Telling Real Stories Through Purposeful Images
Our Shared Approach to Photography
Our Shared Approach to Photography
Photography is one of our most powerful storytelling tools. It can spark emotion, convey meaning and illustrate the impact of our people and programs. Our photography should reflect a Lehigh that is bold, human and grounded in authenticity.
UCPA maintains a library of 2,000+ curated images for the campus community to use in their work. Explore asset bank to find imagery that tells your story in a compelling and real way.
1. “Real” Brand Visual Storytelling in Practice
1. “Real” Brand Visual Storytelling in Practice
Expressing the Lehigh brand through the “Real” platform encourages communicators to move beyond posed, perfect or generic photography. The goal is capturing imagery that feels true to life—dynamic, candid and anchored in context. This can be done through formal professional photography and equipment or through informal student POV smartphone photography.
Real doesn’t mean rough. It means purposeful.
Read more about creating on-brand images in Lehigh’s Brand Hub
2. UCPA’s Role in Photography
2. UCPA’s Role in Photography
Because University Communications and Public Affairs (UCPA) is Lehigh’s strategic storytelling and multimedia team, we prioritize projects that serve institutional goals and help us reach key audiences with clarity, consistency and purpose.
UCPA does not operate as a university-wide photo service. Instead, we serve as collaborators, consultants and creators of strategically aligned content. Below is an outline of where UCPA can help with photography needs. If you are requesting coverage, use the UCPA intake form.
UCPA typically covers requests such as:
- Feature story portraits
- Senior leadership or press portraits
- University-wide Events (signature events, large scale forums)
- (When strategic) Student Experience/Academics (student clubs via amplification/ collaboration)
- Student POV social content
(Hosted on @LehighU) - Campaign or media visuals
UCPA typically does not cover requests such as:
- Department headshots for websites (see smartphone guide below)
- Department/College Events (receptions, awards, retirement parties)
- (Amplified approach) Student Experience/Academics (student clubs via amplification/ collaboration)
3. Practical Photo Tips
3. Practical Photo Tips
Whether you're creating a flyer, refreshing a website or recapping a program, strong images can elevate your message. Keep these core guidelines in mind:
- Action over stillness: Show people doing, not just being.
- Natural light is your friend: Whenever possible, skip overhead lights and find a window or head outdoors.
- Quality and authenticity: Photos should be in focus, color-accurate and sharp. Avoid over-using stylized and saturated photo filters.
- Avoid visual clutter: If the background distracts, move in or reframe. Always check the background for unexpected or unintended captures before posting final images.
- Capture the setting: Provide visual context to establish a sense of place to the viewer.
- Use images in the context they were intended: Always keep photos connected to the purpose and context in which they were originally created. For example, an image taken during a hands-on classroom activity should not later appear in materials promoting an unrelated campus initiative without understanding the original story and confirming relevance. Matching the right image to the right story protects the credibility of your message and the dignity of the people pictured. (see section 6 below for further details)
- Consider your subject: Do right by the subjects you’re capturing. Present them in the best light possible and choose a flattering image. Ensure they will be happy about the image you’re using/posting.
- Clothing: Avoid capturing students wearing non-Lehigh college apparel or inappropriate/dated attire.
4. Capturing Headshots: When and How
4. Capturing Headshots: When and How
UCPA does not provide routine headshots. However, we do offer guidance for departments or offices that need consistent, clean portraits for directories, websites or internal use.
Smartphone Guide and Tips
| Element | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Lighting | Natural light from a window or open shade outdoors |
| Background | Plain or textured, not cluttered. Bookshelves, brick, trees work well |
| Framing | Chest up, vertical orientation, camera at eye level |
| Expression | Neutral or natural smile—no forced expressions |
| Gear | Use the rear camera (not selfie-view), tap to focus, clean your lens |
| Photo Sharing | Share as full size (largest resolution), name file as “lastname_firstname_dept.jpg” |
| File Type | HEIC files can be converted to jpegs or png files through Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, or exporting through your computer’s file system |
If you’d like feedback on your first round, UCPA is available for quick consults.
5. Diversity, Context and Responsible Use
5. Diversity, Context and Responsible Use
As we aim to represent the full Lehigh community, it's essential that our images are used ethically and in context.
- Representation is not decoration: Do not use a photo of someone from a historically marginalized group to "diversify" a story they were not part of
- Keep images in context: A photo taken in one setting may not be appropriate for an unrelated campaign. Always consider how the image was created and whether it belongs in a new story, promotion or site.
- Consent matters: When in doubt, check in with those pictured—especially for high-visibility campaigns or institutional messaging
- Modernity and accuracy: Refresh images regularly. Avoid dated clothing, technology, or hairstyles that misrepresent campus life today
- Be responsive: If a subject previously photographed no longer consents to the use of their image and/or in relation to a story that was created, be prepared to respond to their request in a timely manner. (Ex: Removing the image entirely, restricting use of the image, changing the name attributed to the image, etc.)
If you're unsure, UCPA and the Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity are here to help.