A virtual training session was organised on Thursday, 17th February 2022 to train the on-ground program team on the basics of photography and videography. The entire session lasted for two hours and was divided into two parts including training and a small exercise along with assessment.

The training aimed at capacitating partner team and refurbishing Caritas India’s social media with regards to the quality of content uploaded. This in turn would augment the reach among various stakeholders and help in better representation of the work done on the ground. The effort is to upscale the content and photos, thus marring the final output. Hence investing in imparting basic skills on capturing quality photos and videos would be valuable in the long run for the overall communication of the organisation. The improved output would also enhance the production quality of reports, photo documentation, documentaries and other relevant assets.

The training also intended to develop skills of documentation in the program team. Being well versed with photo and videography will enable them to independently capture important stories that deserve to be highlighted. Given the fact that most of Caritas’s field-based program teams are situated in the hinterlands of India, many important stories could be captured to catch the eye of mainstream media. In such a scenario, social media can work as a great asset for locals, provided they are informed about its functions.

The session was hosted by Lead PR and Communications Mr. Patrick Hansda and Asst. Lead, Mir Jalal. More the 50 participants mostly included coordinators and animators working in the North East Zone.

The first half of the session highlighted the importance of capturing the appropriate expressions in every story. A photo or a video must communicate the desired intention without digressing from the issue.

The session then delved into the various aspects and rules for sharing content for social media to ensure maximum quality of output and engagement. Sharing concise content, necessary tags and engaging with the post after being uploaded cover some responsibilities on part of the coordinators.

Later, Jalal demonstrated how to capture quality photos through a smartphone camera. He informed the participants on fundamental rules governing photography, such as the importance of light, focus, frame and various angles to be cognizant of. The participants were encouraged to experiment with their creativity for ensuring sustainable quality.

The session then discussed various aspects of videography. For easy understanding of participants, Jalal underpinned five essential components to be captured while documenting a story through video. This includes,

1. Background
2. Introduction
3. Crux
4. Testimonies and
5. Conclusion.

The participants were also told to uphold and respect all the rules ascertained by the organisation with regards to capturing photos of people.

Before the start of the next session, a brief break was offered to participants to allow them to capture photos. After sharing pictures in the group, each photo was evaluated and analyzed to point out the issues and suggest solutions through deliberations.

All coordinators showed enthusiasm towards learning the art of photography and improve their capacity of documentation. The entire session underscored the idea of learning by trial and error and gradually improving through constant practice. The participants were encouraged to reach out in case they required any sort of assistance in future.