Hello all-
Lively discussion about photos and illustrations. As always, sage 
advice from Len, Ceci, and
Peter.  Julie also brings up a good alternative to pricey stock 
photos-- doing your own!

I would like to share some of my challenges and good results with 
low-to-medium
cost photography. Like all of you,  I like to keep my photo budget low 
when possible.

DO IT YOURSELF
A good digital camera in NATURAL, ambient can work.
However, due to deep shadows and color shifts that can happen with
in-door lighting and flash without professional lights, I suggest using 
a duotone photos
(two PMS colors) or black and white photos with a pale color wash (a 5% 
screen).
I've done it often and these techniques field test well with limited 
readers.

You'll want to get a signed photo release from your subjects.
And make sure you don't use any photos for another more controversial 
topic
that could potentially embarrass your subjects. For example--using the 
photo earmarked for
nutrition brochure a second time for  TB or pregnancy brochure. In 
short--only use the photo for the topic you
got the release for.  A MUST!

WORKING WITH PHOTOGRAPHY  STUDENTS
Love their youth and creativity.
And, know you will need to be a "hands on" art production manager so 
you don't get
loads of artsy shots  that don't meet your health literacy needs.
Good rules of thumb?
1. BE VERY specific about what you are looking for. A photo 
journalistic style is best versus wide-angle
  lens or funky upshot approach.
2. Provide all the clothing for the model's yourself. Yep--iron them, 
tag them, and have extras.
  Free or low paid talent tend to show up in T-shirts or sporting 
clothing with brands. Yes--I did have
a man show up in a JOE CAMEL shirt for a CVD brochure. Really.
3. Make a prop list and label all your props with masking tape (scene 
1, scene 2 etc.)
4. Have a shot list and stick to it.
5. Have an assistant who marks down the shots you think looked best.

HIRING OUT
My favorite method to get the ethnically appropriate and behaviorally 
oriented shots
we folks seek. And it can actually be very cost effective.

In the Washington DC-BWI metro area a professional photographer and a 
trained photo assistant runs $1,200 to $2,000
a day. This fee includes getting your photos on disk.
Plan on getting 4 to 5 scenes (that means you may have to make a 
waiting room look like a home . . .
per day. A day runs from 8 AM until 5 or 6 PM in most cases.
Expect your photographer to shoot 4 to 1 or 5 to 1. That means you will 
get a good photo for every
4 or 5 shots taken.
Plan your shots, have your talent (people being photographed) come 30 
minutes prior to their scene.
Have magazines lying around--the shoots and snacks! ALWAYS take longer 
than expected.

Does it work? Yep--The Keenan team managed to get all the photo shots 
for 24 booklets on TB (6 for
Pacific Islanders, 6 for Vietnamese, 6 for Hispanics, and 6 for general 
population) in a 4- day period
at 10 sites.  We emerged tired, yet with the shots needed to showed the 
behaviors we wanted.

PARTING SUGGESTION
Don't be afraid of photography. Study the type of stock photos you 
can't afford or
that don't quite have the correct look you meet. Strive to do them  on 
your own, with photography students,
or by hiring professionals.

I find it can be great fun for you and very rewarding to your readers.
Enjoy the new year!

All best,
Jann


Jann Keenan, Ed.S.
President, The Keenan Group, Inc.
Experts in Health Literacy
9862 Century Drive
Ellicott City, MD 21042
410.480.9716
www.healthliteracyworks.com
www.healthliteracyinnovations.com

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