DeSales University Photo Submission Guidelines
These guidelines are designed to help you submit photos that can be used in marketing and other areas of campus, including social media, the website, print materials, and advertising. What makes a good photo is subjective, but there are some tips you can follow to have the best chance of getting your photos approved, shared, and seen.
We’re looking for photos that showcase:
- Student Engagement (in class, activities, events, etc.)
- Faculty-Student Interaction
- Campus Life and Community
- Real Experiences and Learning
- Photos should feel natural, authentic, and representative of the DeSales experience.
Before You Submit:
- Please make sure the photo is clear and in focus with good lighting (not too dark or washed out)
- Subjects are easy to identify.
- The background is clean and not distracting.
- Photos represent DeSales positively and authentically.
Tips for Taking Better Photos
- Think professionally when taking photos. While some phones take quality photos, your best shot will be taken on a camera with an understanding of its basic settings.
- Use natural light when possible (near windows or outdoors).
- Avoid zooming in too much, get physically closer instead.
- Take both horizontal and vertical photos.
- Capture real moments, not posed shots.
- Be aware of the background for anything inappropriate.
- Lightly edit photos to emphasize authenticity.
- Give yourself plenty of options and submit the best ones.
What to Avoid
- Blurry, pixelated, or dark phots.
- Photos not taken physically in the space (screenshots, zoom recordings, etc.)
- Heavily filtered or edited photos
- Cluttered or distracting backgrounds
- Featuring visible logos from other schools or brands
Information to include with your submission.
- Names and titles of people in photo, if possible
- Description of event or happening
- Location, time and date
- Photographer credit
Submitting
- Submit photos to the DeSales University Digital Asset Management (DAM). Access permissions will be given to several individuals on campus. If you do not have access, a designate in your department will have permissions and can work with you.
- If you have any questions or require access, please reach out to Rebecca Craft at rebecca.craft@desales.edu.
Final Notes
- Not all submitted photos will be approved or used, but we appreciate every submission.
- The more variety and options you send, the better.
- Your photos help tell the story of our campus, thank you!
From the DeSales Brand Toolkit Guidebook:
DeSales's campus is exceptionally bucolic, but if it's shot in a traditional fashion, that difference may not stand out. Reframe how you think about space in service of more dynamic imagery. Interesting angles/perspectives need to come into play to avoid photos looking too flat and boring. The goal of every photo should be to reflect the personality of the students while letting your Salesian values shine through.
Successful photos should:
- Be mindful of the story you are telling.
- Get up close and focus on a student(s) to make the viewer feel like they're in the photo (use shallow depth of field to really focus on the subject and bring the story forward.
- Capture a student(s) doing something interesting in a space/environment from an interesting angle and perspective.
- Highlight or use unique architectural elements/campus environments and photograph them from interesting angles/perspectives.
Consent for Use of Likeness for Students and Employees Over 18 Years of Age:
DeSales University reserves the right to film or take photographs of faculty, staff, and students engaged in teaching, research, clinical practices, and other activities related to the University, as well as casual photography or film. Every effort will be made to obtain verbal or written consent from individuals before capturing photographs where a reasonable expectation of privacy exists.
These photographs and films may be used in publications such as catalogs, posters, advertisements, recruitment, and development materials, as well as on the University’s website and/or social media. They may also be distributed to local, state, or national media for promotional purposes. In addition, the University may, at their sole discretion, allow photographers and videographers to use photos and films created during the course of their employment for non-commercial portfolio purposes.
Classes may only be photographed or filmed with the permission of the professor or instructor and the approval of the administration.
Faculty, students, and staff are also made aware by virtue of this policy that the University reserves the right to alter photography and film for promotional purposes. Such edits will not materially misrepresent individuals’ identities or alter their likeness in ways that are misleading or inconsistent with the context of the original image.
If a student does not consent to the University’s use of photographs or film in the manner(s) described above, they should inform photographers and videographers of their non-consent when they are on campus shooting photographs or filming. If a student is involved in activities that regularly involve being filmed or photographed (such as performing arts or a leadership position on campus) they should send an email to marcom@desales.edu and inform the leadership of the appropriate department.
Students, faculty, and staff are also advised that they have no legal expectation of privacy while in public places and are, therefore, subject to being photographed by third parties. DeSales University has no control over the use of photographs or films taken by third parties, including media outlets covering University activities.
For Students Under the Age of 18:
DeSales University will not use the image of any minor individual without the written consent of that minor’s parent or guardian. If a minor
is accidentally or incidentally featured and identifiable in an image or video that has been published by the University, the minor or their parent/guardian should send an email to marcom@desales.edu.
Copyright of Photography & Videography
These terms apply to work created by any individual or organization that provides photography or videography services for DeSales University including but not limited to full-time employees, part-time employees, and independent contractors.
Ownership
The Photographer or Videographer (hereinafter “Photographer”) agrees that the photographs, film, or video (hereinafter “Photographs”) shall be the property of the University as either “work made for hire” under U.S. copyright law or otherwise, and the University is and shall be the sole and exclusive owner of all right, title and interest in and to the Photographs (and all digital files and or negatives) throughout the world. If the Photographs are deemed not to be “work made for hire” under U.S. copyright law or otherwise owned by University, Photographer hereby irrevocably assigns to the University all of Photographer’s worldwide right, title, and interest in and to the Photographs, together with all related benefits, privileges, rights of action, remedies, and intellectual property rights. As the owner of the copyrights in the Photographs, the University has the unrestricted right in perpetuity to reproduce, modify, distribute, display, use, create derivative works based upon, and otherwise exploit (including commercially) the Photographs in its sole discretion without permission from or further compensation to Photographer. Photographer hereby waives all rights of attribution and other moral rights in or associated with the Photographs. Photographer agrees to sign and deliver any other documents requested by the University to further effect or evidence the University’s ownership of the Photographs.
Confidentiality
- agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Photographs and all non-public information disclosed to, or obtained or observed by, Photographer in connection with their work for DeSales University.
Portfolio Use
Photographers or Videographers employed by the University (hereinafter “Photographer”) may use DeSales University owned photographs, film, or video (hereinafter “Photographs”) for non-commercial portfolio purposes only if the Department of the University that oversaw the creation of the images (i.e. Athletics, or TV Film) grants permission in writing. The University reserves the right to revoke said permission for any reason at any time. Specific Departments of the University may implement their own conditions for portfolio use beyond what is contained in this policy (such as a requirement that Photographer obtain a specific portfolio model release from the subjects before use).
All portfolio Photographs must include a watermark that is clearly visible and states “© DeSales University All Rights Reserved.” Portfolio Photographs may not be materially altered beyond basic retouching, editing, and color balancing.
Any other use of Photographs is strictly prohibited.
Questions? Contact Rebecca Craft at rebecca.craft@desales.edu.