Church newsletters can take a huge step forward in design by using photos instead of clip art.
Take a look at a newsletter from a business or established nonprofit and you’ll see nice photos to create visual interest.
Clip art solved a problem we no longer have – how to add visual interest pre-computers. In those days, color was seldom available and most newsletters were printed on black and white machines. Assembling a designed newsletter meant literally printing blocks of text and images to tape or glue into a layout. Once the layout was complete, it could be used to make copies.
Clip art is often cartoonish or low-quality, giving a similar vibe to your newsletter. Photos, on the other hand, convey realism and relevancy.
Desktop publishing and sophisticated copiers (many offering color) changed this for churches. Now it is easy to use color and photos in your publications.
Less is More
When using visuals in a newsletter (either print or an email newsletter), remember that not every article or item needs a visual. Use visuals to draw attention to the most important article or story. If every article has an image, your newsletter can quickly feel cramped and cluttered. The old adage is true: if everything is important, nothing is important.
Selecting Images
Sometimes we try to be too literal with images. For example, if you are promoting a VBS with a hiking theme, it’s fine to use photos of boots, a backpack, or a compass. They draw the eye while remaining simple and related to the theme.
Be careful grabbing images from Google searches, you likely will not have the rights to those images. Instead, try a site like Pixabay.com or Pexels.com, where you can find and download quality images with no cost, but with permission for use.
Of course, if you have persons at your church willing to capture photos at events, you can build a library of your own photos to use.
Summary
With a computer for handling page layout, and the ability to find and add photos, there’s no reason to reach for clip art again. Resist the urge to add a visual to every article, and you’re well on your way to a more attractive and readable newsletter!