Photos that win elections – what photo do you need for your election campaign?

A lot has changed in politics over the years, but one thing remains constant: people vote not only with their hearts or minds, but also with their eyes. A bad photo for an election campaign can ruin your chance of winning. On the other hand, a good portrait can make undecided voters choose you. For this to happen, election photography should meet several rules and, above all, build positive associations.

Elections are the moment when you need to communicate your mission in the most direct way possible. What values do you represent? What are your priorities? What do you want to tell your voters? Of course, you can do it through various communication channels, create lengthy statements on social media or write long letters to residents. However, all this may turn out to be ineffective if it does not go hand in hand with building a positive image. One of its elements is a professional photo for the election campaign.

Get an advantage with the help of a photo

What I’m writing may seem exaggerated… How can this photo help win the election? Yes, that’s right! A photo is not only a way of presentation, but a form of communication that can have a significant impact on the election result. A professional, well-thought-out photo can build positive associations, making it easier for voters to identify with the candidate. This is a huge opportunity to build a good first impression, which plays a key role in gaining voters’ trust. And there are studies to prove it!

A study by psychologist Alexander Todorov from Princeton University showed that people judge others based on a photo or just looking at a person. What’s more, it only takes them 100 milliseconds to judge someone’s attractiveness; whether he is competent, credible, trustworthy or aggressive. Therefore, a short time is enough to make a judgment about a given person solely on the basis of observation, and this happens intuitively and automatically. Therefore, in the case of photos of politicians, not only the suit and the appropriate body pose are important, but also the face and facial expressions.

More about the role of photos in the first impression in the post: Are you looking for a job? Take care of a professional business portrait

People tend to quickly form positive or negative judgments about others based on appearance. It is not without reason that they say that “fine feathers make fine birds.” If the photo is of low quality, sloppy, blurry, what information will it convey? What will it say about you as a future politician?

Use the power of the message!

Elections are not just one moment when you just go to the ballot box and vote. This is a process in which we familiarize ourselves with the profile of a specific candidate, check his program and even go to organized meetings. This is your chance to convince voters! This cannot happen without a professional photo session and showing your true face. Especially since this photo is often the first contact with voters – it appears on election posters and banners in urban spaces, on leaflets, websites, etc. It often determines whether they will go further, i.e. whether they will be interested in you and your program.

The photo is not only intended to present the candidate well, but above all to communicate his/her features and values. It should not get lost in the crowd, but stand out from it. A good portrait photo highlights self-confidence, commitment and professionalism, which will help attract the electorate.

It is worth remembering: A photo is not just an image, it is a communication tool that can convey more than a thousand words. It tells voters who you are before you say a single word. In a world where everyone has a voice, the image becomes your strongest asset.

They say that every photo carries a story. In the case of a photo of politicians, I would rather say that it carries a promise. A promise of change and meeting social expectations. This is why it is important that the photo emphasizes community on the one hand (it says: “I am your candidate”), and on the other hand, agency, i.e. it emphasizes the energy and effectiveness of action. Combined with a good election slogan, this may be your recipe for success.

How to prepare for the election session?

A bad photo can ruin your campaign. It’s not so much about the technical aspects, but about how you will be presented. Therefore, in this paragraph I will explain how to photograph candidates and what are the general rules for preparing to image sessions, which will make it easier for you to prepare for the photos.

Note: This part of the article was created in cooperation with Sergiusz Trzeciak, a political scientist, lawyer and political marketing specialist who advises politicians on strategic communication and public affairs on a daily basis.

Before the photo session itself, remember the following things:

• Be well rested and rested. Fatigue is clearly visible in photos and very difficult to mask.
• Do not sunbathe at least three days before the session. The skin may then become red, irritated and look tired.
• Take care of your hair and nails. It is best to refresh your appearance with a specialist a few days before the session.

Need more tips? Check out: 7 secrets of successful business portraits

1. Photos of the candidate in several outfits

Photos of a politician are not just one good portrait showing who you are and what you want to draw voters’ attention to. It is a whole session, as a result of which several photos are created for various uses, e.g. on the website, for election banners, posters and leaflets, for meetings with voters, etc.

Election campaign photos are taken in at least several outfits:

• dark suit, white or light shirt and dark tie;
• dark suit, white or light shirt, no tie;
• dark suit, any shirt, with or without a tie;
• acket, shirt, no tie;
• T-shirt (may be several).

Tip: It is best to bring at least 3 suits, 1-2 jackets, 5 shirts and 5 ties to the session so that you can freely combine them and match them to the photo.

2. Consultation with a stylist

I recommend an optional consultation with a stylist before ordering a photo session. A professional stylist will help you choose the optimal color sets (including suit and shirt).

You can read about the role of the stylist in the session here: Styling – an important element of a professional image

3. Make-up artist

A make-up artist should be present during the session to apply the appropriate make-up. This may be the same person who will handle the styling mentioned above.

Read more: Make-up in an image session – why is it worth it?

4. Election photos in several poses

In the case of an election campaign photo, naturalness is the most important thing. Therefore, it is not recommended to stand at attention or put on a serious face. Due to the fact that body language is very important here, it should be open, you should not cross your arms or hide them behind your back. We maintain a relaxed attitude and natural facial expression.

During a photo session of candidates and politicians, I take photos in several poses:

• standing and in front of the camera, with arms along the body;
• standing, but in profile, with arms along the body;
• anding, relaxed posture, hands in pockets (with a jacket and no tie allowed during photos);
• with a slight and broader smile;
• sitting, with one hand gently supporting the chin;
• sitting, behind a desk, in front of a laptop.

Profile photos look good on websites and often the staff or candidate provides specific guidelines on how to prepare them. They are usually done with the intention of cropping so that the hands are not visible, so you should pay special attention to a good frame and pose (it should not be crooked). It’s worth trying different angles to find the optimal body position. Of course, you can take many additional photos, with differently positioned hands, to choose the best one later.

5. Various formats, always excellent quality

Finally, it is worth mentioning what photos are suitable for the campaign. Well, only those that are of high quality are suitable. It happens that they look good at first glance, but when you zoom in and cut out the face, you see blur. The media quite often crops photos in this way due to the limited amount of space available for graphics. The problem also begins when election materials need to be printed. The printing house has its own requirements, so the photo must be legible and suitable for printing (this is especially important in the case of posters). But let me assure you – if you use my services, you are guaranteed that you will not encounter such surprises.

I will help you reach voters!

As a professional business photographer, I know how to photograph to bring out the best features of a candidate and emphasize his message to voters. Most politicians have public speaking in their blood and therefore feel comfortable in front of the camera. But this is not always the case, after all, we are only human. In my daily work, I prove that even “non-photogenic” people can look very good in photos, and at the same time authentic and natural.

I photograph candidates for local elections, parliament, parliament and senate; non-partisan and party; businessmen, social activists and politicians. I create effective portraits that increase your chances of winning the election. I will help you in an effective election campaign, regardless of where you run or stand as a candidate – I provide the service throughout Poland and I can take photos in your location.

Together, we will make sure that your election photo is as well-thought-out as your campaign.

Let’s start with a conversation. I invite you to a 20-minute video consultation. I will advise you on how to best prepare to get the maximum effect from your portraits. Select a date below.