WordCamp Cincinnati | 2016 - Tamia Stinson...FAVORITE TOOLS & PLUGINS • Image editing: Fotor,...
Transcript of WordCamp Cincinnati | 2016 - Tamia Stinson...FAVORITE TOOLS & PLUGINS • Image editing: Fotor,...
THINK LIKE AN ART DIRECTOR:
5 Steps to Creating Imagery That Attracts Readers
WHO AM I?• Photo Stylist & Creative Director
• Social Media Manager
• Blogger since 2008 at TheStyleSample.com
• Creative City Podcast host at CreativeCityPodcast.com
• Ice cream lover
• Purple Rain aficionado
• @thestylesample
WHO ARE YOU?Who is currently using WordPress?
What types of pictures do you use or want to use on your site?
WHAT IS AN ART DIRECTOR?
• Responsible for visual style and images
• Copywriter develops the message; art director creates visuals to complement the message
WHY ARE IMAGES IMPORTANT?
• 90% of information transmitted to the brain is visual (60,000 times faster than text!)
• People form a first impression in 50 milliseconds
• THE SOCIAL MEDIAS
HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO YOU?
• Content with relevant visuals gets 94% more views
• Credibility !
• Streamline the process
THINK LIKE AN ART DIRECTOR
1. Have a framework
2. Know the story
3. Plan your images
4. Make pictures
5. Distribute the goods
1. HAVE A FRAMEWORK• Branding
• Photo style
• Bright? Muted?
• Templates
• Think about use: Web? Social?
• Think about orientation (landscape vs portrait)
TEMPLATES• site header
• landscape post header
• portrait post image
• sidebar image
• Instagram /featured image/thumbnail (usually a square)
• Pinterest/FB/Twitter post
2. KNOW THE STORY
• What are the key points?
• Research the topic
• What visuals make sense?
• photo, illustration, graphic, text, or some combination
THE BURGERS ARE GREAT!
3. PLAN YOUR IMAGES
• Plan based on your templates
• Consider your photo style
• Colors, backgrounds, arrangement
• Gather inspiration
• Pinterest, IG, sketch
• Create a shot list
SHOT LIST
4. MAKE PICTURES
• Gather your tools
• Camera, tripod, remote, flash
• Gather your supplies
• Backgrounds, props, accessories
4. MAKE PICTURES
• Batch, please!
• Pick a day and time
• Take lots of pictures
• Variety!
• Create an editing process
• Use same process
• Compress for web
• Rename
A FEW TIPS
• Natural light is your friend
• Use the rule of thirds
• Leave space
• Zoom in
• Pull it back
• Don’t flash your food
5. DISTRIBUTE THE GOODS
• Production
• Upload
• Add alt tags, titles, captions
• Place and resize
• Add to social media
MY (IDEAL) PROCESS• Plan editorial calendar
• Research & write posts
• Create shot list & source props/accessories
• Shoot day!
• Edit posts
• Edit photos
• Upload text and images to website, social media scheduling tools
FAVORITE TOOLS & PLUGINS• Image editing: Fotor, Pixlr, GIMP, Photoshop/Lightbox, VSCO
• Images: Pixabay, Death to the Stock Photo
• Graphic design: Canva, InDesign
• Plugins: WP Smush image optimization, Enhanced Media Library (create, filter, search by media categories), Canva
• Distribution: Later, Buffer, Hootsuite, CoSchedule, IFTTT
QUESTIONS?