The imagery used in UNC Asheville communications makes a powerful impression. When shooting photographs, look beyond traditional setups to create images with different perspectives, details, shallow depth of field, and unusual angles to impart a sense of creativity and inspire a particular emotion or atmosphere. UNC Asheville Communication & Marketing maintains photo galleries from each semester. Please contact communication@unca.edu to inquire about photos from past events or scenes on campus.
Photo Guidelines
Please review our COVID-19 Photo/Video Protocols for best practices.
Images that evoke the UNC Asheville brand should feel spontaneous rather than staged, showing people in natural poses engaged in real-life situations. Subjects should exhibit a sense of self-confidence and joy in collaborative learning. Err on the side of restraint when using photography. One larger, well-cropped photo will create a stronger impact than a series of smaller, overly detailed images that create a cluttered, unfocused page.
Group photos should be deliberate and inclusive. It’s helpful to let the group know that you want to take a photo and ask them to gather in front of a sign or iconic building. Take several photos to ensure that there’s a photo option where most individuals have their eyes open.
All images should be at least 300 dpi at full size for print and at least 72 dpi at full size for web.
Photo/Video Releases
Photo/video releases are required when taking photos or video for use in any university publication of a marketing or a public relations nature, such as printed promotional materials, advertisements, or online content. These rules are not in effect when photos or video are taken of news events, but photos/video taken for news purposes require a release for reuse in marketing materials.
Complete the online Photo/Video Release Form
A downloadable version of the release form is available here.
A downloadable Spanish version of the release form is available here.
FERPA Consent for Web Conference Recordings
Faculty recording classroom lectures or presentations must have written permission from students to do so per FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act). The way these photos and videos can be accessed, stored, and shared have strict rules since they are a part of an “education record.”
Photo or Filming Permits
Any photo and video on campus, including video assignments for class projects, requires a Film Location Agreement in place prior to the photo session and may have additional insurance requirements. Please allow 7-10 days to complete the review process. To start, send an inquiry or the completed form to communication@unca.edu.
Aerial or drone photography has additional requirements. Please contact communication@unca.edu prior to aerial filming on campus.
Multimedia Statement
The University of North Carolina Asheville is a public university and often uses video recordings, audio recordings, and photographic images of public campus life, events, ceremonies and other activities to advance the mission of the institution. By visiting, registering as a student, being employed by The University of North Carolina Asheville, and/or being present in public settings, you authorize the use and reproduction by the university, or anyone authorized by the university, to any photographs, video, and audio, in whole or in part, while at the University of North Carolina Asheville, without compensation. The copyright of all photos, videos, and audio recordings made by UNC Asheville employees will be retained by UNC Asheville. The individual creators of the photos, videos and audio recordings will retain the right to use them for professional self promotion. Many University events are open to the public and attended by media who may use your image for news purposes. UNC Asheville is a public forum and cannot control media coverage of our events.