A snapshot of USI's Photography and Multimedia

USI Photography and Multimedia is more than a place to go to when you want to update the 12-year-old headshot still on your website. The department, which operates within University Communications, serves a variety of needs in a cost-effective way. Through the use of strategic imagery, departments can refresh their websites, update printed materials or showcase their work visually in other ways, such as slideshows, PowerPoints, banners, social media and others.

The mission of Photography and Multimedia is to tell the USI story through documentation of the life, study and work of the University's students, faculty, staff and alumni.

In a given year, the department schedules more than 500 photo shoots and captures more than 180,000 images. Their work is the visual brand of the University. Images appear in a variety of printed pieces, ads, billboards, social media, and across the University's website.

Did you know that Photography and Multimedia has a comprehensive website that covers everything from fees and how to access your headshot, to convenient forms and guidelines as well as galleries of images? New to the site this year is a series of photo galleries. The site contains both public galleries of images as well as password-protected galleries for use by individual departments or projects.

Photoshoots should be arranged at least two weeks in advance of the event using the online request form. With proper notice, the department will work with requests to develop a shot list that is both cost effective and best meets the needs of the department. Some photo requests are performed free of charge including employee headshots, news and events for media purposes and others.

Regular headshot days are Wednesdays from 1 to 4 p.m. and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to noon. You can contact the department to make arrangements outside the normal hours.

If a photographer is not available, or if an event falls outside of the scope of what is covered, departments can use the camera request form to reserve a point and shoot camera. Photography and Multimedia will download the images on return of the camera, and load them to a gallery for departmental use.

The Photography and Multimedia website also includes tips for taking photos with a cell phone, recommendations for camera purchases, information on taking professional headshots and much more.

So, next time you have photo needs, be sure to check out the Photography and Multimedia website-and smile friend, you may be on camera!