Photography
Visual flair is an integral part of our websites. The photos we choose help us illustrate our stories, make an emotional connection with our users, emphasize our incredible set of Lab media assets, and highlight the talent of the photographers we work with. Throughout our work, we aim to offer a range of photos to showcase birds and other taxa, habitats, nature, and people engaging with nature.
Bird Photography
The Cornell Lab is proud to be home to the Macaulay Library archive of bird photographs, sounds, and video. We use these photos prominently in the brand and feature a wide variety of birds, in their environment, in flight, or with their flock. Content managers should alter or manipulate images only sparingly, for example cropping into a picture or flipping it horizontally to fit a layout better. For content producers with photo editing skills, you can also adjust photos (brightness, saturation, contrast, etc.) to improve quality, but please use these tools sparingly. Photo credits are required and should always include species name, photographer, and Macaulay Library acknowledgment if applicable. See specific guidelines for Using Macaulay Library Assets. When posting ML photos to Lab social accounts, use a Macaulay image template whenever possible.
People Photography
People drive the Lab: onsite, in the field, and in communities all over the world. Photos should show people engaging with birds and nature in the field to capture the Lab’s rigorous and driven energy. These photos work best if they are candid and look authentic rather than staged. Stylistically, it’s best if the images are naturally lit and capture the vibrant energy of nature and the upbeat, optimistic spirit of the Lab. Please be careful to secure permission from both the photographer and subject before using (in some cases such as GBBC this permission is provided at the time of upload—please check). Don’t use photos of children unless they have specifically provided a photo release. Please use our photo release form for photos of people.
