Submitted by techrep1 on
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I was taking some photos today of an employee of the month presentation and I realized how poorly it can be done. Does anyone have any pointers or guidance on how to present properly, how to stand while having pictures taken, the whole thing.
Grip & Grin
Photojournalists call these photos "Grip and Grins." Here are a couple of tips.
First, if the awardee is having a picture taken with a senior manager, the awardee may be nervous, especially if the award was a surprise. Whenever, possible, take at least two shots, possibly more depending on how fast the camera can set for the next shot. This reduces the risk of closed eyes, glare from the award or glasses, etc.
Use the highest quality digital camera you can find. Avoid using a cellphone if at all possible. It's just not that stable.
Shoot from the chest up so that you can see the faces and the award.
If you must shoot the entire body, be sure that men avoid the "fig leaf" posture where their hands are clasped in front of their crotches.
To give the photographer more time, suggest that posed shots be taken after the ceremony with the awardee and the senior manager holding the award.
For anyone accepting an award, chances are, you worked your tail off for many months if not a year to earn that award. Don't walk fast up to the podium. Slow down and enjoy the moment. It might be the only recognition you get. But don't get cocky. Once a co-worker was surprised to learn that he had earned a prestigious award. As he walked up to the podium, he said loudly, 'Well, you know, cream rises to the top!" And from the back of the room came, ".....And so do dead fish!"
It was some time before everyone stopped laughing, including the awardee who thought it was just as funny as everyone else.
In this case the employee
In this case the employee was sharper than the manager, probably because he was so proud of his achievement and the manager appeared half-hearted at best. The manager held the award low, not level, and with the handshake above the award. On top of that the smile just wasn't there. If the manager can't muster a smile for such an event even if he would rather be somewhere else watching paint dry, he really shouldn't be participating in such events. This includes everyone else than lines up for the picture.
A lot of this wasn't evident to me until after when I was posting the pictures on a drive for all to see.
Delta File
Glenn has some great advice for you and anyone behind the camera at an awards ceremony.
It sounds like you're stuck in a situation where you would like to give the manager feedback. I see no positive that can come from providing feedback to a manager in this situation.
In one of the Bad Boss episodes, Mark and Mike discussed a Delta File. It is a list of the things you would do differently when you're in that situation. You jot down on a piece of paper the positive behaviors you will engage in when you're in that situation. You drop it in a file folder for your eyes only. Then you move on. There is a limit to what we can control. Our behaviors are one of the few things.
Right after I started listening to Manager Tools, I had some rough days. I listened to the episode about a Delta File, so I started one. I was amazed at how something as simple as writing down the situation and tucking it away without showing it to anyone changed my entire attitude. The bad situations that occurred around me were able to drain out of my brain, onto the paper, and out of sight. With that negative out of the way I could focus on my job with open and positive attitude. I had no idea how powerful this could be.
In an effort to learn from others' experiences, here are a couple notes I'm going to add to my Delta File:
-Plan time before an awards presentation to practice with the photographer. Look at the practice shots and adjust as needed. Get a stand-in to help. This can be done while the room is being set up. It shouldn't take more than a few minutes.
-Plan a spot to stand. Mark it with tape on the stage. This will make sure the background is centered in the picture. Use and adjust this spot with a stand-in during the practice shots. Be on my mark before the recipient arrives. They will stop and stand based on where I'm standing. I can reduce the risk that the photo appears off center.
-Print Glenn's list and step through them with the photographer prior to the meeting. Ask the photographer for tips to make better composition or better lighting. Adjust as needed.
-Smile and relax. This is a celebration. This could be the proudest moment in the recipient's career. A good photo will show up on their desk or mantle and will be shared with friends and family. A bad photo will end up in a drawer or worse. If you're having trouble mustering a smile, re-read the line above about the dead fish. The photo doesn't show what's making you smile.
-Hold the award or certificate high enough that it can be clearly seen when the photo is framed from the chest up. I can help ensure the award or certificate is level and has no glare during the photo. Then relinquish the award and applaud the recipient while they return to their seat.
-Don't rush the ceremony. This is a big deal to the recipients. Adjust the meeting agenda to allow for some basking. Horstman's Rule #1: It's All About People.
Thanks for the question. It has let me think through a situation that I haven't had to deal with yet. Now I've got some great tips on how to make it a great expereience for everyone. Some of those items I added based on reflecting on award ceremonies I've observed. My DISC profile is 7-1-1-7. I need all the help I can get to avoid my natural tendancies when dealing with people. I think my C would have registered 11, if the dial went up that high.
Jack
Alabama
7-1-1-7