Event Photography Tips

Event Photography Thoughts

Event Photographer might not sound exciting, but the work of an Event Photographer has far more to offer than simply shooting people holding awkward poses.

Each event holds it's own set of trials, and each client requires a different set of shots. Sometimes you will need to shoot in a photo-journalistic approach or reportage photography of the people at the event and other others will want you to focus on the setting or program.

The style of reportage photography stemmed from photojournalism, a means of storytelling through pictures and occasionally words. 

Reportage photography focuses on the key points of the special day rather than usual and stereotypical.   

Regardless of whether you are shooting in a formal atmosphere or a casual setting there are a few tips for successfully event photographing. 

Event Photography Tips

Getting to the Event

The first thing you need to do is to build relationship. It can be hard to begin with but as you build up a portfolio of work, you'll find that people will be willing to work with you.

Know What They Want

You should know what the desired goal of the shoot is. If you are the client, define in your own goal and know exactly what you want. Make sure that goal of the photo shoot is planted in your mind before you go on.

Do Your Event Homework

Make certain you know the ins and outs of the event. There will be times when you get one shot at ‘the moment’. Make you have a list of shots for the the event and understand the flow.

Know the Schedule

There will be no ‘re-do’s’ – if you miss the game-winning goal, you have missed it, and that may be the most important thing you were supposed to get! Be familiar with the event.

The Type of Event

It's important that you gauge not only what is required of you, but also what type of shots are going to be appropriate for the type of event. Think about the style in which you want to shoot and how to best represent the event's atmosphere.

Who's Who

Know and understand who the most important people at the event are. It may be the case that you need to get shots of certain people in a group. You may need to have someone on hand to help you organize the right people in the right place.

Be Prepared for Anything

Because anything can happen anytime people are freely mingling amongst one another. Unlike a studio portrait shoot where you, as the photographer, exercise quite a bit of control over the situation, shooting an event is not going to afford you such a luxury.

Pay Attention

At any event, the range of human behavior on display can be astounding. Observe your fellow human beings closely. Notice the subtleties, focus on the details, and extract stories. By telling a story in pictures you can convey what an event is all about without even having to express explicitly what the event is.

Be Properly Equipped

Unless you are shooting an outdoor daytime event, you should expect the lighting conditions of the location you are working in to be less than ideal, in terms of both quantity and quality of light. Concert venues, school gymnasiums, hotel conference rooms, wedding reception halls — they all present something of a challenge.

Be Efficient

Move around and work the room without being in the the way or intrusive.

Delivery

The delivery of the shots is something that you should communicate with your client over from the start. They may want to view the files online first before selecting the chosen images, they may just want to receive a physical disc in the mail or they may even want to meet in person to discuss the images. It's important that you do all you can to meet their needs and go the extra mile to ensure that you have a happy customer.

Stay in Touch

Sometimes people need a small reminder to remember to get back in touch to ask you back. A simple email or postcard will suffice, just to inquire as to whether they have any events coming up that might require your services.

Everyone is a Potential Client

When you're just starting out this can be easy to forget, but you never know who you're going to meet and who might need a photographer in the future. It's important to be aware. Don't be afraid to mention that you're available for work. Having a business card it is essential.

Event Photographer

 has far more to offer than simply shooting people holding awkward poses it has you and your creative point of view.