generic free image" unprofessional look to them. Other than those which clearly state they can be used without permission, photos from the net are presumed to be copyrighted. That means you need permission to use them. For non-journalistic use (advertising and public relations), you need signed model releases from anyone easily identifiable in the photo.

Free photos: morguefile.

A basic model release.

General rule: When choosing photos for media publication, favor photos of people doing things.

• Avoid sunsets and scenery.
• Avoid people just standing there posing for the camera.
• Avoid pictures of things, unless illustrations for a story.

Specific considerations:

1. Picture quality.

• Discard out of focus photos.
• Dark photos will look even darker in print.
• Photos should be slightly more contrasty than usual.
• Large expanses of white will blend with the paper.

2. Weak photos.

• "Bald skies," all white, (overcast day) need to be darkened.
• Reject "grip and grin" photos for quality publications (sometimes all right for informal pubs).
• Reject "dead fish" photos (if working for a newspaper).
• Reject "cheesecake" and "beefcake" photos, depending on publication.

3. Other flaws.

• Photos taken with flash on camera, if it's obvious, generally should be rejected.
  
• Photos without idents are seldom printed, except in advertisements.
• Photos used for any purpose but editorial (journalism) must have model release.
• You can't download photos from the net for print without permission.
• "Royalty free" photo sites don't necessarily mean "free."
• Lots of free photos are available on the net, but much of it looks too generic for professional use.
• Avoid mug shots, if possible.

4. Cropping.

• Nearly all media photos will need some cropping, either by the photographer, the picture editor, the art director or the graphic artist.
• Avoid large expanses of empty space, such as skies, pavement, clouds, ceilings, floors, unless clearly enhances photo.
• Crop to emphasize a strong center of interest. Published photos lose some quality, so need to be simple and direct.
• Crop fairly tightly around people, but not so tightly it removes necessary context.
• Avoid cropping in between a joint, such as lower leg, middle of finger. Looks awkward.
• Leave a little space above head, so subject doesn't appear to be drawn to the edge of the photo.
• Crop so that subjects are moving or looking toward accompanying text, and not out of the page.

5. Retouching.

• Ethics vary depending on purpose of photo.
• Generally it is unethical to retouch journalism photos, even to clean up skin blemishes.
• You cannot ethically remover or add people to photos, or change backgrounds--unless for advertising.

6. Printing.

• Lean toward publishing larger photos. In tabloid or broadsheet format, 3 col minimum for horizontal, 2 col minimum for vertical.
• All photos must have cutlines for media publication. Mugshots can have just the person's name. Must use full name. It is not the graphic artist's job to write cutlines, but sometimes you have to.
• Be very careful before considering transposing a photo to face the other direction. If any type can be seen in the photo, it will be backwards.