Photographer insights: what makes a great press photo?

Photographer Mike Hall, who’s been behind the lens for over 30 years, examines five images he’s taken for Front Door Comms which have added extra oomph to our client campaigns. So, what makes a good press photo?

“The job of a photographer is to tell the story before anyone’s read it, but it’s also to stop the reader on the page,” says Mike Hall, who’s been a freelance photographer for over three decades and snapped high profile stars such as Royal family members including King Charles and the Princess of Wales, Nelson Mandela, plus Prime Ministers including Boris Johnson and David Cameron.

Mike – who kicked off his successful career at Cambridge Evening News aged 18 – explains that whenever he’s sent on a job, there’s often two situations. The first is that a photographer can turn up and there’s nothing to work with. In these instances, Mike advises to look for how you can create the image that will tell the story of the business.

For example, he explains that if you want to show people at work, instead of placing them in front of a laptop pretending to type, you could take them to a server room with lots of different lights and colourful leads to add extra dimensions and talking points to what you’re capturing.

The second situation, Mike says, is when what’s on offer to the photographer is “gold”.

“It could be a business in a nice contemporary setting, with something on the wall that tells a story, and that’s great. As a photographer, each job is different, and you never know what you’re going to find until you turn up,” Mike reveals.

Here, Mike talks through five impactful photos he’s taken over the last two years for Front Door Comms’ clients and the thought process behind them:

Christmas at Bute Park

Mike says, “With Christmas at Bute Park, I was looking for a strong image to entice people to go along. So I take photos of the amazing installations, but I also take shots of people enjoying it, so the reader can see it all in action and want to book those tickets. You’re photographing what’s in front of you, rather than controlling the environment like in a business setting.

“Technically, it can be a struggle because you have lots of different coloured lights and you’ve also got to look for something that’s eye-catching, often in the dark. But if you wait to see what each installation offers, you’ll get those winning shots.”

Brains CEO

“This photo was to announce the new MD of Brains, Nick Payne. You look at that picture and it needs no words. It’s a figurehead within Brains Brewery right next to him,” Mike explains.

He adds, “From a coverage point of view, it’s very difficult to crop the logo out of that picture, they would just end up as a headshot. So it’s a nice storytelling picture.

“I took this photo at a fair distance from the building. The signage is quite high but it’s all at eye level here.”

Cwmpas

Mike reveals, “This one was at a vets and it was to announce them going Employee Owned. I have to admit it was a tricky one to take. It was a bright day – and if there’s one thing photographers aren’t keen on, it’s the sunshine. People squint and you can’t control it. That was problem number one, and problem number two is working with animals.

“But there’s so much going on in the picture, so it makes you look at it for a longer time – there’s even a chicken in the back row!

“As a photographer, I’m not massively proud of it, but I understand why it works well for press. If I had my choice, I’d take it on a less sunny day and they’d all probably be walking down a long track. It’s not one I’ll be entering into any awards. But that’s part of our job – you’re not always going to take an award-winning shot, you’re there to tell the story.”

Louise O’Shea

“Louise had just got a new role, so with this shoot, it was a case of doing some really strong, nice portraits. We had nice location to do it. She came prepped with a change in outfits as we had had a conversation beforehand where I said because it’s just a shoot with one person, we have plenty of time. Using different outfits and utilising the location can offer a much wider portfolio of images.

“It’s a lovely, well-lit portrait, and shows a serious, yet warm businessperson.”

Thomas Carroll

“This photo was taken to sit alongside the announcement that Thomas Carroll was moving to becoming an employee owned business,” Mike reveals.

He adds, “So obviously, all its new owners i.e. all the staff need to be in it. For this one, I had to get up a ladder to make sure everyone was included to make the picture work. Luckily, I carry a small ladder with me most of the time, it’s a tool of the trade.

“Again, it’s not my favourite ever photo from a technical point of view, but it does what it says on the tin and has been used everywhere.”

Kath Chadwick, Director at Front Door Comms says, “Having access to a great photographer is so important for us as a PR company. What we love about working with Mike is the pride he has when he sees his pictures being used far and wide.

“We also love the fact that he asks what they want them for, so if it’s not just press, he takes headshots too to get the most out of his time with a client. That’s gold dust for us.”

At Front Door we help with all aspects of PR, whether it’s issuing press releases or putting you in touch with a fantastic photographer like Mike. Learn more about our PR services.