THE VIBRANT PARISH NEWSLETTER

The Power of Photographs

Famed documentary photographer Robert Frank once said that the one thing every good photograph must contain is “the humanity of the moment.”

When we use photography in church communications, that’s exactly what we endeavor to do — but we actually want to go one step further. We want to capture the divinity of the moment. We want to see and show humanity reaching for, working amidst, and resting within the embrace of God.

We live in a highly visual world, where pictures are worth more than just a thousand words — they’re worth everything. Research shows that consumers are more than six times more likely to remember information if it is paired with an image, and click-through rates of email campaigns with images are more than 40% higher than those without.

Whether you’re already using visual imagery and photography to communicate your parish message, or you want to and simply don’t know where to start, here are some points to consider.

Focus!

Whether it’s the senior club’s Christmas lunch, a youth group pizza night or a surprise cake in the office for Father’s birthday, always be ready to snap a few photos. Don’t worry about making it look professional — what you want here is to convey the joy of discipleship that emerges in these spontaneous moments of parish life. On the occasion of a big event (think the annual parish picnic or the school auction), consider investing in a professional photographer, or find a volunteer who knows how to handle a DSLR. Attendees will be excited to see the photos on social media the next day, and those who couldn’t make it will be curious to see what they missed.

Sharing is caring.

No one lights a candle only to hide it under a bushel, so why would you take a photo only to leave it languishing, unseen, on the memory card? Social media posts with images are likely to get 2.3 times more engagement than those with no visuals. Sharing the moments you capture via social media can help convey the richness of your parish life and draw attention to ministries or initiatives that might otherwise be overlooked. Encourage parishioners to tag themselves in your photos to increase visibility and shareability.

Don’t forget the details.

Take a little time to educate yourself on rules, ethics, and considerations surrounding the use of copyrighted images and the sharing of photographs that depict real people. There are many guides online for creating a photo release form, and forms such as these can even be included in registration materials for large, planned events. You will also want to find out if your diocese has specific rules about obtaining permission before sharing images of children.

Back to Top

Build Your Social Media Platform with Images

Social media is a crowded space, but using images is one of the best ways to grab parishioners’ attention. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, today it’s also worth a thousand views, likes, or comments. Posting regularly (3-5 times per week) helps boost your parish to the top of newsfeeds, allowing for even better engagement. Struggling with content? Here are some image-driven tips to keep your posts on top of the heap.

Check out “Social Media Ideas and Prompts” for more tips to engage your followers.

Build Your Parish Brand by Showcasing Parish Life

You want to help people know your parish, selecting art that speaks to your community’s faith and images of parish life will welcome people in. Highlight parishioners making a difference in the community with snapshots. Ask volunteer and youth ministry groups to send in pictures of their events for posting (or ask a savvy youth to post during the event!). Ask for prayer requests using stock images of praying hands or votives. You can also announce special Mass or Confession times with iconic graphics of a chalice and Host or a cross.

Engage and Lead Your Flock

Lead parents looking to baptize to the information they need with sacramental images of Chrism oil, water, the baptismal font, or beautiful images of Christ’s baptism. Use stock images of a computer mouse, laptop or vibrant ‘sign up’ clip art to grow your followers with a link to subscribe to the digital bulletin each week on ParishesOnline.com.

Have a new priest at the parish? Do a soft introduction to your parish community with a simple photo and welcoming words. Invite the parish for donuts after mass to meet the new pastor with mouthwatering images of the pastries.

Inspirational posts are also very popular. Choose compelling images and pair them with quotes from saints, well-known Catholic figures, or words of faithful inspiration. Showcase the gospel reflection of the week with beautiful images of nature’s splendor.

Spread the Good News and Increase Web Traffic

Social Media is great for broadcasting parish-sponsored events like festivals, donation drives, school initiatives, and raffles. Help make these post engaging with images from past events, or search WeCreate for relevant photography and clip art for any event or occasion. If you’re a bulletin customer, you already have access! Don’t forget to add a link to your website or a flyer with all the details. This helps increase traffic to your website, which could lead to new parishioners as they get to know you from your digital profile.

Get into the social media conversation and grow your reach with images for even the smallest posts.

Looking for more ways to utilize social media platforms? We’ve gotcha covered! Check out “Social Media and Your Parish” for more tips to engage your followers.

Back to Top

Hiring a Photographer for Church Events

You’re planning a large event at your parish — sacraments, festivals, VBS, etc. — does photography enter your plan? Photographs can capture the energy and excitement of an event in both print and digital communications.

Why do photos matter? Like a family photo on the wall, a photo can tell someone, “You belong here.” How many times have you seen someone search for their face in a group photo or thumb through a yearbook trying to find their listing? Similarly, photos of your community can assure them that they’re an important part of the family. Photos also build excitement, encourage nostalgia, and celebrate a job well done!

Churches can use photos in many ways:

• Post highlights and candids online after an event — show people what they missed. One church in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin shares, “[We use photos to] recap an event — First Communion, mission trip, retreat, church corn roast, etc. We have begun selecting some to use as banners and page art for our website.”
• Print a couple in your bulletin with highlights — "We had a blast at [xyz event]!"
• Add a few to the scrolling slideshow before Masses, "Thank you for making [xyz event] a success!"
• Print some and add them to the bulletin boards as people walk in and out of Mass
• Add photos to your promo materials for the Parish — real people in your photos speaks volumes
• A church in Espanola, New Mexico shares, “I post pictures of the church where events will be happening. When announcing the Annual Bazaar, I'll post pictures of the fun that was had the previous year.”

Think photography sounds like a good idea but not sure where to start? James Silvestri of Silvestri Photography was kind enough to offer his perspective on best practices when it comes to church photography.

Silvestri has been a professional photographer for over 10 years in the Archdiocese of Detroit where he specializes in weddings and special events, but he has ample experience in the church world as well: he often shoots for large-scale church events on the Archdiocesan level. Here are his tips for you and your community.

What should churches keep in mind when hiring a photographer?

“Being Catholic (or at least being familiar with the Catholic faith) is a huge help when photographing churches or Masses. This helps in knowing what "part" of a Mass is coming next, what parts are "important" to capture and what is/is not ok to do in a church or during a Mass. For example, I was photographing a wedding one time and found myself in need of a second shooter at the last minute. I found someone who was a great photographer, but not necessarily a wedding photographer. Needless to say, his photos didn't come out great because he wasn't familiar with weddings, wedding day timelines, or working with a bride and groom. The same thought process applies to working with churches. Being familiar with what you're shooting is essential to quality photography.” -JS

What kinds of questions can help a church find out if you're a good “fit”?

“This is a tough one. Obviously, a portfolio tells a lot about creative ability with photography, but like I said in the last question, that doesn't necessarily make you a good church/Mass photographer. It would be helpful to ask a photographer what kind of approach they would take during a Mass and how they might get certain shots.” -JS

What is special about church photography for you?

“I was raised in a very religious family and have been active in the Catholic church my entire life. My faith means a lot to me. Something else that means a lot to me is my artistic background. I find so much joy in photography and being able to combine that joy with the love of my faith is such a beautiful thing to me.” -JS

Why is photography important in today’s age?

“We live in a visual world. Visual, creative advertising is at an all-time high. Beautiful imagery does wonders for connecting people to each other and to what is being photographed. Hearing about a church or an event happening at a church is one thing but seeing beautifully photographed images of the church or the event has the ability to create emotions. Strong photography can be such a powerful thing and has the ability to bring people closer to each other, to the Church, and ultimately, to God.” -JS

With these tips under your belt, you’re well on your way to capture the success of your events!

LPi is proud to help churches share their stories in print and digital formats. Check out how we make it easy with ePub Design!

Back to Top

Beautiful Catholic Graphics

WeCreate is a graphics library featuring beautiful depictions of Catholic liturgical life. Use the art in your print or digital media!

Become a Bulletin Customer

Spend less time worrying about your church printing and more time transforming your community for Christ.

The Benefits of Branding Your Church

Spend less time worrying about your church printing and more time transforming your community for Christ.