Belmont Photography
Photography is used to help build Belmont’s overall brand identity by providing a look into our physical property, images of our students, faculty and staff and a glimpse into overall campus life and activities.
There are thousands of images of campus, students and University events available on Belmont's SmugMug website. In order to represent the University in the most genuine way possible, please use recent images from these approved galleries as opposed to stock photos purchased online. When selecting photos for a project, please be mindful of the diversity of gender, ethnicity, field of study, etc. represented.
Photography Request Guidelines
At Belmont University, we believe in the power of captivating visuals to promote our institution and showcase the incredible experiences of our students, faculty and staff. To ensure an efficient and effective photography process, we have outlined essential guidelines for all photo requests:
1. Broad Usage Focus:
Our primary focus is on capturing images for broad, external marketing usage, including major University publications, the website, social media, marketing materials, and publicity efforts.
2. Departmental Photography Needs:
Please note that photography needs without broad, visual appeal (such as departmental receptions, student headshots, composites, class speakers, hooding ceremonies and group shots) are the responsibility of individual departments.
3. Resource Limitations:
Due to limited resources, all photo requests will be executed at the discretion of University Marketing & Communications. (In case we are unable to attend a photo shoot, we can provide a list of freelance photographers or assist in creating a gallery in SmugMug if you take pictures with your phone.)
4. Request Submission and Attendance:
Submitting a request does not guarantee our attendance. To enhance the efficiency of the process, kindly include as many details as possible in your request:
- Brief Description of Images Needed:
- Type of Photography (Headshot, Event, Staged Photoshoot, Viewbook Images, Building/Campus Images, Stock Images):
- Usage and Publication Details:
- Preferred Shoot Date:
- Ideal Due Date for Images:
- Specific Location of Shoot:
- Additional Information:
NOTE: If you have multiple special requests for a shoot, please communicate them upfront. This will help us plan accordingly, as we often have specific timeframes between events.
5. Event Photography:
When requesting a photographer's time, please keep the duration ideally between 30 minutes to 1 hour during the most visually stunning moments instead of asking them to attend the entire event. In addition, we kindly request that you submit your event photography requests at least two weeks before the event. Rest assured, we will strive to deliver the images within several days after the shoot. You will receive a link to download the images, allowing you to share them as needed.
6. Headshots:
Our studio is located in the basement of the Barbara Massey Rogers Center. For groups of 20 or more individuals needing headshots, we can come to your building and set up the shoot. For one-on-one headshots, please have individuals schedule a time to visit our studio.
7. Accessing Images:
All University images will be available in our online photo gallery, accessible for departmental, communication, and marketing needs. You can easily search for specific images by date, name or event on SmugMug at https://belmontphoto.smugmug.com/.
8. Contact Information:
To streamline the process, we have decided to revert to the use of regular email for photo requests. Please feel free to email your requests to Sam Simpkins. For additional assistance, contact Cara Davis or communication@belmont.edu.
We appreciate your cooperation in adhering to these guidelines and look forward to capturing remarkable moments that showcase the spirit of Belmont University.