The photos you will be taking on your Snapshot Day are a very important part of our advocacy and go a long way in communicating the essential nature of Virginia libraries. Here are a few tips for successful photo-taking on your Snapshot Day:
- Look for scenes that capture a compelling moment of interaction. Show patrons browsing your collection, using your computers, and getting friendly service from your staff.
- Get up close and personal to focus attention, unless you’re purposefully going for a wide shot.
- Get in front of your subjects, avoiding the backs of heads, to show those friendly faces.
- Capture the diversity of our population. It’s probably easiest to get great shots of kids and young families, but we need to showcase our patrons of all ages and walks of life. If you’re offering assistive services, be sure to show it.
- Cover the range of your services. In addition to typical activities like browsing, reading, and using a computer, look for opportunities to document patrons getting help with taxes, business people doing research, and any instructive or training programs you’re offering.
- Prepare your staff to show their best smiles and make eye contact when it’s their turn to be photographed.
- And please, don’t use the flash unless absolutely necessary and turn off any date stamp feature on your camera.
thanks,
Sean Bonney
Central Rappahannock Regional Library
sbonney@crrl.org
http://snapshotvirginia.org/
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https://twitter.com/snapshotva