Photography

Need photography?
Access approved images from IMAGE RELAY.

Image Relay is a searchable digital asset library for faculty and staff. University Communications and McCombs have created a collection of campus and McCombs specific photos for communicators to use on their web sites, social media, printed materials, and promotional campaigns. Student workers can also be granted access. To sign up for a free Image Relay account log-in at utexas.imagerelay.com. Select “Request Access” at the bottom of the screen. Once you have an account, click the "Employees Log In Here" button.

Don't see what you are looking for? Hire a McCombs photographer. Submit a request here.

OUR PHOTOGRAPHY STYLE

Our photography style is bright, warm, and natural. Capturing natural human interactions and honest emotion is important to support our brand manifesto of "human centered" culture.

Our photos should use natural light whenever possible and be edited to be bright, crisp, and color balanced. 

Our photo subjects should never feel posed, and photographers should try to capture student life without the use of talent. 

To help guide the photo selection process, we group our photos into seven basic categories: People, campus & classroom, urban environment, historical, spirit, and topical detail.

PEOPLE

Images of people are used heavily in communications. The reasons for showing people are numerous, but they serve to reinforce our human-centered approach to learning, research, and accomplishment; and, most importantly they show the world who we are and what we are doing. 

1. Images of students and faculty should reflect a diverse community. 
2. Photo subjects should be engaged in activity, in natural environment, using natural light; composition should look effortless, without being posed. 
3. Portrait photos may take on a variety of styles; use natural light and backgrounds, and try to feature the subject in her/his environment.

CAMPUS AND CLASSROOM

Featuring the classroom, campus and other areas of McCombs will be important in many of the recruiting materials produced by the school. 

1. Images should show the buildings, classrooms, and outdoor areas as vibrant areas of activity, even when the focus of the image is intended to show architecture, innovation, technology, or other features of the built environment. 
2. Show how the design of the spaces facilitates learning, collaboration, exploration, engagement, friendship, etc. 

SPIRIT

Sharing the feelings of celebration, excitement and pride as part of the McCombs cultural experience will be important in many of the communications vehicles produced by, for, and about the school. 

When capturing and selecting images to be used to convey these feelings, consider the following: 

1. Recognitions such as Commencement, announcements of awards, and stories about McCombs rankings, etc. 
2. School celebrations such as announcements of major gifts, and, honoring of faculty or students for achievement. 
3. Spirit and social events that show school culture — groups of students participating in Austin events such as Capitol 10K, campus activities, and recruiting activities, etc.

Photos should convey celebration, excitement, determination, and pride. Images should feature recognizable aspects of McCombs.

URBAN ENVIRONMENT

This is a way of wrapping McCombs into the vibrancy of Austin, and the natural beauty of the city. By reinforcing these strengths that help differentiate McCombs from other programs, we build on assets that establish McCombs as a beneficiary of the innovation and entrepreneurship that define Austin on a global stage. 

1. Use images that place the university and McCombs in the midst of key events such as SXSW Digital/Interactive. 
2. Use images of McCombs students and alumni participating in signature Austin events such as triathlons, Capitol 10K, Austin City Limits. 
3. Use images that connect key employers and innovators in Austin to McCombs institutes, career fairs, professional networking, internships, etc. 
4. Use images that highlight Austin's strongest assets such as a vibrant start-up culture, access to nature, technology, etc. 

TOPICAL DETAIL

Whereas previous photo categories speak about our culture and setting, detail photography crafts a story about the work produced at McCombs. 

Detail shots might hone in on an aspect of research or study that exemplifies higher level thinking, break-through ideas, or results of hard work. 

Photos may show close-ups of technology in use in the classroom, as part of the work process, or in research.