Flickr Guidance

Please Note

Disclaimer: This is EPA Guidance for how EPA uses Flickr. Other agencies and organizations may use social media differently.

Note: Remember that your official activities on-line are subject to the ethics regulations as well as other federal and agency laws, policies and regulations. In addition, existing policies and guidance for accessibility , privacy, external site links, cookies, and writing style apply to social media tools as well. References to these are included at the end of this document.

On this page:

What is Flickr?

Flickr is an online photo sharing community that EPA has used since 2008 to visually engage the public with our mission. It allows EPA staff to share images of the work they do with the general public. Once a photo is posted it is available for the world to see.

How does EPA Use and Organize Flickr?

EPA staff photo submissions

On our Flickr account, we post photos of EPA events, staff in the field, and responses to environmental incidents. Our goal is to put a human face on our agency and provide the public with an idea of the work we do on a daily basis at EPA to accomplish our priorities and efforts. 

Organization of photos in EPA's Flickr account

Flickr organizes photos in albums known as "sets". EPA sets are organized by the main theme that would make the most sense externally to tell a story about our work. A set might not be about a single region, office, or program, but one that pulls in content from various sources. This approach reflects the One EPA Web principles.

How to Choose Photos for Flickr

As new photos are added, each will be reviewed according to the question: What does it say about EPA? We are looking for informative photos with compelling descriptions that give the public a glimpse of what EPA does and why it is important.

What works on Flickr

  • Action: Staff in the field, in the lab, taking samples, responding to an incident.
  • Public events: Engaging photos that show EPA in the field or at events working with communities and stakeholders to accomplish our mission. Photos of events should have a strong area of focus, provide context and help tell EPA's story.
  • Equipment: Sampling equipment, environmental monitoring capabilities such as with our air monitoring equipment.
  • EPA Content: For example: e-waste, stormwater, CFLs.
  • Infographics: Artwork, usually a series, that conveys key points of EPA information in a succinct, engaging way. (Infographics are approved and developed separately from EPA's Flickr process, generally as part of a larger campaign.) Example: Asthma infographic series.

Types of photos to avoid

  • General room shots: Photos without an area of focus do not add to the story we're trying to tell.
  • Photos without context: All photos on Flickr need to stand alone and tell a meaningful story about EPA. The description can add some context, but it's better to provide as much as possible in the photo itself.
  • VIP event group shots: This type of photo tends to have a narrow audience and is not interesting to the general public.
  • Multiple similar images: Instead, provide a limited number of high quality photos that represent the story you want to share.
  • Photos not taken by an EPA photographer or staff member, or for which EPA doesn't hold the copyright or have the copyright holder's permission to use.

What to provide with each photo

  1. Example of Good Quality Photo Content on Flickr. This screen shot illustrates what to provide with each photo being uploaded to EPA's Flickr site.
    Title: Provide a draft title with each photo.
  2. More Description:
    • Why: Explain why this story is important to the viewer.
    • Who: List all recognizable people in the photos and their role/title. Identify the groups and/or stakeholders that may be represented and involved.
    • What: Explain what is going on in the photo.
    • Where: Photos with specific location detail can be mapped.
    • When: Date the photo was taken.
  3. EPA web link(s): Links to EPA or other government websites for viewers to learn more information.
  4. Keywords or "tags": List keywords or phrases that can be associated with the image. This allows Flickr users to find our images by topic or location.

How to submit photos

EPA has a national Flickr account managed by the Office of Web Communications. Work with your Communications Director (headquarters staff and programs) or your Public Affairs Director (regional staff) to get your content submitted for review, approval and posting.

Region 8 also has a Flickr account.

All

Coordinate with your designated contact to ensure that your respective public affairs office is aware of the request. This will help to ensure that the proper notifications occur and that we maximize the outreach and publicity that can be associated with the photos.

When you have photos to upload to EPA's Flickr account, please allow enough time for the Office of Web Communications to review the request. Allow as much as two weeks for us to review your submission and to work with you on any edits. Please don't promise or commit to having the photos in Flickr by a particular date until you have contacted us.

If you want to link to EPA's Flickr social media account using an image, please use the approved icon below:

  • PNG: Official Flickr Icon (PNG) at https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/2016-03/socmed_flickr.png

References

EPA Accounts

Ethics

EPA Policy

Guidance

Additional Resources

  • The Web Guide is the authoritative source for Web sites and applications at EPA.
  • The Information Collection Request Center  describes information collection requirements imposed on the public by the EPA. 
  • Special Terms of Service Agreements have been negotiated with various social media sites that resolve the legal issues with the standard Terms of Service (TOS) users have to agree to when setting up an account.

Social Media Guide

Contact Us About the Social Media Guide
Contact Us About the Social Media Guide to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on December 20, 2024