Photography

Selecting Photos

OMC’s Photo team’s goal is to visually share the UMD campus experience. These guidelines are intended to preserve the authenticity of that storytelling.

• Prioritize using original photography over stock imagery as much as possible.
• Use discretion when using AI-generated imagery, and disclose via credit/caption if an image is AI-generated.
• Preserve the natural look of the subject; use colorizing or other dramatic filters in moderation.
• Do not use overly staged photography.
• Be mindful of the context in which images are used and the meaning they convey when taken out of that context. Avoid images that may inadvertently perpetuate stereotypes.
• Include people and context in building photos to infuse them with life.
• Credit the source and/or the photographer whenever and wherever possible.

Shooting Photos

Effective photographs ...

• Tell a story.
• Evoke a feeling.
• Are representative of the Terp community’s diversity.
• Have interesting angles and points of view.
• Convey a sense of place or of the subject.
• Have natural smiles and authentic interactions.
• Are bold, dynamic and bright.

Request your subject’s name and cell phone number or email whenever possible to indicate consent. 

Portraits should convey a sense of personality and authenticity with the following attributes:

• A simple, uncluttered background or relevant props and environment.
• Natural light, when possible. Keep the sun behind the photographer.
• Proximity to your subject, especially If your lenses are limited or you’re using a phone.

Event photography should capture the unique aspects of the event along with the sponsoring unit’s brand or mark. A photographer should seek opportunities to capture the interaction of the speaker(s) with the audience and shoot from different angles. Think variety: wide (overall, the entire event), medium (a close image of the audience or presenters engaged with the audience) and tight (close-up of speakers or presenters or interesting details).

When considering scenic imagery, consider the time of day for lighting, the traffic pattern of the area and any zones with special privacy considerations (i.e. the Health Center, residence halls, the Center for Young Children). Other considerations:

• People
• Composition, leading lines and framing
• Scale, depth and layers
• Action within the space and sense of energy
• Showcasing the functionality of spaces and their intended uses

Print images
CMYK color format: TIFF, PSD or JPEG at 300 dpi

Web/digital images
RGB color format: JPEG or PNG ranging from 72 dpi to 300 dpi

Much of the campus is considered a public space, and releases are not required from people whose images are captured in photographs or video. Public spaces include:

• Lobbies and atriums
• Sports fields or arenas
• UMD-sponsored events
• Outdoor common spaces

Individuals have a limited scope of privacy rights when they are in public spaces. They can be photographed or recorded on video without their consent. Exceptions exist in places where individuals have a practical expectation of privacy, such as medical facilities, residence halls and the Center for Young Children.

When shooting close-up images of individuals in other campus spaces, photographers should inform the subjects that their image may be used for marketing or communication purposes and/or ask them to sign the Photo Release Form. 

To maintain patient privacy and ensure HIPAA compliance, any photography or videography in or near the Health Center requires permission. Please contact photo@umd.edu for more information.

Respect the requests of community members not to be photographed, even in public spaces.

Email photo@umd.edu or request support from the Office of Marketing and Communications.