All PR executives know that press releases are an effective way to communicate important news and events to journalists and the media. However, simply sending out a press release is not always enough to capture the attention of journalists and get your story published. Including high-quality photos can make your press release more visually appealing, grab attention, and improve its credibility. In this whitepaper, we will discuss the best ways to share photos with a press release and the format that journalists prefer.
Ways to Share Photos with a Press Release
There are several ways to share photos with a press release. The most common methods include:
- Including Photos in the Press Release Itself
One way to share photos with a press release is to include the photos in the press release itself. This is a simple and effective way to ensure that the photos are seen by journalists and other recipients of the press release. When including photos in the press release, it is important to make sure that they are relevant to the story and high-quality. The photos should also be properly formatted and sized for both print and digital use.
- Uploading Photos to a Website or Cloud Storage Service
Another way to share photos with a press release is to upload the photos to a website or cloud storage service and include a link to the photos in the press release. This method is particularly useful when the photos are too large to be included in the press release itself or when multiple photos need to be shared. By uploading the photos to a website or cloud storage service, journalists can easily access the photos and download them for use in their publications.
- Emailing Photos to Journalists Directly
Lastly, you can email the photos directly to journalists along with the press release. This method is useful when you want to personalize the press release and target specific journalists or media outlets. When emailing photos to journalists, it is important to ensure that they are attached to the email in the proper format and that they are high-quality. You should also include a brief description of the photos and a link to the website or cloud storage service where the photos are stored.
The Best Format for Journalists
When sharing photos with a press release, it is important to use the right format. The most commonly preferred formats by journalists are high-resolution JPEG or PNG files. JPEG files are best for photographs, while PNG files are best for graphics and illustrations. The photos should be at least 600 pixels wide for print and 1024 pixels wide for online use. This ensures that the photos are of high enough quality for use in newspapers, magazines, and online publications.
Resolution is really important
It is important to share high-resolution photographs with press releases because high-quality images can help to capture the attention of journalists and readers, and can make your press release more engaging and visually appealing. High-resolution photos also help to convey a sense of professionalism and credibility, which can help to increase the likelihood that your press release will be picked up and published.
In the context of press releases, DPI (dots per inch) is important because it refers to the resolution or clarity of an image. Higher DPI images contain more dots per inch, which means they have a greater level of detail and clarity. This is important because press releases are often distributed to a wide audience, and they may be printed or displayed in various sizes. If the images in the press release are low resolution or blurry, they may appear unprofessional and be less effective at conveying your message.
For websites, the standard resolution for images is 72 DPI. This is because computer screens display images at 72 pixels per inch (PPI). Images with a higher resolution than 72 DPI may take longer to load and can slow down the performance of the website.
For print, the standard resolution for images is 300 DPI. This is because printers can produce much higher quality images than computer screens, and 300 DPI is the minimum resolution required to produce a high-quality print. Images with a lower resolution than 300 DPI may appear pixelated or blurry when printed.
Including Captions and Obtaining Permission
When including photos with a press release, it is important to include captions that explain what the photos show. Captions can provide context and help to highlight the most important parts of the photo. It is also important to obtain permission from the people in the photos before using them in the press release. This ensures that you are not violating anyone’s privacy or legal rights.
Protecting Your Photos
Finally, it is important to protect your photos when sharing them with a press release. One way to do this is to include a watermark on the photos. A watermark is a faint image or text that is added to the photo to prevent unauthorized use. You can also add a copyright notice to the photo to indicate that it is your property and that permission is required for any use.
