Cumberland-based photographer shares easy-to-follow photo tutorials to capture stronger images of any economic development project.
Sara Kempner has developed a photography portfolio that includes commercial work for major cycling brands, fine art landscape and nature images, and advertising images for community-led clients. It’s impossible to walk through Cumberland without seeing her work; her image of the Royston Shipwrecks covers the entire entrance to Coast Surf Shop.
When she isn’t working with OFFBEAT, a leading photography community that specializes in photography education, she focuses on action sports photography. Recently, she spent seven back-to-back days photographing the BC Bike Race in Duncan, Nanaimo, Cumberland, and Campbell River. Although her career takes her across British Columbia and further afield, she remains closely tied to her home community.
As a title sponsor of the Coaltown Throwdown, an event hosted by the United Riders of Cumberland, she donates her services to capture race images of every participant. She’s a founding member of the ROAM VISUALS, a Comox-Valley based stock photography website, and regular contributor to the CV Collective Magazine.
Earlier this year, she worked with Cumberland Lake Park Society to photograph the unique sleeping barrels that were installed through an investment with the Trust. Based on this experience and other local projects she’s photographed, Sara shared some of her favourite tips to help project leaders, staff, and volunteers capture the images often required to amplify economic development projects online or in the media.
This was her favourite advice that anybody can follow.
Rotate Your Phone (or Camera)
Most images are captured on phones. The good news is that most phones have tremendous quality and provide images that can be used online or in print to advertise your successful project. The bad news is that too many images are in the vertical orientation.
“Think about how an image might be used,” says Kempner, “and be conscious if there is a preference between vertical or horizontal images.”
It’s important to capture both, so make sure to rotate your phone. Generally, vertical images work great when viewed on phones. They are ideal for social media. Horizontal images work better for most print media and on websites.
Make a Photo Plan
When preparing for a shoot, Sara lists 10-20 images that she absolutely must capture for her clients. This enables her to work efficiently, but it’s also a crucial step when photographing a project yourself.
For the sleeping barrels project, Sara captured images in three different phases: being transported through Cumberland, being unloaded at the site, and fully installed. The image series helps tell a story.
Don’t Wait Until it’s Finished
In many cases, project stakeholders – staff, volunteers or leadership – have an advantage. They spend more time around their projects that anybody, so they’re uniquely positioned to illustrate a project through each phase.
The finished project will be easy to photograph; it will be there for years to come. But the process is fleeting, so make time to capture each phase of the construction process, including those early team meetings and planning sessions.
Focus on People
It’s easy to focus on the completed infrastructure. The new community pavilion in Beaver Creek, Marina Services Building in Comox, or recently acquired Lodge in Kyuquot are the assets of a successful project.
Yet its most often the images that focus on people that show the dedication required to realize these projects and their true impact across their communities. Whether it’s volunteers, staff, or contractors working to realize a project or the first customers, trail users, or visitors to a completed site, people will help bring your project to life.
“It’s important to get close to people,” says Kempner, “to really show their expressions and emotions. It’s also a good idea to look for candid shots, so people look more natural.”
Zoom with Your Feet
Whether shooting with an iPhone or a camera, it’s important to move around to find different views and perspectives.
“Get high, get low, get near, get far,” says Kempner. “Unique angles are always interesting. Capture wide angle shots that show the whole environment, and then move up to capture close detail images.”
Remember Your Project Partners
Many economic development projects involve multiple stakeholders and funding partners. It is important to consider their involvement when planning your photographs.
“Make sure to capture any sponsor or stakeholders branding or signage” says Kempner, “because it really helps show their involvement and your appreciation.”
Hire a Professional
It is challenging for project leaders or volunteers to capture images while also performing other essential duties during key moments. Whether it’s planning a grand opening with an official ribbon cutting, or simply documenting a high-activity day, consider hiring a photographer.
“Hiring a photographer guarantees you’ll receive a collection of great images,” says Kempner.
By collaborating with a photographer and introducing them to staff or volunteers in advance, you’ll likely receive images you never even considered.
“When I was asked to photograph the sleeping barrels being delivered,” she said, “I was initially asked to capture them as they traveled up Dunsmuir Street. I realized there would be a great story telling opportunity if I followed them out to the lake to capture them unloading them with the crane, as well. In the end, I delivered a collection that told a complete story.”
