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Photographic Style

Photography is a vital element of the MSU brand. It evokes emotion and connects people to the university.

Our photography should be beautiful but also authentic and relatable, reflecting our pursuit of excellence for the common good and our welcoming, inclusive community.

Brand Campaign Photography

The MSU brand campaign photographic approach incorporates “lifestyle” photography. Lifestyle imagery focuses on authentic slice-of-life moments—real people in real scenarios capturing candid action and environments. The emphasis should be put on showing moments that are beautiful, aspirational, powerful—but always genuine.

To achieve this look in campaign-inspired communications, keep in mind the following:

  • Capture natural movement and interaction, rather than poses.
  • Highlight interaction between individuals or between the subject and the environment. Prioritize imagery where the focus is on people, more than their work or activity.
  • Authentic Spartan moments are the goal. Always feature real Spartans. No actors.
  • Focus on facial expression but avoid smiling directly into the camera.
  • Emphasis should be on the subject, generally with the background slightly out of focus.
  • Aim for bright, natural lighting.
three students are sitting at a table with writing supplies, one student stands holding a tablet
a student filtering soil through a filter searching for historical fragments
Students talking on campus
three friends dressed up in green and white fan gear while taking a selfie
a graduate is standing up while wearing a green graduation gown at the Breslin Center surrounded by others graduates
Researcher Bruno Basso and a student stand in a crop field while a drone hovers nearby
a marching band student wearing a uniform holding his trumpet
students walk by the stadium on a sunny day
Two students and researcher Carolina Ferreira in lab coats having a conversation in a laboratory

Portraits

Portraits are important to many kinds of Spartan storytelling. For all portrait images, the subject of the photograph should be the focus.

  • Subjects should be framed in the photo so the viewer’s eye is drawn straight to them.
  • Aim for capturing the subject looking genuine and accomplished, with the Spartan drive to make a difference.
  • Subjects may appear in an environment that reflects their work and expertise or in an iconic MSU location, depending on the focus of the communication.
a smiling person in a red jacket posing in front of a painted mural
a smiling person standing in front of a wall with photos
Man presenting with screen behind him and his arms folded
a young blonde student smiling wearing a black shirt and tattoos
a person in a traditional African tunic stands smiling at the camera
a person wearing glasses smiles in front of trees

Details

Close-up photos of objects, architecture, hands or equipment may be used to communicate a specific research initiative, discovery or opportunity at MSU. These detail images also help tell a visual story and complement portrait or landscape photos.

  • Detail photographs should be shot similarly to portraits, with the object taking the place of the living subject.
  • Detail photos should focus on a single object that is used to enhance the viewer’s experience.
an octopus in underwater in a glass tank
bacteria growing white spots on the surface of a petri dish shown on a black background
People showing a handful of recently picked blueberries
a black backpack with a spartan helmet logo and Pride pin
The Spartan statue wearing a basketball jersey
banner advertising more than 270,000 honorary college alumni living in Michigan

Landscapes

Landscape photos should be authentic and inspiring, featuring MSU’s beautiful campus and the transformational opportunities it provides. Or they may reflect other locations that support the story or messaging.

a sign for michigan state university behind trees
tall trees around Beaumont Tower with a blue sky above it
A lone bike rests standing in a long hallway with windows
Spartan statue in silhouetted against the blue sky with a crescent moon floating directly overhead
Campbell hall, with focus on front door of a red brick building and spring flowers
a sidewalk leading to a building is lined with snow covered trees

Keep in Mind

  • Photos help tell a Spartan story and represent MSU values and priorities. Individuals and groups represented in photography should be appropriately diverse, and an intentional effort should be made to be inclusive in imagery across a communications product.
  • Shoot with plenty of negative space around the subject. It’s important to provide extra width to accommodate headlines and other content in ads, websites and other communications.
  • Take several vertical and horizontal shots of each subject to meet the needs of various types of communications, including requirements for different social media platforms.
  • Avoid overly lit, static, artificially posed photos.
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