Bethesda Photography Guidelines

 

Thank you for being a part of this vital team at Bethesda! We deeply appreciate your willingness to use your gifts for this ministry.

Below you’ll find a shot list followed by some of our favourite photos. We have provided this to give an impression of what will be useful for us in what you capture.

Please note that because we have a live stream most Sundays (and we regularly pull images from this feed), so our needs for the band/speaker are minimal in contrast to our needs for the other photos on the list below.

Entrance

  • Guests entering the church (from outside or inside)

  • University bus arriving

  • Students getting off university bus

  • Greeters smiling/holding the door

  • Guests walking toward the church 

  • Include signage when you can

Lobby

  • People at coffee station

  • Welcome desk/welcome team

  • Information Tables & Volunteers (ie: sign up for events, alpha, etc)

  • People smiling/talking

  • Keep an eye out for moments of connection

  • Some people like to pose and smile for photos 

Lobby tip: Try to keep the windows behind your camera so the light is on your subject and not behind them

Kids Areas

  • Kids check-in desk

  • Kids volunteers

  • Kids and leaders playing games/doing crafts

  • Kids learning/interacting with leaders

  • Kids with parents

  • Smiling Nursery Volunteers 

Kids tip: Use discretion when photographing children, it’s ideal if their name label isn’t readable and while we do have permission to use some children’s faces in photos, not many.  So consider photographing hands in activity, backs of children, etc. 

On the Stage

  • Wide, medium, and tight shots

  • Worship team from back of house

  • Worship team from in the congregation

  • Worship team from front row

In the Congregation

  • Hands raised, from behind

  • Worshippers in front few rows

  • Congregation praying together

  • Interesting/out of the ordinary moments

During the Sermon

Usually only need to shoot for first 5 minutes, then you can sit and take in the sermon

  • Wide, medium and tight shots

  • 90-degree angle (from side of stage)

  • 45-degree angle (from sides of auditorium)

  • Straight on (from back of house)

  • Special guests (speakers, stories, etc.)

Behind the Scenes

  • Worship team backstage or during practice

  • Prayer before the service

  • Volunteers hanging out during/between services

  • Volunteers setting up/breaking down

Ministries 

  • Smiling Volunteers in Kitchen 

  • Volunteers in sound room 

  • Translation team 

For This Week

  • Speak with one of the pastors and ask what is happening this week that is different or interesting that may need attention.

It is key that we offer a safe and positive space for our guests. Some of our guests are in vulnerable situations and are not open to being photographed/displayed online, or they have family currently living in unsafe locations. We want to be sure to respect the privacy and limitations of our guests while also providing those looking for a faith community with an impression of who Bethesda is. Please keep this in mind as you move about the building/programs.

 

File Uploads

The ideal method for sharing your photos with our team is through a third-party system like WeTransfer, Google Photos, etc. If you have one that you already use for this - that’s great. If not, talk to us about WeTransfer.

Please keep in mind that photos with recognizable faces of volunteers/guests should not appear on your personal/photography social media accounts.

 

Sample Photos

You’ll notice smiling faces, people serving, worshipping, etc. We balance these with candid shots as well as photos of people making eye-contact and smiling at the camera. Please edit your photos to have a similar look and tone to the ones shown below. We desire to communicate the feeling of community that exists at Bethesda through our photography.