Taking a good photo for the church directory

You don't need a fancy camera. Your phone is plenty. These few things make the biggest difference.

Find soft light

Stand facing a big window, or go outside in open shade: under a tree, or on the shady side of a building. Bright midday sun makes people squint, and lights behind you turn faces dark.

Keep the background simple

A plain wall, a hedge or a quiet corner of the yard. Step a few feet away from the background so it softens a little.

Get close together

Stand or sit close, shoulders touching, with taller people toward the back. Leave a little space above heads; we'll crop it neatly.

Hold the phone at eye level

Ask someone to take it from a few steps away, holding the phone at about eye height. Use the main camera, not the wide or selfie camera, if you can. If you're using a timer, rest the phone on something steady.

Take a few

Take five or six in a row. Someone always blinks. Pick the one where everyone looks like themselves.

Send the original

Add the photo straight from your phone's photo library. Photos sent through text messages or social apps are made smaller and may print blurry. If a photo is too small, we'll let you know when you add it.

Prefer not to?

That's fine. Your church office can take your picture on a Sunday, or your entry can go in without a photo.