[mplpost] Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Promo Photos

[Brian Blain]

****Gene asked about "high-quality ink-jet reproductions"

Ink-jet prints, like glossy photos, have a continuous tone (no dots) and a
photo needs dots to print correctly. And, notwithstanding the
"high-contrast" suggestions in previous posts, it's hard(est) to print
solid black (all dots) or completely white (no dots). Most of the
publications I work on are printed with paper plates (no film) and I have
to lighten the black and darken the white a little to get the best results.

On more than one occasion I have received a nasty surprise when I used
ink-jet prints of ads that included photos. We pasted these into the layout
(as we would a laserprinted ad) and the results were awful... photo totally
washed out, though the text was fine.

If you're getting promo photos done, you might as well do it in colour. I
don't think it cost any more these days and they can be easily converted to
black and white when scanned. It's more important that they be sharp (in
focus) and bright (well lit).

There is no substitute for a genuine glossy (though high-quality ink-jet on
glossy photo paper are pretty damn close).

I also like the idea of two photos on one 8x10. You can make one veritical
and one horizontal; one happy, one sad; one with hat, one without; etc etc

Once you start seeing your picture in print,  it's time to book another
photo shoot, because it's not likely that the same picture will be used
again in the same publication.

And lastly, you should know that the quality of the image is very often the
deciding factor on whose photo is selected for publication.

Keep those photos coming.


BrianB, (barely)managing editor
MapleBlues - Toronto Blues Society
Downtown Jazz - Downtown Jazz Society
Crescendo - Toronto Musicians' Association


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Date: Fri, 23 Nov 2001 08:21:59 -0800
Subject: [mplpost] Re: Promo material and pics
From: "rtwright@grassrootsgroup.com" <rtwright@grassrootsgroup.com>
To: maplepost@icomm.ca
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Re: promo material and pics

Speaking as a former photographer and newspaper editor... do not
use matte prints.  Use glossy.  Richard F is right that they look
better, but, they do NOT reproduce as well.  I always hated
getting them. To cut to the chase noting reproduces as well as a
glossy photograph, not laser prints, prints from a press, matte,
whatever.  Use glossy.
However, it is NOT necessary to use 8x10.  In my experience 5x7
has become the new standard. Cheaper and just as good for
newspapers.
Next to photos the best thing to do for promotion in newspaper,
particularly locals, is to write or have someone write a proper
news release. It will cost you from 0-$300. Many papers will use
it verbatim.  Smaller papers are pressed for copy and time.  With
our house concert series we usually get two announcements in the
paper.  One small one 6 weeks ahead in response to an e-mail and
then a major article and photo one week before.  98% of the time
it is the news release I sent, (with the ticket price removed) and
a photo.
I try to send a horizontal and a vertical.  Yes, horizontals end
up larger, or may not be used if there is no space.
Also, try to have the copy for local papers sent from a local,
like the presenter, not from a PR firm in the next major city or
one across the country.  Those usually went in the round file.

The key is to think like a reporter in a panic or a editor on
deadline day.
Oh yes, always, always, phone up later and say thank you, even if
the article was not quite what you wanted. In all my years as
editor I got only a few calls.  Our paper is always surprised when
we call to say thank you.  And make sure there are comps at the
door.

Like Richard F I do this for a living, so here's more free
advice--from the "west coast Richard"... at the risk of offending
Yukon Mark with too much west coast material.

If you want to read all this in a longer form go to our other
website:
http://grassrootsgroup.com/newsrelease.htm

Richard Wright


> Hi James, Richard et al.
>
> Thanks for this info and the tips on setting the photos up.  Like
Rodney,
> I
> am also interested in this right now.
>
> Rodney,  I see that Galbraith's has a web presence at
> http://www.galbraithphotodigital.com  complete with pricing info and
> options
> to transfer your files to them electronically.
>
> Bob
>
> --------------------------------------------------
> Bob Evans -- Acoustic Tonic Music
> bob.evans@acoustictonic.com
> www.acoustictonic.com
> Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
>
>Ah Richard...
>
>I'm not sure if I'm just playing Devil's advocate here, but I have some
>differing opinions (while I defer to your experience, 'tis fun to heckle).
>
>
>>1) Try to have a horizontal image, rather than a square one or a vertical
>>one - horizontal images get more newspaper space!
>
>Take a look at a newspaper, magazine, festival programme book, etc.  You'll
>find that people DO in fact have and use vertical pics.  Two arguments here:
>
>a) if the graphic designer is trying to decide which photo to run, and
>space is an issue, you may drop out in favour of another shot.
>b) when was the last time a journalist called to say "Because of your
>lovely horizontal image, I've decided to write more copy - can you tell me
>what you had for breakfast?"
>
>My suggestion is this: 8x10 with two smaller images - one vertical, one
>horizontal.  That way, the designer has a choice.  It'll cost a few bucks
>more to set up, but once you have a negative it'll cost the same to print.
>
>>9) Aim, in your black and white shots, for good contrast - black and
>>white, not grey!
>
>Throw out your B&W shots - they're for old folks.  The same contrast rule
>applies, but with a judiciously shot colour photo, you are once again
>providing the end user with a choice, increasing the likelihood your
>smiling face will end up in the programme / paper / website / poster / etc.
>
>And just a general comment on digital imagery - get as many pixels in there
>as you can.  When we're talking hi-res, we're talking megapixels - lots of
>them.  While it may be easier to email small files, you're shooting
>yourself in the foot if you expect people to use the same image file used
>on your website.
>
>Jesse Kumagai
>Administrative Coordinator, Music
>Harbourfront Centre
>Tel.  416 973 3735
>Fax. 416 973 8729
>mailto:jesse@harbourfront.on.ca
>http://www.harbourfront.on.ca
>235 Queens Quay West
>Toronto, Ontario

>>I too recommend Galbraith; some more tips:
>>
>>1) Try to have a horizontal image, rather than a square one or a
>>vertical one - horizontal images get more newspaper space!
>>2) Matte prints look SO much classier than glossies, which look tacky.
>>3) Never print your name in the image area of the phaotograph, always
>>beneath it.
>>4) If you're band, list the names under the pic from left to right.
>>5) Always include a contact phone  number/e-mail address.
>>6) Do NOT have your brother -in-law take the pictures.
>>7) Have downloadble black and white and colour images on your web site.
>>8) Lazer printed photographs are not suitable for print reproduction.
>>9) Aim, in your black and white shots, for good contrast - black and
>>white, not grey!
>>
>>Cheers,
>>
>>Richard
>>(giving away free advice again)
>>
>>
>>--
>Asked Kellie:
>
>>Do pictures have to be *actual* photographs on photo paper, or are
>>high-quality reproductions (ie. printing press) on heavy stock equivalent?
>
>Yes, they do.  However "quality" printed on heavy stock they are made
>up of "dots" which cause a "moire" (pron. more-ay!)  effect when they
>are produced in a newspaper or magazine - the "dots" don't match and
>they make up a pattern.  Gawd, I didn't explain that very well, but
>that's the reason newspaper and magazine editors will not use such
>"photographs" - although they're fine for sticking up in clubs, or
>for impressing potential employers.
>
>Richard
>Canada  M5J 2G8
>
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