My Favorite Higher Ed Photo Cliches
As promised last week, here’s a guided tour through some of my favorite higher ed stock photography cliches. If I happen to be editing your photo gallery for launch, these are the babies that are going to go.
1. People studying in obviously forced groups (especially if they’re huddled around a single book or laptop, especially-especially if they’re also outside).
Oh, Melissa, your Internet is so much nicer than ours!
2. Anyone looking exasperated.
Math is haaaaard!
3. Photos in which obvious effort has been made to be ethnically diverse. (Bonus points if it’s a series of photos that feature the same student of color in different situations!)
Sorry, you can’t be our friend. We already have an Asian.
4. Photos that were obviously taken over a decade ago. (Look for these red flags.)
5. Unless s/he is a cheerleader, anyone literally jumping for joy.
OMG! OMG! OMG! COLLEGE!!!!
On thin ice:
6. Girls standing around with books.
I’m just waiting here until my friends are done with their laptop.
7. Guys posing with backpacks (bonus points for thumb under one strap, opposite hand in jeans pocket).
Dude, brah. ‘Sup?
8. People playing catch on “The Quad.” It might be an accurate representation of what happens, but this type of photo is so overused it doesn’t even convey fun anymore. (Basically, any of these.)
Ah, a breath of fresh air. When planning a photo shoot they should create a list, not a script. The audience is smart and detects a fraud right away.
Nice post Laurel
Posted on January 22, 2011 by Paul O'Mara
Thanks, Paul! “A list not a script” is the perfect sentiment.
Posted on January 24, 2011 by Laurel
First rule of Web Design: if the graphic is meaningless - don’t use it.
Posted on January 24, 2011 by RecoveringAcademic
Also, don’t forget the classic student holding up, and looking quizzically at, a test tube, beaker, or pipette! Bonus points if the student is wearing a lab coat and safety goggles!
Posted on January 24, 2011 by C
Ha! Bonus-bonus points if it’s a group of students staring at it and if multiple students are gesturing at it. (Also, I’ll take quizzical over suspiciously happy any day.)
Posted on January 25, 2011 by Laurel
My Yr12 Digital Graphics group found lots more and peer reviewed the worst. Brilliant lesson. Then they had to find better photos showing “Success” which could be used in a college prospectus.
Posted on January 27, 2011 by @richardsw16
Richard, I would *love* to hear what they thought and came up with. Switching roles from passive viewer to active participant is always an interesting exercise. I wonder if they found any sympathy for those who have to select these sorts of things from stock photos.
Posted on January 27, 2011 by Laurel
Love the snarky captions! I could see an entire blog devoted to bad higher ed photos. There’s enough content to keep it going for years. Thanks for the chuckle!
Posted on February 2, 2011 by J. Todd Bennett
Agreed. There could easily be a whole blog of this stuff. Fortunately, there’s this: http://www.badstockart.com/ and the similarly-themed http://tpdsaa.tumblr.com/.
Posted on February 2, 2011 by Laurel