An image is worth a thousand words

At Reflection PR, we love to tell great stories and what really helps us to do this are strong images.

Creative and eye-catching images enable stories to stand out and catch the reader’s eye. An article with an image tends to attract more space than those without so is very important when gaining press coverage. 

Photographs also make content more compelling as research shows that online press releases including a photo result in 14% more views than those without.

So to capture the interest of a photo journalist, make sure your images:

• Tell a story and encourage readers to read the copy • Are exciting (avoid dull hand-shaking shots) • Are relevant to the publication you’re submitting it to • Are simple so remove anything that doesn’t need to be in the shot • Are of high quality and high impact with a resolution of 300 dpi (dots per inch)

We always recommend clients invest in a professional photographer as they bring added knowledge on what kind of shots the media are looking for and can provide lighting and expertise to give a polished photo. 

In terms of social media, images are vital in appealing to your audience and boosting interactivity. Research by Twitter reveals that tweets including a photo receive three to four times more engagement than those that don’t. So if you’re looking to maximise the effect of social media, be sure to use interesting images.

Photographs also portray your brand image and let others see your personality so before taking any photos, ensure you have a plan of what you want to achieve.

And remember, you can still have fun while being professional so be creative and allow your brand to stand out by letting your photos tell the story.

What are your tips for a good PR photograph?

Photo supplied by  Mihai Tamasila.