8 tips for a perfect press photo—that wins coverage

The workshop set out to “give a real insight into how to get national picture desks to run your PR photographs.” I’d highly recommend the workshop—it was a great insight into one of the U.K.’s busiest news and picture agencies—and it offered valuable insight into the day-to-day workings of a picture desk.

Here are some top tips from the day to help make sure you get that perfect press shot—and the coverage it deserves:

1. Track record is important.

Make sure that the photographer you use has a strong track record in securing national coverage for his or her photos—even if you have to pay more for it. The photographer should have an intuitive eye and know what a national paper is looking for and how to get it.

He or she should also know how to distribute photos—if you have no connections it can be hard to get your photo seen by the right people. Make sure they also offer solid insight and knowledge into the best times to send photos and the best resolution, file size, and photo captions.

2. Know what picture editors want.