Getting pictures for the Church Directory ideas

[jcconnor]

Looking for help coming up with ideas for a video for getting people to have their picture taken for the updated church directory. I never would have thought this would be a problem but apparently it is.

Thanks for the help.

John

[Gene]

This year we've only got about 50% of the congregation photographed this year. The last photo directory a couple of years ago had around 75%.

Maybe mock up a page of the photo directory, with 1 or 2 photos in it, and the rest of them just frames with a big "?" or the outline of some people instead.

[bobcat1804]

People have to see this as both fun and simple. Consider doing the photo session at the same time as a potluck or pizza party, maybe even right after church. Showing happy people eating and getting pictures taken should be an easy sell. We haven't done a photo directory in many years because our congregation (50% college students) is so transient. We found it was easier and cheaper to do a simple text-only directory, especially since it is usually outdated no more than 30 days after it's published.

[jcconnor]

Yeah, that's about the percentage we are running too, it's like pulling teeth. I like your idea and was thinking along the same line - actually I had 2 ideas that were similar.

Thanks,

John

Originally Posted by Gene

This year we've only got about 50% of the congregation photographed this year. The last photo directory a couple of years ago had around 75%.

Maybe mock up a page of the photo directory, with 1 or 2 photos in it, and the rest of them just frames with a big "?" or the outline of some people instead.

[Carrell]

Originally Posted by bobcat1804

We haven't done a photo directory in many years because our congregation (50% college students) is so transient.

Here is an idea or two concerning pictorial directories which can be such a hassle. If you have available wall space at your church and a few members who are handy with a digital camera, create a pictorial directory at church (Sure, it isn't as good as having one handy when you're at home and trying to match a name with a face, but it beats nothing!). As Bobcat1804 suggested have a fun event at church that will draw most of your members and then set up your member "photographers" to take pictures of everyone. Then put their picture and names up on the wall. As new members join your church you can add their pictures and when people leave you can take their pictures down. You can also send your photographers to photograph members who are confined to their homes or a nursing home (a little sensitivity and common sense is called for here). Another idea, though I'm not enough of an internet guru to know if it is workable, would be to have a pictorial directory online. With the growing problem of identity theft I'm not sure this is a good idea, but it is an idea. Perhaps some other members in the community can expand on this last idea and address the technical and security issues.

Good luck and best wishes,
Pastor Carrell

[adamdiehl]

We've had Olan Mills come in and do it.

[kbob]

GMW (God's Most Wanted)-

Spoof off of America's Most Wanted-put up a few names with clipart beside the names (get permission to use those names first!!!), & run with it. Would there be enough evidence to convict you...How will God know it's you when you pray? Maybe in conjunction with a "jail" graphic showing the missing names in jail already, and that they need to be fully "processed" with photos in order to be released on their own recognizance, etc.

What do you think?

[SoundDudeDave]

Alot of families now are going to the studio to get pictures taken, so when we did our directory, we had a pro company come in to take everyone's picture on a nice looking backdrop, and then offered a discount for the people who wanted to buy a large copy of their family photo through the church, so, they can get their family photo for cheaper, and the church gets their pics for the directory. We also had free food there. You know how baptists are about free food.

[sheldon]

Originally Posted by jcconnor

Looking for help coming up with ideas for a video for getting people to have their picture taken for the updated church directory. I never would have thought this would be a problem but apparently it is.

Slowly zoom out from a baby picture to a couple of ladies standing there with one holding a church directory. She looks up and says "Gee, you look younger in the directory".

[Gene]

Originally Posted by Carrell

Another idea, though I'm not enough of an internet guru to know if it is workable, would be to have a pictorial directory online. With the growing problem of identity theft I'm not sure this is a good idea, but it is an idea. Perhaps some other members in the community can expand on this last idea and address the technical and security issues.

It's certainly do-able, and would have the advantage that (as long as the church kept it updated) everyone would have the most up-to-date version. Regarding security, you could have it in a "members only" section that people are required to register and use a password to access. Most CMS (Content Management System) software like Drupal, Joomla, etc. would make setting up something like this fairly easy. Not 100% secure (passwords have a way of getting out), but it wouldn't be searchable by webbots or the general public.

hmmm... I think a good rip-off of that HP commercial will be cool. I've seen it done!

[Gene]

Originally Posted by Sheldon

Slowly zoom out from a baby picture to a couple of ladies standing there with one holding a church directory. She looks up and says "Gee, you look younger in the directory".

"“Gladys, you really need to update your picture for the directory."

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