Photography and Promotion

Event photos are required for both Fest formats. They help document the community around Hacktoberfest and show the impact of the program. Photos should present the event as welcoming, active, and useful without compromising attendee privacy or dignity.

What to Highlight

Aim for a varied set of photos that includes:

• Hosts and participants collaborating, plus any speakers or facilitators involved in the program
• Participants working together on projects or activities
• Project demonstrations, winner announcements, talks, workshops, discussions, and show-and-tell moments
• Opening and closing moments, including winning teams at Hacktoberfest Hack Day events
• The venue, signage, and local character of the organization hosting the Fest
• Hacktoberfest, MLH, and assigned partner branding in the context of the event
• Swag distribution and community interaction
• Wide and group shots that reflect the range of people participating
• Any distinctive activity that gives the Fest its own personality

Indoor event spaces can be poorly lit. Check the lighting before the program begins and use a mix of wide, medium, posed, and candid photos.

What to Avoid

• Photos of people who have not given appropriate permission
• Sensitive screens, personal information, or private conversations
• Close-up individual headshots when they do not show the event itself
• Sleeping participants or people in vulnerable or embarrassing situations
• Software filters that substantially change the photo
• Messy food areas, discarded packaging, or half-eaten food as the primary subject
• Images of unsafe conditions; address the condition instead of photographing it

After the Fest

Select a clear, representative set of photos and submit them through the post-event workflow supplied by the MLH Hacktoberfest team. Keep the original files available until the event reporting is complete.

Use the approved event name in posts and follow any current Hacktoberfest brand guidance supplied by the MLH Hacktoberfest team.