Photography Increases the Effectiveness of Messaging

A case study on using Professional Photography to inspire faith and empower the call to serve the common good.

Background:

The Office of Vocations is a force for good. It promotes the universal call to holiness of all Christians and highlights the unique calls to priesthood and the religious life. In doing so, men and women who enter into religious life devote portions of their lives or even their entire lives to serving others and to serving the Kingdom of God.

Challenges & Objectives:

The Office of Vocations is led by Fr. Jonathan Raia and has an excellent Digital and Creative Manager for the Diocese of Austin, Mr. Adrian Sanchez. In 2017, Mr. Sanchez wanted to build and empower the Office of Vocation’s digital presence so they could further spread the teaching on vocations wider and with greater efficacy. He therefore created www.godiscalling.me and decided that using professional images was essential to providing an online experience that spoke to the core of people’s faith. 

We reached out to Adrian to help and a partnership was born.

The Proposed Solution:

The solution from then on was a series of photos hoots. Adrian partnered with Mastic and scheduled shoots at their Vocation’s retreat to create professional headshots per each Seminarian (23 in all for that year) to install and use on the site to show prospective discerners what it was like to be in seminary and could further envision themselves in that role.

In addition, more photo shoots were scheduled at several of the Diocese of Austin’s Catholic schools and major Parishes to provide beautiful photography that could be used on the site, for social media, and as graphic backgrounds to digital promotions sent out to spread the word on the faith and the Church’s teaching on vocations.

Finally, Photos of the Bishop and group photos with prominent members of the community were also scheduled to continue building a library of fresh photography for use in promotions.

Results:

• The goal here according to Adrian Sanchez was to create awareness and education as well as greater contact with those already interested and discerning a call from God to serve and offer their lives in religious life.
• Adrian confirmed for us that the photo libraries created assisted greatly in that purpose and has booked Mastic every year for more photoshoots since 2017 to ensure that the media can remain fresh.
• We’re proud to serve Adrian and the good people in the Office of Vocations in the Diocese of Austin.

Future Plans:

The Office of Vocations continues to serve the Austin community with uplifting and beautiful messages of faith that inspire people to a gift of self. Our relationship with them continues and we are proud to serve them and assist them with their media needs.