Social media these days demands more photos and videos, more so than heavily designed graphics. Don’t get us wrong – graphics still have their place (think explainer posts, step-by-step instructions, etc.)! But we all prefer to see real images of the brands and organizations we love and support when we’re scrolling. We’re social creatures, on social media, who like to see photos and videos of real people whenever possible (somewhat disturbingly, we’ve heard this referred to as a preference for “hands and teeth” LOL).

Lately, we’ve had a few clients changing up their social media strategies and moving towards more…hands and teeth. This led us to gather our best advice for getting quality images and videos for your non-profit’s social media feed. It doesn’t have to be picture-perfect, but your goal should always be to capture authentic, eye-catching, and clean imagery that fits and supports your brand! So, let’s get into it!

Get Set Up for Success! 

1. You don’t need a fancy camera — your smartphone will work great! Just make sure your camera lens is clean. 
2. Check your lighting. If possible, take your photo/videos in soft, natural light, like in front of a window with the light facing your subject. Don’t take a photo with backs to the window or your image will be backlit and appear dark. 
3. Include people in your photos/videos as much as possible. Human faces are most compelling on social media. 
4. Find a simple background. Look for a clean, uncluttered space. 
5. Be ready to snap multiple photos/videos, and only use one! Take the same photo from multiple angles to ensure people look their best in one of the shots (i.e. not blinking), then select the most compelling image.
6. If you don’t end up with a quality image, consider not posting. Using low-quality images impacts the perception of the organization, so sometimes it’s worth waiting for the next photo op instead.
7. Only take a photo when there’s something worth photographing! Taking photos for the sake of it leads to content that may be uninspiring or disconnected from the organization’s goals. Make sure you’re capturing content that will connect with your audience, provoke feelings, and encourage them to engage with your posts.

Types of Photos/Videos To Inspire

While there’s nothing wrong with taking an official photo, social media culture often prefers more casual, authentic imagery. So here’s some ideas of the type of content you could generate.

1. Candid photos/videos: Real-life occurrences that are happening around the organization, where the subject is not looking at the camera directly, but actively engaged in an activity. Sharing authentic moments is a great way to give followers an understanding of what you do. Make sure the activity is something engaging, ideally shows people smiling or hard at work, and be sure to receive consent!
2. Selfies: Photos/videos of an individual or group taken to demonstrate their work or perspective at an event, during a program, etc.
3. User-Generated Content: Photos/videos taken by participants, volunteers, donors, or staff that have been shared online and can be reshared by the organization will have a huge impact! Consider the quality before sharing to the organization’s feed.
4. Donations: Photos of donated products are a great way to encourage others to do the same. Make sure products have been taken out of the bags, look presentable, and remove any clutter. Sometimes less is more — avoid sharing any products that look messy or are hard to photograph in a presentable way. If it’s a financial contribution, you may consider finding a way to capture the gifting moment with a creative, ceremonial moment (ex. with a big cheque hand-off, high five, or your unique version of this). Be sure to thank the donor in the caption and tag them, if possible.

Tips to Make Your Photos/Videos Stand Out

1. Take your photos/videos for social media in portrait (vertical), not landscape (with the exception of long-form videos on YouTube).
2. Use the rule of thirds. Your subject should rarely be centered in the frame. 
3. Change up your location! While there may be limited ideal spots, try to vary the backdrop of your images so your social feed doesn’t look all the same.
4. When outside:
   1. Ensure your subject’s head is above the horizon line, but leave space above them in the frame.
   2. Take pictures facing away from the sun — you want the sun to be shining onto your subject, but not staring into it.
   3. Avoid taking photos in the middle of the day. Morning or evening light is best. Overcast days are better for taking photos outside!
5. When inside: Don’t use flash. Move your subject to a better-lit space or bring in another light source. A second smartphone’s flashlight, not directly on the subject, but to the side of subject, often works in a pinch.
6. Avoid zoom. Get closer to your subject rather than zooming in with the camera.
7. Tap on your subject on your phone to ensure the image is sharp. Many smartphones also have a portrait mode that can be used to get high-quality images of a subject. 

Ask for Consent to Post Online and Tag Your Subject

Before posting online, and ideally when the picture is taken, check in with the subject of the photo and ask if they consent to you sharing their image on the organization’s social media pages. You may want to have a media release form that covers social media usage for regular staff, volunteers, and participants.

Especially for donors and volunteers: ask for their social media handles if they would like to be tagged in the image (consider if their organization, product, or personal account would be ideal to include as tags).

And…action!

We can’t wait for our social media feed to be full of your non-profit’s volunteers, donors, staff, and participants’ smiling faces. Is your brand going through more change? Let’s talk about how to make sure your non-profit’s brand is everything you need right now.