PORTAL SOP & Guidelines

Quality over quantity

Be intentional. We don't need 10,000 photos. Shoot in RAW and apply the established Lightroom presets.

Invisible but attentive

Do not distract the congregation. Spend a maximum of 10 minutes shooting the speaker during the sermon.

Rule of thirds

Position faces, expressions, and raised hands at grid intersections — not the center of the frame.

Leading lines & foreground

Use aisles and pews to guide the eye toward the stage. Layer out-of-focus foreground elements (backs of heads, Bibles) to create depth.

Avoid empty seats

Never take photos showing empty seats. Frame creatively so the church always looks full and alive.

Screen portraits

Use wide apertures for clean background blur (bokeh) that isolates the subject.

Absolute responsibility

Gear is extremely expensive. Never leave cameras or lenses unattended — anywhere.

One lens per camera

Do not switch lenses between camera bodies during the service. Stick with your starting lens.

Do not touch the glass

Skin oils permanently damage lens coatings. Use only provided lens cleaners and microfiber cloths.