Photography

Photography is a key element of our brand. Images should engage the audience with their warm and genuine real-life quality.

We recommend using full-bleed photography where possible.

Use candid photography as opposed to staged or posed. This gives your audience more of an authentic snapshot into your subject matter. Whether lifting weights at the gym, studying in the library or listening to music — people should be set in their environment.

Composition

Be bold and striking. Highlight the subject and the action by keeping composition simple. Use images with plenty space around your subject, that aren’t too busy. This will let your audience focus on what you want them to see and also give you space to add assets like our brand marks and The Frame.

Colour

Make sure your images are crisp and well-focussed. Never use anything that is blown out or blurred. Colour should feel natural and vibrant, not over-saturated. Images should look naturally white balanced, not stylised. Avoid colour effects and photo filters.

Research Impact

When promoting our University’s achievements, contextual photography may be used. Ideally this should be commissioned by the University using an approved photographer. In some instances stock photography may be used, however this must be approved for both accuracy of content and cost.

When purchasing stock photography/footage, please ensure you have the relevant permissions for your needs as some content may only be used on a specific platform or for a specific length of time.

Please contact marketingtools@stir.ac.uk for usage guidance and approval.

Campus

Our impressive campus and natural surroundings are one of our biggest selling points, and so it is important that they are well represented in our communications.

When shooting exterior, try to include greenery in the form of trees, the hills and grass as well as the lake to keep the outdoors present.

Exterior

Interior

Life at Stirling

A big part of life at the University exists ‘beyond the books’.

Our photo library includes images from sporting activities to the student union and are an excellent showcase of the University facilities and campus.

Further afield

Our location within Scotland is a big part of the University identity and a key selling point for our audience, therefore we can use images from stock sites to demonstrate life beyond the campus through our place in Scotland and the opportunities this affords to our students.

As part of Brand Scotland’s #ScotlandIsNow campaign, all University of Stirling staff have free download access to a collection of Scottish-themed images and videos. Register for access via: Scotland.org/toolkit

When using stock photography, please ensure it feels part of the same suite of images as our own photos. This can be achieved by adjusting saturation and contrast levels and choosing scenarios with a natural, aspirational feeling rather than something which feels posed.

Please contact marketingtools@stir.ac.uk for usage guidance and approval.

Please remember

Keep it real - The scene should feel completely natural and believable and never contrived. The subject should not be obviously styled/made-up/posed. Lighting should always be natural. 

Warmth - From the natural behaviour of the subject, colour in the shot, lighting and context, photography should always be warm. 

Simply styled - Allowing space around the subject for additional messaging.