Angles

It can be beneficial to take multiple photos of the same subject from different angles. If you are staging a specific shot, try playing with perspectives.

For ex: If you are taking a photo of someone lifting weights, try taking pictures in front, behind, from either side, above, and at an angle. Having a diverse selection of photos of the same subject will allow you options when deciding how to best tell your story.

Pro Tip: Always clean the camera lens of the device you are using.

Don’t Always Center Images

Centering a subject can be a great way to convey a message, however it is not always the best option. Try offsetting a subject to the left or right of a shot to get a better feel for the tone of the photo.

Pro Tip: Try framing the subject to enhance the tone of the photo. For example: if you are taking a photo of a barbell on the floor, try placing other objects around the perimeter (these could include: a jump rope, a hand weight, a water bottle, etc.). The intention of the framing objects is to enhance the subject in the center, not to distract from it.

“How To” or Tutorial Images

When creating “how to,” or tutorial images, it is best to focus on a single subject, performing the exercise at varying stages. For example, if you are explaining burpees, it is best to photograph a single subject at each step of the movement.

Example of Burpee Images

Photo of subject in starting position, Photo of subject in plank, Photo of subject in low push up, Photo of subject jumping up

Pro Tip: Larger Image Files will allow for a greater ability to edit and crop.

Platform Matters

When taking photos, it is helpful to think about the platform you will be posting them to.

Example: if you are looking to add images to a website, understand the placement. If an image is going at the top of the page (ex: a hero image) landscape images will most likely be better than portrait.

Example: If you are using images for social media – think in terms of mobile. Most people will not turn their phone sideways, to better view horizontal images. Therefore, it can be beneficial to use portrait images, or horizontal images that can be cropped for more equal sizing.

Pro Tip: Try a free photo editing platform such as Pixlr.com

Best practices For Photos

  1. Files: Photos will be best for online use when they are in the PNG file format
  2. Larger file sizes allow for better cropping/editing. 1000 pixels and higher will typically result in more diverse editing options available
  3. Logos should be set against a transparent background
  4. Pdf’s are not image file format and cannot be uploaded as images
  5. When submitting a photo for the website or PPC team to use/edit, raw (unedited) files are best. They allow for a greater range of editing, without compromising the clarity of the image.
  6. For websites with responsive design (meaning a website that will perform on varying devices/screen sizes) avoid image files with text included. Websites will better display text/logo’s when they are added to the website, over an image (rather than included in the background image file).