Obtaining high-quality, updated photos for your church directory can seem like a daunting and possibly expensive project. Photo submissions from church families might not be well-positioned or well lit. When many different photos are combined, the directory can end up with a mix of styles that’s difficult to unify visually. On the other hand, hiring a professional portrait company is pricey, and convincing everyone to participate in the sessions is difficult.
Thankfully, a handy solution is available. Most of us now carry a camera everywhere every day, via our smartphones. And these devices can take sharp photos that work well for church photo directories.
Modern smartphone camera sensors produce beautiful, high-quality images that look professional—without the cost of hiring one. And church members of all ages are more likely to pose for a quick phone photoshoot than to sit for a formal portrait.
Photography has much more to do with the person taking pictures than with the phone camera he or she is using. By following a few basic steps, you can easily take church directory photos that look professional and that have the entire congregation smiling.
8 Tips for Taking Church Directory Photos That Look Professional
This list of tips and tricks will help you get the most out of a smartphone photoshoot for an online or printed church directory.
1. Plan the photo shoot.
Before taking any photos, decide the details and logistics of the photo shoot. For example, choose some dates when families are likely to be together and dressed nicely. Then make lots of announcements about the photo shoot date(s) and procedures, including what types of clothing and colors will look best.
For churches with a large membership, set multiple dates or use multiple photographers to avoid delays and long waits. Encourage everyone to participate and send lots of reminders as the shoot nears.
As part of the planning process, find a well-lit area that will serve as an effective background. (See below for specifics.) Also recruit a few volunteers to help manage families and keep everything in order at the shoot.
2. Clean the lens.
Before taking any photos, check your smartphone camera lens for smudges and dust. Because people’s hands are often close to their smartphone lens, it’s easy to inadvertently touch it. Greasy marks can lead to a soft, out-of-focus halo effect that went out of style decades ago. So periodically check and clean the lens, especially before a big photo shoot.
3. Consider the lighting.
Good, consistent lighting is key to excellent smartphone camera images. Remember to have subjects facing the light source. Avoid harsh direct light, opting instead for larger, diffused light sources. Also avoid dappled light, such as under trees, because the camera will struggle to pick up the light and dark areas of an image.
Large windows and covered outdoor spaces (such as patios or porches) work well. For indoor photo shoots, consider an inexpensive ring light or portable light source.
4. Choose distraction-free backgrounds.
In church directory photos, the right background makes a huge difference. Find a distraction-free, neutral-colored area to serve as the backdrop. Brick walls, long open hallways, and porticos make great choices.
Avoid a background that’s too busy, one that will be brighter than the foreground subjects, and bright colors that might clash with people’s outfits. If you’re shooting against a plain background, have members stand a few feet away from the wall to avoid a mugshot look.
5. Aim for consistency.
By keeping the variables consistent throughout each photo, you create a cohesive look for your church directory. If multiple volunteers are taking photos, make sure they’re all using the same brand of mobile phone.
Have subjects all stand in the same general area and try to take photos from the same place too. Consider using a cell phone tripod to end up with standardized photos. Or stand on a stepladder, so subjects are all looking slightly up toward the camera. Using a tripod or stepladder also ensures that the photo crop is the same.
Decide beforehand what style of portrait photo will work best for your church directory. For families, a full-body portrait is a good idea to avoid any awkward cropping issues with shorter people. Also leave some breathing room above subjects’ heads and below their feet to avoid unpleasant cropping.
After the photo shoots, your church directory administrator should clean up the photos using editing software. For example, make sure no portion of any subject’s head is cut off.
6. Practice!
Before starting the official photo shoots, rehearse your setup to make sure you’re happy with the results. Multiple family photoshoots can be hectic and overwhelming. Practicing beforehand can mean the difference between results that are top-notch or merely mediocre.
Think through different family sizes, ages, and arrangements. When taking a picture of a large family, remember to respect the Instant Church Directory guidelines, using portrait orientation, not landscape.
7. Help people relax.
Some of the best directory photos result from church members being relaxed and showing their natural smiles. The best way to do this? Simply talk and joke around with people while you’re preparing to take their photos. Encourage them to take a deep breath, close their eyes, then open their eyes and smile.
You also can take a few test shots, just to help members who tend to stiffen up in front of a camera. When church members look happy and relaxed, those images make people think, “I’d want to go to church there!”
8. Obtain consent.
Some church members might be sensitive to having their photos posted online, even to a secure directory. So it’s always a good idea to set their expectations and get their consent for the specific use of the photos. This is especially true if the church might use the photos beyond the church’s directory.
These tips for taking church directory photos that look professional will lead to high-quality images and high-quality directories. When people’s images are consistent, clear, and joyful, your congregation’s directory becomes a keepsake as well as a communication tool.