Photography

Photography of objects from the AM collection.

• Objects should appear either in a studio environment or in situ
• Studio shot: photographed before white, grey or black backdrops and professionally lit. A soft shadow cast by the object is preferred as it shows grounding and realism.
• In situ: photographed with a short depth of field.
• Detail shots should feature an interesting crop, angled when possible.

Photography of visitors or staff (talent) engaging with the AM.

• Photographs should feel natural and not staged.
• Show emotional engagement. Encourage facial expressions of awe, wonder, joy, or interest.
• Take a “fly on the wall” approach. People should never be looking directly at the camera.
• Make the photograph uniquely AM. Ideally, there would be an element to the image that only the AM could provide e.g. the objects, the scene or staff.
• Talent should be engaging with the AM as much as possible. Encourage engagement such as touching screens or looking through glass cases.
• We promote all kinds of diversity as much as possible.

• Should feel intimate. It's like an introduction to someone you haven’t met.
• Set the scene. Place the subject within their environment (in office, lab, museum, expedition).
• Encourage engagement. Place the subject with an object or something of interest to them or the Museum. They can be looking at the camera or looking at object.
• Their facial expression should be natural. A relaxed smile is usually preferred.
• Use a short depth of field when shooting close-ups.
• Avoid darker lighting.
• Avoid staged shots that ‘recreate’ science scenes.

Behind the Scenes photography provides a rare glimpse into the inner workings of the AM.

• Photographs should feel natural and not staged.
• Take a “fly on the wall” approach. People should never be looking directly at the camera.
• Make the photograph uniquely AM. Ideally, there would be an element to the image that only the AM could provide e.g. the objects, the scene or staff.
• Ensure there is always a connection to the AM.

Our event photography showcases performances and moments of the AM. These photographs have a wide range of uses such as marketing, documentation and communications.

We encourage the photographer to use their intuition and capture as many fleeting moments as possible. Below are some guidelines for what we prefer.

• Focus on interaction, emotion and engagement. Short depth of field can help.
• Showcase large crowds.
• Feature unique AM spaces.
• Awards events should feature those in competition and portraits of winners with awards.
• Groups shots and posed photography are generally not used for marketing however they are essential for documentation and communications.