Photography Collection

The Division of Marketing and Communications offers our partners access to our photo library via Canto, our digital asset management system. Images are free to download and are updated on a regular basis.

You can browse photos organized by categories or you can use the AI-enabled search bar to find a selection of photos that meets your specific needs.

Canto Public

Canto Public has a limited selection of branded images, primarily intended for use by those outside the university.

Canto with Login

Log in with your TXST NetID to see a wider selection of images intended for use within the Texas State community.

grid of example photos

Historical Images

It is OK to use historical photography that features previous university names, initials, and logos, especially when communicating with alumni. Search for historical images.

Best Practices

Framing

Students working with a professor, studying an ancient bed rock.
Frame your subject in the natural environment for an organic, layered feel. Textures and reflections add visual interest.
Old Main building from a dramatic angle with a blue sky and clouds above.
Use a low angle for a dramatic feel.
Student standing below tree with camera pointed in an upward angle.
Capture both wide views and close-up details of the scene for a stronger storytelling technique.
Student working with professor in a botany lab studying a fruit giving flower.
Remove clutter in your view to draw focus to the subject.

Lighting

Image of student standing behind beakers and other equipment in a chemistry lab.
Use natural light whenever possible. In low-light situations where artificial light is necessary, try bouncing light indirectly to mimic natural light.
Group of students having a conversation in front of St. David's School of Nursing building.
Shoot outdoors in the morning or late afternoon when light is less harsh. Cloudy days provide soft, even lighting.
Students gathered in the courtyard of Taylor Murphy.
Light leaks are a great way to refresh existing photography and add warmth to an image.
Students participating in a rec league game smiling.
Pay attention to the direction of light. Avoid placing your subject directly in front of the light source.

Staging

Students gathered at a local San Marco cafe drinking coffee.
Give your subject something natural to do.
Students conversing on a walkway of the Theatre Center.
Use the student perspective; shoot on campus to capture their environment whenever possible.
Students walking on a nature trail, smiling.
Don't force the moment.
Students talking on stairs with Alkek Library in the background.
Avoid having subjects wear the same or similar attire for a less staged look.

Light Leaks

Light leaks are created when a roll of film is exposed to light within a camera. You can refresh existing digital photos with light leak overlays to give them a bright, warm feeling that captures the natural vibrancy of our university community.

Download Photoshop Files

How to Use the Light Leak Files in Adobe Photoshop:

  1. Download the Light Leak files.
  2. Open the Light Leak file.
  3. Open the photo you want to use in Photoshop.
  4. Drag and drop OR Select > All and copy/paste your photo in the Light Leak file.
  5. Use the layers panel (Window > Layers) to position the photo beneath the Light Leak layers.
  6. Select a Light Leak layer that complements your photo by turning the visibility indicator in the layers panel on or off.
    • Use only one Light Leak layer.
  7. Adjust the opacity of the Light Leak layer using the layers panel.
    • Leave the layer's blending mode set to Screen.
  8. Use the transform tool (Edit > Free Transform) to position the Light Leak.
Student lying down at Sewell Park smiling with light leaks overlay.

Alt Text

Alternative text should be applied to photos used in digital applications such as websites or social media. Alt text describes images to individuals who are unable to see them. Learn more about using and writing alt text on Texas State's Digital Accessibility site.

Photo-Video Release Forms

University Marketing has photo-video release forms you can use to obtain consent from people you are filming. Download forms in English and Spanish and learn more about when you need to obtain written consent: