Photoshoots

A photograph tells a thousand words.  The more interesting a photo is the better chance it has of making the news pages of a papers, magazines or online publications.

However, many images submitted to picture editors are dull and boring due to a lack of imagination on the part of the photographer and client. Newspapers and magazines rarely use   ‘firing squad’ images. These are pictures of lifeless and expressionless people looking sternly at the camera usually wearing business suits!

Here are some valuable tips for organising a photoshoot but you can hire Ken Curran Communications’ team to do it all for you or to give you some practical advice. Contact: kencurran82@gmail.com or info@kencurrancommunications.ie Call +353 838977448

Tip 1.  Timing is everything. You can have a really standout image, but if arrives after a publication deadline then it won’t make the pages. So, if you want to target national or local newspapers or magazines with your photo check their daily or weekly deadlines. Daily newspapers like to receive images before noon. Organise your photoshoot for 11am or earlier. It should not take more than 30 minutes.  Magazines and weekly papers will have different deadlines. Don’t send the same image to magazines and weeklies that you already sent to the dailies. Give them a different selection of images.

Tip 2. Diary notice. You need to write and issue a brief diary notice to send to relevant media outlets’ picture and news desks. This notice should clearly state what the event is about and clearly give the date, time, and venue. Send a separate invitation to people you would like to attend. Both notices should be issued a week in advance.

Tip 3. When organising a photoshoot for a product launch or an announcement try to be as creative as possible. Use PROPS to illustrate the storyline. They might look silly to the client but may be exactly what a discerning picture editor wants for an inside page. The same advice applies for business stories, sports and news. 

 Tip 4.  Always have your own photographer at your photoshoot as newspapers and magazines cannot always send a snapper to your event. Your photographer should be  professional, and have all contact emails and telephone numbers of the relevant picture desks. They should be experienced working at photoshoots, organising people in pictures and trying hard to get the best possible images. The photographer should always include a caption clearly stating the names of the people in the image and what the picture is about. Ensure correct spellings. They should agree details with the PR consultant or client in advance of issuing them. The photographer should always RING the picture editor to inform them that they have sent images from the event and ask them to check their inbox of their arrival. Quite often editors will use the image and an extended caption which includes the details of the event rather than an accompanying press release.

Tip 5. Bring props to the agreed location for the photoshoot. Suss out the area a few days before and ensure the desired area is not on private land. Keep in mind the location should be easily accessible and not too far from towns or cities. People don’t have all day to hang around. Remember to consider natural light, backdrop. Prepare for all eventualities. Check if you need public liability insurance. If required you must pay for the relevant cover for the duration of the photoshoot.  Ensure you bring a copy of the insurance certificate with you on the day in case you are asked for it by a council official. Have a few umbrellas and waterproof jackets on standby in case the weather turns nasty. If possible, have a Plan B location.

Tip 6. While you may be trying to promote a product, service or announcement use promotional materials sparingly. Too much obvious branding often means the image will not be used as it is too much like advertising.  Don’t use large logos as backdrops. You might think they make a great photo but the likelihood is the picture editor will not agree with you.

Tip 7. In addition to supplying newspapers and magazines with the images, always upload them to your website, blog and other social media networks in order to spread your message.

Media Training – Radio Interviews – Fail to Prepare, Prepare to Fail

Fail to Prepare, Prepare to Fail. 

What is the first thing that comes into your mind when asked to do a radio interview? What will I say? how will I say it? How will I sound? Will I be nervous?

During our media interview training courses, we encourage participants to ask themselves: What is the subject? What do they want to know? What should I tell them? How will I communicate my message(s) and make an impact? What questions am I likely to be asked and what are the most difficult questions likely to be fired at me?

Business executives, representatives of organisations, politicians and individuals sometimes don’t realise the work that goes into preparing for a media interview. 

They have the knowledge,  expertise and experience on their particular topic to share with the media, readers, viewers and listeners. How do you decide what to say and how to say it simply, effectively and credibly? It takes lots of hard work, time and patience to perfect a positive message. Remember, it is not what you say but how you say it that is important.

Regardless of how much knowledge and experience you may have the most important piece of advice for anybody doing a media interview is preparation. You will trip yourself up if you don’t take the time out to prepare diligently irrespective of the length of the interview or the media outlet concerned. Reputations can be enhanced or destroyed in a matter of seconds.  A throwaway word or phrase or hesitant response can do untold damage to a brand or individual’s reputation. Give the same time and preparation regardless of whether it is a community, local or national radio station.

These are just some questions you should ask yourself:

* What media outlet wants to do the interview?

* What is the angle to the interview?

* What do I want to say on the subject?

* How long is the interview?

* If it is a soundbite will I communicate one message or try two?

* If it is a three to five-minute interview what are the messages I want to convey?

* Who is the interviewer? What is their interviewing style?

*How will I prioritise my messages in terms of importance?

* Have your facts and statistics to support your answers.

And finally, ask yourself what is the most difficult questions I can be asked on the particular subject? Be honest.

Once you have decided on your message(s) and you prioritise them,  rehearse your answers and remember brevity and clarity are key. Use ladybird English.  Simple words and reasonably short sentences. Try to avoid using clichés and well-worn, outdated phrases. Above all, avoid using industry jargon. You understand it, but the interviewer and listener doesn’t. And they are your audience.

And here are some more tips:

* Write your message(s) as bullet points. One word if possible or else one sentence. Do Not read from a prepared script.

* Avoid a sheaf of papers. Rustling through them trying to find the answer to a question indicates you don’t have the answer. Listeners don’t want to listen to paper noise.

* Have a glass of tepid water, NOT cold beside you if you are in an office or room. Cold water dries the mouth.

* Speak slowly and clearly and speak in your normal speaking voice.

Media training should form an integral part of your internal staff training programmes should you be expected to deal with the public.

Our next blog will deal with the different techniques for studio, telephone and outside broadcast interviews. Thinking on your feet, handling supplementary questions, dealing with nerves.

To request further information on our media training courses email: ken@kencurrancommunications.ie or call +353872904982.

Media Skills Interview Training workshops

The secret of delivering a strong, positive media interview is preparation, preparation, preparation. Knowing your stuff is one thing, delivering it in a positive, convincing style under time constraints is quite another.

Achieving a successful media interviews can be nerve wracking for some people.  They get all flustered and nervous at the sight of a camera or microphone or even smartphones these days.  They know what they want to say but become tongue-tied.   A great opportunity to deliver key messages to clients, customers, stakeholders is lost.  Others stumble through an interview clearly reading from a prepared statement which is very unconvincing if not annoying.

Preparing for media interviews should get the same priority as any other senior management function.  A positive reputation can be wiped in seconds by a poor response to a probing question.

We deliver bespoke media skills training programmes for beginners, intermediate and advanced participants. There are no tricks, no shortcuts, just hard work perfecting your personal delivery style using simple but effective techniques that work. We provide individual training days or workshops. Most of the training model is focussed on doing a series of different media interviews followed by analysis.

You will learn:

* The changing Irish media landscape – print (broadsheet/tabloid), broadcast (television, radio) digital and social media.
* How the media works across all these communications platforms
* Preparation for media interviews print/ broadcast
* Prioritising your message (s)

* Keeping on message

* Anticipating difficult questions

* Use of language – avoiding jargon and clichés

* Interview techniques – how to relax, breathing and body langauge

* Practical interviews and analysis

All training is provided by experienced national print and broadcast journalists. Email us for more details at ken@kencurrancommunications.ie or call +353872904982.