Photography is a powerful tool for our communication. It helps us tell stories, showcase our community and create a professional and engaging visual identity.
This guide outlines the main types of photography we use at Leiden University and provides practical tips to help you create impactful, on-brand images.
Portrait photography
Portrait photography is ideal for showing the people behind our stories. It’s a powerful way to create a personal connection and make our communication more relatable.
When to use portrait photography:
- For interviews and features: To put a face to researchers, students or staff and highlight their personal or academic contributions.
- For campaigns and recruitment: Portraits can give a human face to themes like inclusion, diversity, student life or working at the university.
- For (internal) profiles: For use on staff pages, expert databases or the intranet.
- For formal communications: Such as for executive board members, press materials or academic appointments.
Reportage and event photography
Use event photography to capture the atmosphere, content and interaction at university events. It’s perfect for giving visibility to our activities and demonstrating engagement, both internally and externally.
When to use event photography:
- At academic ceremonies: Such as PhD defences, inaugural lectures, graduation ceremonies and anniversaries – moments with both a formal and personal character.
- During symposia, lectures or conferences: To feature speakers, the audience and the sharing of knowledge.
- At faculty or student-focused events: Such as open days, introduction weeks or celebrations, where vibrancy and diversity are key.
Event photos should be authentic, representative and respectful. Don't just capture the speakers; also photograph the audience, interactions and the overall atmosphere. Remember to ask for consent when people are recognisably featured, especially for external use.
Architectural photography
Architectural photography is not just about showing buildings, but about conveying atmosphere, identity and experience. Here are the key points to keep in mind:
- Atmosphere and vibrancy: Capture the location as a vibrant place to meet, study and conduct research.
- Recognisable locations: Use characteristic spots so the building is easily identified.
- Light and composition: Opt for natural light and calm, clean compositions.
- Consent and privacy: Always ask for permission from individuals who are recognisably in the shot.
Tips for taking good photos
- Consider the purpose: Think ahead about how the photo will be used. This influences your composition. For example, a website banner requires a wide, panoramic crop.
- Vary your shots: Alternate between portrait (vertical) and landscape (horizontal) formats, and mix close-ups with wide shots. Ask what the end user needs – a banner for an email has different requirements than a vertical flyer.
- Leave some extra space: Take the photo with a bit of room around your subject. This gives you flexibility to crop later for a more dynamic composition.
- Ensure good lighting: Good light is crucial for quality and sharpness. Try to avoid backlighting and preferably don’t use flash.
- Play with eye contact and gaze direction: Avoid a forced look by not having everyone stare directly into the camera. This can feel unnatural. Instead, vary it by having people interact with each other or look just past the camera for a more relaxed atmosphere.
- Use the rule of thirds: This is the most well-known composition rule for creating interesting images. Divide your frame into nine equal parts and place your subject along one of the lines or at an intersection.
- Keep your horizon straight: Make sure the horizon in your photo is level. Use the grid lines on your camera or correct it during editing.
- Create a clear focus: Pay attention to the background and avoid distracting elements like lampposts, branches or used cups. By focusing on your subject and blurring the background, you create calm and draw attention to what really matters.
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