Most political campaign websites include a photograph of the candidate in the site header. It’s usually a head shot along with a logo and usually some sort of background image symbolically related to the location.
Often when we get the head shot in preparation for designing a website’s header image, clients may make comments about the image, such as ‘the color is off’ or ‘I look too wrinkly’. Even if nothing is said about the image, we do our best to make the head shot look as attractive as possible.
In other words, we doctor the image. After all, you wouldn’t go on television without makeup. Why wouldn’t you enhance an important online image?
Usually we crop out backgrounds from the head shot, unless the background is to become part of the site header itself. We’ll also do color correction and sharpening to make the image more crisp. In some cases – when requested – we’ll go a bit further in smoothing out wrinkles or taking out dark rings or puffiness from the eyes. With the wonders of digital design, we could knock off twenty years in appearance. A lot a candidates might like that idea, but that’s going a bit far. Just because we can completely replace someone’s receded hairline doesn’t mean it’s a great idea. A candidate will still want voters to recognize him or her in real life.
These techniques can apply to other close-up images in the site. But other photos. Just about any photograph will need to be cropped, sharpened and color-corrected anyway. We do NOT advocate full-scale alterations where, for example, a candidate pictured standing next to one person is replaced with someone else, or where elements of one image are superimposed onto another. That can come back to bite you, especially if someone finds the original photo and compares it to your online image.
To sum it up: A little nip and tuck on a candidate’s main photo is fine. Interior images should also be cropped and enhanced, but the content of the shots should remain unaltered.
Some candidate head shot tips:
- Consider having photographs done professionally. If this is not possible, use a good digital camera with proper lighting.
- A head-on or three-quarter view is typical.
- The best shots for site headers are those where the candidate is standing before a solid contrasting background to what the candidate is wearing. This allows the background to be more easily cropped out.
- A large, high resolution is best for a graphic designer to work with. Large-sized images can be scaled down, but small, low-res images cannot be improved much.
- Dress appropriately.
- Smile!
For additional online political marketing ideas, download our e-book Running for Office as an Online Candidate. This is available individually or as part of our Combo Package.
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Tags: campaign websites, social networking, website tips
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