Taking Photographs For Social Media Marketing - Lynne Garner

In my post last month (planning ahead with social media marketing) I shared that I was returning to social media marketing after a long break. I also shared that I’d learnt images are now ‘the’ thing to include in your Tweets and Facebook updates. 

The issue with having to find new images all the time is I worry about stealing a photographers copyright. I know not everyone does but as a writer I'm protective of my copyright and understand what it means to have it stolen. So I decided I’d create my own library of photographs I can use. I’ll admit I do have a little background in photography and have a reasonable camera. However, I’m not the best photographer there is and let’s be honest a picture appearing on Twitter or Facebook only has to be reasonable. It’ll be quite small and you’ll be lucky if someone looks at it for more than a few seconds. So out I went snapping. However, it wasn’t until I returned home and downloaded the photographs I’d taken that I realised I hadn't thought  about leaving space for the text. 

As you can see not that much room for text

I also realised I had to get out of the habit of also taking photographs in portrait format (an overhang from taking photographs for magazines, you just never know what format an editor will want).  Photographs in portrait format don't work when you're working to the sizes and shapes used on social media.  

So over the last couple of weeks I've been taking my camera out on each dog walk and as I took each photograph I looked for space. I had to think about placing the name of the celebration day/date and then another space for the quote. After a few attempts I started to see space everywhere and now I’m having a little more luck with the photographs I’m taking.

Two lovely spaces for text 

As you can see lots and lots of space 

So to cut a long blog post shot, if you're thinking about creating your own library of photographs for social media use then think 'space.' It’s working for me.

Regards

Lynne 

Now for a blatant plug - don't say I didn't warn you:

My latest short story collection Coyote Tales Retold is available on Amazon in ebook format. Also available 

Meet The Tricksters a collection of 18 short stories featuring Anansi the Trickster Spider, Brer Rabbit and Coyote is available as a paper back and an ebook. 

I run the following online courses for Women On Writing:

How to write A children's book and get published

5 picture books in 5 weeks

How to write a hobby-based how to book