What’s the first thing you think about when you’re framing a shot at a school event?
Justine: When I’m framing a shot at a school event, I try to feature people as the focal point whenever possible. It’s most effective to show people interacting with one another and enjoying themselves whenever possible. What’s in the background is equally important, though. Double check to make sure that no one is yawning in the background or that you haven’t captured the school trash can behind your subject.
Malena: The interaction is key, I think. You can only take so many photos of students staring at the speaker in the front of the room. Activities, group discussions, smiling and laughing faces all make for great photos.
Do you need a fancy camera, or can smartphones capture high-quality photos for social media?
J: I use a mixture of both! iPhones can do a lot these days. Plus, if you take iPhone photos in live mode, you can edit the photo to select the best key frame to capture the action.
M: I also use both. Phone cameras have come such a long way – you really can take high quality photos without the fancy camera. If I know I want to take a video to post as a Reel, recording on a smartphone is an easy way to make sure the size is correct.
What are some common mistakes people make when taking photos for social media, and how can they avoid them?
J: One of the most common mistakes that I see is posing people for too many of your photos. Posed portrait photos have their time and their place, but the majority of your photos for social media should be candid, natural photos. I sometimes pose subjects for student recognition photos, but I mostly take candid shots at school events.
M: A mistake I see is not considering angle. Oftentimes, to get as many people in a candid shot as possible, someone will choose an aerial shot or a wide angle. While an aerial shot might be good for a closeup of an activity and a wide angle helps with group photos, they aren’t as engaging for candid shots because you can’t see the subjects’ faces. Try to have the camera level with your subject and know which individuals are the focus of that shot.
J: I also see many people only photographing in portrait or landscape orientation. Collect both portrait and landscape photos, because both are useful on different platforms. Landscape photos are great for Facebook. Or, you can post a combination of three photos with different orientations on Facebook for a collage effect. Square or portrait photos are best for Instagram.
Mistakes to Avoid
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Lots of posed photos
Take candid photos instead!
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Trying to fit the whole scene in one photo
Candid photos are better when we can see people’s faces
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Shooting with only one orientation
Be sure to take both horizontal and vertical photos!
How do you approach photographing shy or reluctant subjects, like students or staff who might not feel comfortable on camera?
J: When I’m in the classroom, I’ll ask a student, “do you mind if I take some photos of you reading? You can just keep doing what you’re doing.” If they say yes, then I’ll take photos. If they say no, then I’ll move onto the next group of students. Students sometimes look like they’re a little too aware of the camera at first, but take several photos and they’ll loosen up by the third or fourth photo.
When I’m taking photos at a school event, I’ll mingle through the crowd and take candids of groups of people interacting. I’m less likely to stop and ask to take an individual’s photo at a school event, but I always check students’ photo permissions status.
M: You can also ask students questions about what they’re doing. It helps them relax if they freeze up when you point the camera at them.
Tips for Capturing Events
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Natural lighting is your friend
Shoot with your back to a window, if possible.
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Zoom with your feet!
Getting physically closer makes for better quality images.
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Get down to your subject's level
Happy faces are much more engaging than the tops of heads.
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Consider time of day
Aim for the morning or beginning of an event with younger kids.
What’s your advice for getting dynamic shots that convey the energy of an event?
J: Try to capture natural lighting when possible. Don’t zoom in, but walk closer to your subjects before taking your photo. When photographing kids, get down on their level. Most importantly, try to capture happiness and laughter!
M: Yes, natural lighting! The right lighting immediately helps elevate your photos and make the scene feel warm and engaging.
The only other thing I would add is to think about when on the event’s agenda you’re taking the photos. Students tend to be more drained (or easily distracted) near the end of an event, so I try to get my best photos in the morning or at the beginning half of the event when their energy is still high.
If you could give just one piece of advice to someone new to school social media, what would it be?
J: Own your school district’s story on social media! Many families and community members form opinions based on what they see online. Jump in and start telling your positive school district stories on social media!
M: Social media is such a powerful tool to easily share the great things going on in your schools. So just to echo Justine’s advice, focus on the positives. It doesn’t have to just be big events either. Catching small moments of joy in the classroom can also create impactful posts.
