Instructions & Procedures for Composites

 

With the arrival of digital products, it becomes the responsibility of each photographer and school to provide the most accurate and current student data possible. By providing complete, accurate and current information on all students and staff, you help to assure the accuracy of student names and placement in the correct classroom composite. Camera cards become a crucial factor in the accuracy of data. The following is a list of instructions and procedures for composites. Please refer to the sample order form on the opposite page as you read this page. These pages were created to help illustrate how order processing takes place. We strongly recommend the use of Data Advantage camera cards. Handwritten cards must include the subject’s FULL name.

 

Photographing & Slating for Composites

Be sure to use camera cards or money envelopes with names clearly printed or typed in the periscope on picture day. Make sure that the names are complete and that each subject has their own envelope when their picture is taken. It is critical that money envelopes or camera cards be kept in exact camera order and submitted with the job. Information obtained from your camera cards will then be matched with the images. If camera cards are not in sequence, names will not match the images on the composite. Camera cards should be bundled first by class, then by roll number (if capturing on film) and finally by photographer/camera. Each bundle of camera cards should be clearly identified and should correspond to the slating of each class. Upon request, Excel Photo will provide slate pads that can be photographed and then used to identify each bundle of camera cards when they are submitted with the job. If capturing digitally, please be sure to write the image file number on the slate and camera cards and provide the slate, in the order photographed, along with the camera cards or as part of your data.

 

It is important that composite schools be shot by classroom rather than random order. Extra charges will be incurred if students are shot in random order. Explain to the school the importance of keeping students grouped together as much as possible. Be sure that each class is clearly identified. This is easily accomplished by slating at the beginning of each class. The identifying information on your slate should always match the information on your Composite Work Order.

 

	•	Slate each class with grade and teacher name. Be sure to include AM, PM or class days (i.e., Mon/Wed) for kindergarten and preschoolers. Make certain that teacher and class information on the slate match the Composite Work Order. If teacher’s full name will be used on staff composite, slate using full name.
	•	Slate any late students photographed in classes other than their own by slating “Add To” and the teacher’s name & grade.
	•	Slate any individuals that should not appear on the composites as “NFC” (Not For Composite).
	•	Be sure that any staff, faculty, teachers and teacher’s aides are clearly identified on the job either by slating, indicating in the periscope or indicating in your data file for digital capture. The following abbreviations are recommended. Our preferred method of identification for film is slating.

 

IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT YOU SUBMIT YOUR JOB WITH THE FOLLOWING:

		All camera cards or money order envelopes clearly identified and IN EXACT CAMERA ORDER by class, film roll number and photographer. This will be used to link images to individual names and appropriate classes.
		A current student roster. This student roster should reflect student enrollment as of school picture day or within one week of that date. Roster will be used to verify spelling of student names if we have any questions. It will also be used to verify in which class students and teachers belong. Student rosters will be used as reference only if information is illegible on slates or camera cards.
		A completed, legible Composite Work Order. It is not necessary to indicate quantities for each classroom. Excel Photo will determine appropriate quantities based on package structure and data. If quantities differ from this, mark your Composite Work Order accordingly.