Photography guidelines
These guidelines supplement the Photography section.
Information regarding consent can be found in our Photography consent section.
Use of imagery, copyright and licensing
Care should be taken when publishing images on websites, blogs or social media, or in printed materials. The person publishing the image must either own the copyright (i.e. it was taken by or belongs to them), have permission from the copyright owner, or have licensed the image.
Images must not be taken from other sources, including the University website or Google, and re-published without permission from the copyright owner. Using copyrighted images without permission risks incurring legal disputes and fines, and has the potential to damage the University's reputation.
Royalty-free image websites
Royalty-free images are available to purchase and licence from stock image companies such as istockphoto.com or shutterstock.com. Users are required to pay a fee for the licensing of an image and should carefully read the terms and conditions of use before purchase.
Some royalty-free image websites, such as Pexels or Unsplash, allow users to use their images without an upfront fee - however, such websites can still pose copyright risks. For example, image ownership or licensing terms can change over time, and users could face legal disputes or fines if images are uncredited or incorrectly attributed.
When purchasing an image please ensure you have bought the correct usage licence, i.e. some images can only be used a limited number of times, others might only be for digital use, whilst others can be used for print too. Always check whether the image is licenced to use without crediting the photographer.
In all cases, users should read licensing agreements and terms and conditions prior to downloading and re-publishing an image to ensure there are no hidden risks.
If purchasing an image, please ensure you save the licence in a safe place so that if you are asked for proof of purchase, you have it available.
If you are unsure about an image's licence or usage terms, do not use it.
Pre-production
Photographers and videographers
When commissioning photography or videography, please be aware of the following:
- Preference should be given to booking a supplier who is familiar with our brand guidelines and photographic style. Please contact the Marketing team for a recommendation.
- When commissioning photography or videography, the following copyright form must be completed and stored securely. This grants copyright to the University of Stirling. Download Photographer Copyright Form
Please share your images and videos with us so we can build up our repository in the Digital Media Library. For more information, contact the Marketing team.
Models
- Where possible, models should be selected from a cross section of demographics within the student and staff body. Ask models to wear colourful clothes (but not garish patterns, stripes or big logos).
- The Data Protection Act 1998 states that the University must have written consent from each model before taking any photography or video footage for marketing purposes. This applies to students, staff and non-University models. If the activity includes young people (under 18) parental consent must be obtained. If you take a group photo, for example, a lecture, students not wishing to participate should be given the choice to leave the group before the photo is taken. The person in charge of the group should then sign the form on behalf of the group. Please store the model release forms in a safe place.
Download Model Release form for email
Top tip: Not everyone is comfortable in front of the camera. Choose interesting interview subjects, ensure that their personality and passion shines through, and that they are relatable to the target audience.
Location
When commissioning visuals, please consider the weather at the time of shooting, the likelihood of noise interference, light exposure levels, and general aesthetics of the locations.
- Assess the composition of the film location - for example make sure all technology in the shot is up-to-date and that the date doesn't appear on a calendar or poster in the background as this will shorten the shelf life of the imagery and limit its use. Make sure to film in locations that are complimentary to the university – for example, film in well-lit, tidy, tasteful locations as the video is representative of the University as well as the subject.
- Consider using props to enhance the composition of the scene.
- Access and filming permission should be agreed with the relevant area prior to the shoot.
Photographers
When commissioning photography please be aware of the following:
- Preference should be given to booking a supplier who is familiar with our brand guidelines and photographic style. Please contact the Marketing team for a recommendation.
- The Photographer and Videographer Copyright Form, which grants copyright to the University of Stirling, must be completed and stored securely.
- Where possible, models should be selected from a cross section of demographics within the student body.
- The Data Protection Act 1998 states that the University must have written consent from each model before taking any photography or video footage for marketing purposes. This applies to students, staff and non-University models. If the activity includes young people (under 18) parental consent must be obtained. If you take a group photo, for example, a lecture, students not wishing to participate should be given the choice to leave the group before the photo is taken. The person in charge of the group should then sign the form on behalf of the group. Please store the model release forms in a safe place.
Please share your images with us so we can build up our repository in the Digital Media Library. For more information, contact the Marketing team.
Digital media library
The University holds a library of photographs which are 'on brand'. Please contact your faculty or service area Marketing contact with any photography requests.