Telling Your Non-Profit Story

You’ve heard the expression “A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words.” Or, to quote Rod Stewart, “Every Picture Tells a Story.” Then why do so many non-profits prominantly feature photos of their volunteers or fundraiser attendees instead of photos of those they help?

Your audience, whether through print or web, needs to be engaged immediately when viewing your communications. You need to communicate quickly what you need from them, and why. This needs to be obvious, at a quick glance. The text can provide the details of your mission, but the imagery should compel the viewer to read your text.

Webdesignerdepot.com recently had an excellent article on designing for non-profits, with some good examples of telling your audience a story.

Choose photos that communicate your message. This photo does not. From http://www.knd.com.au/12-ways-to-embarrass-yourself-with-powerpoint/

What if you can’t get photos of those you help? There may be privacy issues. If you don’t have an option, use those photos of the volunteers in action, performing tasks that serve your goals. The imagery you use needs to communicate your message. Try to avoid staged photos, but use photos of the volunteers in action.

If you need to use stock photos, perhaps a designer can help you with the selection and create a custom image that is a visual expression of the message. Using a generic stock photo does not convey your unique message to the reader.

Whether the story is conveyed with an existing photo, new photography, or stock images, your story will be told more clearly if you work with professional photographers or designers. Resolution Creative will create dynamic visuals to tell your story.