How to photograph events
Published: 10.12.2021
When organizing events, we all want to have memories of the occasion. Therefore, taking photos at events, especially solemn and festive ones, is an important and responsible process. Unfortunately, not every photographer knows how to accurately capture the atmosphere of the event, preserving the best moments. Taking photos at events is not easy - everything happens too quickly and time cannot be turned back. However, there are several strategies for successful shooting that are suitable for small family gatherings and children's parties, as well as evening cocktails in a club and luxurious weddings with hundreds of guests.
"9 tips for shooting events"
What distinguishes an experienced photographer at an event from an inexperienced one? A beginner often walks around with their camera down and misses many important moments. An experienced photographer intuitively senses when something interesting is about to happen and keeps their camera ready. As a result, the professional captures many excellent photos. Here are a few tips to try at event photography:
Set up the camera in advance and wait.
At a celebration, it is especially important to capture the sincere emotions of the guests. Although it is necessary to convey the overall atmosphere, photographing the background and beautiful location, faces are still the most important in the photos. Emotions change in a matter of seconds, so it is not enough to just point the camera and press the shutter. Sometimes the photographer has to wait for the emotions to surface. Pay attention to where people are looking, wait for a smile or a reaction.
2. Pay attention to framing.
In addition to choosing the right time, it is also important to choose the right locations. Capture people against a beautiful background. Create a complex image that captures multiple events at once. Watch the group, photograph the main protagonists of the celebration surrounded by guests. The moment of cutting the wedding cake, blowing out candles at a children's party, toasts, filling glasses with champagne - all of these are great scenes for a beautiful photo.
3. Analyze the situation to be prepared at the right moment.
Experience is very important for event photography. Photographers at events learn to navigate what is happening in order to anticipate what will happen. If possible, talk to the event organizers to understand the schedule. If it's a wedding, find out when the key moments will take place. If it's a children's party, at least find out the approximate schedule. In any case, always look around to understand when the next suitable moment for a photo will arise.
4. Try to make the guests feel at ease.
"Some people start behaving unnaturally or freeze up when they see a camera pointed at them. It's really hard for a photographer to go unnoticed. Feeling awkward at an event with a large number of guests is quite normal. But if you see someone feeling uncomfortable, talk to them and, if appropriate, make a joke and show genuine interest. Give some tips on how to look better in photos. Promise to delete any unflattering shots."
5. Be as inconspicuous as possible.
Sometimes it is useful to pretend that you are looking for a good angle for a photo so that people do not know they are being photographed. This way, you will capture the most sincere emotions and be able to wait for the right moment when people interact with each other.
6. Take different types of photos.
The ideal set of event photos should include a combination of group and individual shots, wide shots and portraits, candid and posed shots. To ensure that nobody is missed, gather the guests at the beginning or end for a group photo.
7. Use an external flash if necessary.
Most events take place indoors with low or almost absent lighting. If you use the built-in flash, direct light will distort faces. It is better to use an external flash on top of the camera, tilting it slightly backward. This way, the light will be maximally diffused from the ceiling, giving a soft glow and smoothing out sharp contours.
8. Increase the ISO.
If shooting in a dark room, increasing the ISO value will add some graininess to the photos, but will allow you to capture bright images with a short exposure time. When using a flash, a high ISO value will highlight the background. If the value is too low, the background will be almost black.
9. Do not spend too much time processing.
After even a small event, a photographer receives several hundred images. Editing such a large number of photos in a short amount of time is simply impossible. To optimize time spent, first review all the captured material. Select your favorite photos that you want to keep for yourself or send to the client. Edit no more than 50 images.
"Resume and Action Plan"
Event photography is one of those genres on which you can easily build a professional career. For example, when shooting a wedding, your weekends can be booked in no time. At the next event, try to apply these tips. Make sure that before pursuing photography professionally, you have honed your skills to master the craft and exceed the client's expectations.
Cool photos deserve unique framing. Print your cool photos in a Polaroid style. Fans of instant photography from the 90s may experience familiar feelings when holding a Polaroid-style photo in their hands. Those who are not familiar with traditional Polaroids will enjoy square images with space for captions.
