Category: Professional Development

3 PR Lessons from Katelyn Ohashi’s Perfect 10

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If you haven’t already seen the viral gymnastics routine that has taken social media by storm, it is definitely worth a watch! You can check out UCLA gymnast Katelyn Ohashi’s perfect 10 routine here, as she leaves the judges and audiences in awe.

So how does a flawless floor routine translate into the world of public relations? In more ways than one!

Photo by Richard Quinton/UCLA

1. Katelyn Ohashi teaches us the importance of adding your own personal style and creativity into every floor routine (and PR campaign) you approach. She wins over the crowd with her beaming smile and signature dance moves throughout her routine. As you get ready to build your brand, think about how you can add some extra special flare that is outside the box. What makes your brand or idea stand out? While Ohashi has some jaw-dropping combinations of tumbling in her routine, it is her extra touch of personality that really wins the audience over. Just like with a brand or a PR strategy, it is truly in the details!

2. Katelyn Ohashi is a talented gymnast, but she has also experienced something that everyone has as some point: burnout. She was once an Olympic-track gymnast with dreams of representing Team USA. She ended up leaving that trajectory to pursue a more suitable lifestyle and a gymnastics career at UCLA. While she might have left her Olympic dreams behind, she is anything but ordinary. Ohashi shows us that even if your first plan or strategy does not work out, that does not mean you have to settle for less. Always be on the lookout for a fresh and creative approach, whether it is for your own brand, one of your clients or a campaign you are trying to create. Just because you choose a different way, doesn’t mean it is the wrong way.

3. Just like gymnastics, public relations is a field where presentation is everything. You can have a great idea, but if you can’t present it in a way that hooks your audience, it is going to fall short. From the moment she steps onto the floor, Ohashi has everyone’s attention. Her radiant smile and strategic presentation strengthen her routine that much more. Gymnasts train for years to perfect their landings and the positioning of their legs on the floor and uneven bars, just like public relations professionals search for hours for the perfect word choice and slogan to lead their campaign.

Katelyn Ohashi might have won over the hearts of America with her flawless floor routine, but she won me over with the PR skills she doesn’t even know she has!

Want a dose of more inspiration? Check out the Top 3 Marketing Campaigns of 2018!

Written by Alex Davis-Isaac, senior at UNC-Chapel Hill.

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Meet Alex, Clairemont Intern

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The Search for my Unicorn

Walking onto the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s campus four years ago, I was determined. I was in search of an elusive “passion.” I had no idea what I wanted to do. Much like the mythical unicorn, a “passion” to study seemed just out of reach, improbable of being real. I wanted to walk into a class and realize, “This is it; this is what I want to do with my life!” I envied my friends who had concrete dreams and career plans of being a doctor or a high school teacher. I knew that I loved people, writing and embracing my creative side, but I couldn’t figure out how to translate that into a major.

My academic advisor came to know me well, as I switched my major from English to Pre-Business to Management in Society. With each new major I declared, I found bits and pieces of things I enjoyed, but it still felt like something was missing. As the end of sophomore year came around, I decided to sign up for a class in one concentration I hadn’t considered: public relations.

It was an Introduction to Advertising and Public Relations class. I only vaguely knew what PR entailed at the time, but I figured, why not?

My Light Bulb Moment

That class was a game-changer for me.

I realized I could have a job that encompassed so many of my interests. I could tell a client’s story through writing, brainstorm creative campaigns and engage with people in a field of work that was constantly evolving. Working with real-life clients was especially exciting, since I could see the tangible effects that my work had for different organizations.

As I worked my way through various PR classes, I finally found what I had been looking for at UNC-CH. It wasn’t a single light bulb moment or a swift discovery. The more I learned, the more my interest in PR turned into passion. I enjoyed the fast-paced environment and the creative side I got to use.

What Comes Next?

I wear a lot of different hats: writer, people-person, adventurer … even competitive jump roper and fitness instructor. With PR, I have found a concentration that allows me to engage with everything I love. I can do videography for my jump rope club, I write blog posts about my travel and fitness goals, and I can help others tell their stories, too.

I am looking forward to continuing my learning as an intern at Clairemont Communications this spring. As I finish up my last semester of classes at UNC and get ready to enter the “real world,” I am unbelievably excited for what comes next.

Written by Clairemont intern Alex Davis-Isaac, a senior at UNC.

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How to Avoid Being a Photo Faux Pas

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Do you ever stress about the “photography skills” line of your resume? In a world of ever-improving iPhone cameras and easy access to photo editors, this seems like a must-have skill. Public relations students are increasingly expected to take courses in photography or videography, and PR professionals are often in charge of providing visual representation of their clients.

At a past Raleigh Public Relations Society’s Lunch and Learn, a panel of professional photographers answered questions about their jobs, discussed ideal client relationships and extended photography advice to the room of PR professionals.

Working with Professionals — Dos & Don’ts

Even if your client is lucky enough to have the budget for a professional photographer, there are still a few ways to help.

  1. DO figure out which photographer’s style best fits your client’s vision for the project. Kimberly Rhoades, a portrait photographer with her own business, Nine 19 Photography, said the most important aspect of the ideal client relationship is building a relationship of trust from the get-go — sounds familiar, right?
  2. DO provide useful information ahead of time to the photographer. You want your money best spent taking photos, not figuring out where to stick the backdrop.
  3. DON’T forget to give the photographer credit on social media.

Working without Professionals — Quick Tips

If your client needs you to be the impromptu photographer for the day, the panelists provided some tips:

  1. For more casual social media posts, using your iPhone to snap a few pictures will do, but an in-depth photo shoot probably warrants a better camera.
  2. If it’s a bad picture, don’t post it just to post something, especially when trying to show off your product or food. As Felicia Trujillo from Food-Seen pointed out, a chef trying to showcase his or her food won’t be successful with a bad photo.
  3. Make do with the camera you have, and learn how to use it well. Amanda English from Amanda English Photography advised not to use the auto setting on the camera; instead, watch YouTube videos, read books or ask an experienced user how to shoot the camera manually.

Five Easy Ways to Improve Your Photography Skills

  1. If you’re looking for a good lens, English recommends a 35 or 50 mm lens, which is better than zoom lenses. Sometimes you can even rent lenses if you find yourself scared of commitment.
  2. Improve composition by moving around the client you’re photographing, not vice versa.
  3. Don’t have people face the sun! Closed eyes in pictures are probably not your client’s most ideal look.
  4. There isn’t a hard and fast rule for how many shots it takes to get the perfect one, but definitely don’t settle for the first one you take. Make sure every photo looks different, even when they’re the same type of shot.
  5. When shooting an event, be knowledgeable of what the client wants before you arrive. Create a shot list. As Kim Kirchstein from Leopold Designs pointed out, it is impossible for one person to capture every moment of the event, but communication with the client is key to making sure you get the best shots!

With these quick and easy tips, you’ll improve your photography skills in the blink of an eye or hopefully, the snap of a camera! For tips translating visuals into social media, give this post a gander.

Written by Haley McDougal, previous Clairemont intern from UNC-Chapel Hill.

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Fear Versus Excitement

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“The only difference between fear and excitement is your attitude about it.” 

I have heard this saying, unknown in its origins, a few times. I found myself thinking about fear versus excitement as I sat in a small plane this past weekend. At 13,500 feet I was going to jump out of the plane and free fall for 60 seconds before gliding the rest of the way back to solid ground under a parachute. I love challenging myself and taking risks, and I have always wanted to skydive. However, in that moment I was struggling to gauge my feelings as the seconds ticked away and the plane climbed closer and closer to my jumping point.

Was I scared or excited?

Normally, I would not have so much time to think over my feelings. Most challenges in life pop up unexpectedly, unlike this thrill of a challenge that I had marked on my calendar for two weeks. Still, I do not think I fully considered the absurdity of jumping out of a plane. Then, with the actual fall looming in front of me, as the plane rose above the clouds and the plane door slid open, I had no choice but to fully confront the question of fear versus excitement. In that moment I realized the choice was entirely mine to make. “The only difference between fear and excitement is your attitude about it.”

I was tandem skydiving, meaning that a certified professional was strapped to my back, and they would pull the parachute and steer us to the landing strip. Just as we were about to jump, with my legs hanging out the side of the plane, my partner leaned down and said to me, “Remember to smile.”

For me, the only way I was returning to the ground would be under a parachute. Why let fear cloud an experience that could be entirely positive? So I decided to be excited and smile … and I helped myself by not looking down while sitting on the edge of the plane. When leaping into daily challenges and adventures, I think it is best to keep your head up anyways.

I loved every second of the free fall and could not believe the distance between my feet and the ground once the parachute opened. This was a thrill I could never forget, but it was also a lesson to take with me. Attitude is a choice, and when given a choice, I think it is better to choose the positive. Choose excitement over fear, determination over defeat and satisfaction over regret. Most people do not go skydiving every day, but every day has challenges and the opportunity to approach them with a positive and excited attitude.

Written by Clairemont intern Kaitlyn Karcher, a senior at UNC.

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Meet Jackson, Clairemont Intern

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MY LIFE

I have been creating as long as I can remember. When I was five years old, I directed and starred in my first short film. When I was 10, I made a music video parody that got almost 9 million views. Throughout my time in middle school and high school, I learned the Adobe Creative Suite. I soon had amassed a large portfolio, and I used it to get an internship at Turner Broadcasting in Atlanta, Georgia. After living by myself for a summer in Atlanta, I am eager to get back to the film industry there. I have many goals for myself as I start my senior year of high school, and I plan to accomplish them before next summer.

BEARFELF

Over the years of constantly creating, I have started many projects and shared them through social media. My most recently successful endeavor has been creating comics for Instagram. Drawing has always been a great form of creative expression for me. I lately have been pushing myself to draw constantly in order to develop a distinct style. In October of 2017 I drew a three-panel comic parodying Garfield, except with a bear — thus the name “Bearfelf.”

After my friends told me it was golden, I started up an Instagram account. Everyone I showed it to loved it, but I needed to show it to more people. I decided to become a business account and use the Instagram promotion tool. With the help of a $50-dollar investment from a friend, Bearfelf finally took off, and our audience grew more and more. Today we are still growing more than ever, and we recently made a deal to have Bearfelf comics printed in a popular online magazine.

BIG DREAM

It may seem as if I am a young amateur, but I strongly believe in collaboration. Back in 2015 when I was running a Lego YouTube channel with 10,000 subscribers, I met my friend from Canada, Brody. Though we live approximately 1400 miles apart, over the years we have been fueling each other’s creative ideas. We have written, shot, directed and edited a mini-series in the span of two weeks. We also both work on Bearfelf, holding brainstorm sessions on Skype on the weekends.

After months of development we are soon to release a Bearfelf video game. Recently, we have started work on our first album in an effort to be the first band that performs in two countries at once. We keep ourselves busy by constantly creating. The Big Dream is a mindset that anyone can have. It is a mindset that you can achieve anything you want if you put in the hard work right now.

Written by Jackson Hughens, Clairemont intern.

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