Yesterday, we discussed the importance of taking photos. There are a huge variety ways that a creative church will utilize these shots, including (and especially) social media, video slideshows, and the church website. In fact, photos have two characteristics that make them even more useful than video in certain cases:
You can show many photos in a very short period of time, or have multiple photos show at once in a slideshow or on a social media post;
Photos require FAR less memory to store.
The photos are especially good in helping you to celebrate your victories and to highlight members of the congregation in serving roles, on mission trips, etc… Keep an eye out to make sure that you’re not just showing staff in these shots (even though they are often more easily available to pose). I would suggest that staff to congregation ratio on social media be at least 1:1 (that includes the preaching pastor), if not more heavily weighted to the congregational side
As you’re looking for volunteers for the church photo team, keep an eye out for folks that take good “relationship” shots – ie. photos of people interacting happily with other people. These aren’t “paparazzi” who are looking to create “got ‘cha” moments (in a bad way). Rather, the job of church photographers is to create and/or document “we’ve got you” moments…to help the congregation know that they are part of a family… #creativeworshipideas
Hmmm - well, let's see...
I'm a Christian, a husband, a dad, a son, a pastor, a consultant, a musician, a writer, and bits and pieces of a bunch of other things. My work life has followed three main phases - business to teaching to church. I was the Weekend Services Pastor for nine years at Northview Church, an awesome church in the Indianapolis suburbs. I used to work for Willow Creek, another awesome church in the Chicago area. Plus I've written for various magazines and websites, and other freelancy sorts of things... My life mission is to help the church be as excellent as it can be.
Oh yeah - the name's Greg. Greg Wallace. But not the race car driver or the major league pitcher or the British celebrity chef. Just the creative worship guy. Hi.
It's my hope that these ideas, musings, rants, raves, etc... will inspire you. They're just my opinions - but again, I hope that they'll help to inspire you. Because the church really, really needs inspired creative types. If you're a creative type (and most people are, deep-down), ask God for help. Then take any ideas that are useful to you - borrow them, nab them, use them, adapt them - and make them into something greater...
You can head over to my Instagram site for an abundance of shorter posts: creativeworshipideas. If you're looking for consulting - especially on weekend services, team leadership or multi-site strategies - I'd love to help. Just message me here, and I'll be in touch - Greg
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