Guidelines for Bulletin Photos
The Bulletin Committee must receive photos in their largest size because of magazine printing
technology. Your photos should be straight from the camera with no enhancements, cropping or
Photoshop techniques. Please note that in describing the size of a photo (jpg) the following terms
are used interchangeably: original or actual size, large JPG or full resolution.
To submit a photo:
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Set your camera on the largest file (jpg) size. (Refer to the camera manual for
instructions)
Hold the camera very steady or use a tripod when taking the picture.
If possible, re-title selected jpg(s) with club name and number. For example, replace the
file number DCR_0352 with LateBloomerGC_1
Send the jpg’s (photos) in the “original” (largest) size to your Bulletin zone
representative using one of the following methods:
o Attach the “Original Size” jpg to an e-mail message
o Place in the Bulletin Drop Box
o Burn CD and mail in protective envelope
o For other methods, contact the Bulletin editor
Emailing from Photo Storage Libraries:
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PICASA Library: You can email a photo in its original size using Picasa, however you
can only send one of these large files at a time. Please follow these steps to set your email
options to send photos in their original/large size:
o Click Tools > Options (Windows) or Preferences (MAC).
o Select the Email tab.
o Under ‘Size for single pictures’, select the ‘Original Size’ option.
o Click OK.
o Once this option is selected, any single photo you send using Picasa will be in full
resolution.
o It is not possible to send multiple photos in the same e-mail in their original sizes.
iPHOTO Library:
o Click the email tab in iPhoto (lower right corner) and choose from the drop-down
menu:
o Select “Original Size” and click “compose message.”
o You may only be able to send one photo at the time because of the file size.
iPHONE Library:
o It is important to know that your iPhone has a default setting that actually reduces
the quality of the image it sends in order to provide faster downloading.
o If you want to email the largest size photo from your cell phone you have to:
Choose “Actual Size” from the cell phone menu, compose your message and
send.
Note: One MB (megabyte) = 1,000 KB (kilobytes). The Bulletin cannot print a 50 kb
“thumbnail” jpg.
Guidelines for Taking Bulletin Photos
Think Before You Click
The Bulletin always needs good photos. If you have questions or need help, ask experienced
photographers in your club or members of the GCA Photography Judging Program.
Check your camera: is it set on the largest file (jpg) size. (Refer to your camera manual)
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Hold the camera very steady or use a tripod when taking the picture.
Quality should be a good as possible, but excellence is not necessary.
Submit pertinent photos and let our editor decide.
Be aware of what will be in the background of your photo. Move if necessary!
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Lights, mirrors or windows can cause distractions
Camera flash can cause unwanted reflections behind the subject
Photos of flower arrangements look better against a solid background
Have someone hold a piece of white foam-core behind the arrangement
Action is important and much more interesting.
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Include emotion and excitement
Make “Handing over Award” shots special!
Try to Avoid:
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Members standing in a row, staring at the camera
Encourage them to do something
People looking into camera - as in award shots
Suggest that they talk with each other
Drink glass in hand (no matter what is in the glass)
Sunglasses – we want to see their faces and expressions
Preparing & Submitting an Article
The Garden Club of America publishes the Bulletin six times a year in an 8-1/2 x 11 format for
its members.
Articles are written primarily by members.
Subjects
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Contributions should relate to GCA's projects and concerns as well as to the interests of
its members:
o civic projects
o club programs
o conservation
o education
o flower arranging
o fund raising
o horticulture
o garden history and design
o news
o how-to's
o personal experiences
o profile articles
o tips for the Bloomers column about horticulture, conservation and/or flower
arranging
o calendar items for the Bulletin Board
Preparing an Article (sample article located in Lists, Forms & Samples)
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Article length: approximately 200-250 words
Expanded caption: photo plus 40 or fewer words
Accuracy:
o Verify all facts, dates, spelling of names and locations
o Credit sources of informatin including quotations and statistics
o Botanical names should ihclude genus and species and, if available, the variety or
cultivars
Style: see Suggested Style for Articles & Reports under Lists, Forms & Samples
Releases:
o Model, photo and artist release forms are in Lists, Forms & Samples
o Signed 'model release' is required for all photos of patients or children (unless
GCA club member's children)
o Releases also required from the institution in such places as hospitals,
rehabilitation centers and special education schools
Acceptance:
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All submissions will be acknowledged by email
Articles are used as quickly as possible on a space-available basis
If time sensitive, article must meet Bulletin deadline to be published
Articles that cannot be used will be returned as soon as possible
Articles with 'timeless' quality may be held for up to two years
Editor reserves the right to edit articles for style and space
Deadlines for contributions to zone reps are as follows:
o July 15th for October/November issue
o September 15th for December/January issue
o November 15th for February/March issue
o January 15th for April/May issue
o March 15th for June/July issue
o May 15th for August/September issue
Publication dates: August, October, December, February, April and June
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Submitting an Article
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Begin your article with the following identification at the top left:
o Club name, zone and state
o Title of article
o Author's name and email
o Zone rep's name and email
o Submission date
o Number of photos included
After you have written the article, cut and paste your text into the body of an email and
send it your zone representative.
When the text is entered directly into an email (not attached) is can be converted into
almost any application by the zone rep.
Photos can be attached to the same email as the article or sent attached to another email
containing a list of the photos and the following information (see Guidelines for Taking
Bulletin Photos in What You Need to Know):
o Title of article and submission date
o Photographer's name and email
o Club name, zone and state
o Zone rep's name and email
o Location of photograph
o Photograph label and caption
Please send the completed emails to your zone representative