Event Photography: The Things to keep in mind when you’re starting out.
Event Photography: Things to keep in mind when you’re starting out and have almost no experience
Event photography is an entertaining and thrilling vocation. But capturing those beautiful and rare moments can pose quite a few challenges. For Event photography, we consider family gatherings, family parties, company and social gatherings, and all those moments with lots and lots of people doing something important.
From special events like weddings to outdoor activities to sports and private events, here are few things to keep in mind when it comes to event photography:
1) Event Photography - What Gear?
The right equipment matters – as the events could be either indoors or outdoors and the light plays a huge role here.
For indoor event photography, always carry your best low-light camera, and for outdoor event photography, opt for fast camera bodies. Also, to keep in mind are the Lenses, Lighting Equipment, and extra Batteries & cards. There is a greater chance that “event photography” turns to be in spaces like bars and music halls (party photography).
This requires speed lights and tripods placed “here and there” around the room, probably one is enough most of the time, but 2 or 3 in total, with the technique called “slaves technique” meaning that you can link them all together, one flash and all others trigger automatically! This is to create a fantastic mix of lights around the room! backlights and bounced lights often create exceptional lighting.
2) Camera Settings - don’t let the camera be in the way of your creativity!
Switching the camera to burst mode and continuous focus works best for event photography. The burst setting is a must-have when guests are moving about quickly. I recommend based on my experience that you concentrate on creating a camera setting that could fit a good part of your initial shooting. This will allow you to gain confidence with the people around you and the environment, concentrating more on the compositions and the poses, the colors, the light, and the event itself.
Allow yourself to gain more experience before going crazy with settings that could eventually make you feel stressed or overwhelmed. I did that too. I wanted to change too much on the camera that sometimes in the past I have concentrated less on the actual photography event, losing on some special moments and some candid shots.
3) Handling the Client’s Expectations is very important. Do a briefing, shoot with confidence
My point here is to talk to your client very much, prior to and during the event. This makes things go way smoother. Makes everything more organised, you will know what to expect and what is going to happen as well as what is important and what needs to be captured. Remember that failing one or two shots could compromise an entire event. Imagine if you failed to take a picture while the bride and groom are exchanging wedding rings or signing important papers. What were you doing? Now it’s too late.
Follow a simple spreadsheet like this:
Have an open conversation with the client to get great shots. You should call them or meet in person if they’re close to you.
Understand the client requirements and clarify these points:
What is the event about? Wedding, Christening? Nikkah, Mendhi, Party, or Social gathering?
What kinds of images are required from this event?
Do they need headshots? Do they want a seamless background or shallow bokeh?
Which are the main moments?
Who are the main people? best men and bridesmaid, godfather and godmother?
Finally, what are their likes and dislikes? Do they prefer candid or posed? Staged or improvised? Classy or cheeky?
4) Make a list of shots
A shot list is a checklist of the images you want to capture during a shoot. Whatever the event is, a shot list can help both parties to organize better. The best is to ask your client the names and surnames of family members in order to gather every family together without leaving anyone behind. Overall you probably are in a place where you know no one.
5) Candid Photos
Formal shots are important for events (especially for private events like weddings and religious ceremonies). But don’t forget about candid moments, which can lead to equally beautiful photos. Lately, the candid shots are taking over. This can take place especially if you are photographing for long hours and are in an event where people seem to get bored or annoyed by someone that keeps flashing at them. We don’t want to be in the way and we like to be taken seriously and with respect. Well, this is the moment where you take on a longer focal length lens and shoot far from the subject so that they don’t notice you and give you the most candid poses.
Candid photo
It’s a moment that matters because it happened for no particular reason or not without planning.
Staged or posed
Great if people are happy to be photographed and can give you their best smile, or show confidence with you being there, otherwise move on, don’t take them, you will catch them perhaps on a candid.
6) Pre-Event Photos
Pre-Event Photos add to the overall story. For example - Photograph the venue, table settings, and other setup details before the guests arrive. These help in building a story.
7) Photograph Events Without Bothering the Guests, Some key rules :
- Don’t obstruct views by standing too close to something happening. Yes, the photo is important, but the live moment matters more.
- Don’t interrupt guests for a photograph. You will end up being hated for what you do.
- Don’t photograph guests that ask to not be photographed. Respect their privacy and do not ever publish a photo that hasn’t been authorized.
8) Keep moving around
On the premise of not obstructing views, try not to stay in one spot for too long. Be quick and precise at what you do and move around. Get going, change the angle, change the subject. Be dynamic and get the shots right
Conclusion
Lastly, do take care of yourself. Event photography is a challenging, all-day-on-your-feet kind of job. So be prepared, and rock your event photos!
