When you’ve put in a lot of time and energy preparing an event, make sure you have the opportunity to enjoy it. As the producer of a large function, it’s important to participate in the show so you can experience it fully and have a better understanding of how it’s going. There are people to meet and greet, and you need to be available for making last-minute decisions or solving any problems that crop up. Don’t try to photograph all the key moments, too—that’s just adding unnecessary stress. Make it easier on yourself by hiring an event photographer to record the people and activities involved. Photos of events double the fun! It’s a way to document the event, but it’s also a way you can share the enjoyment with everyone who attended.
Hiring a photographer for events such as parties, comedy shows, ladies’ nights, or festivals is a fantastic way to record the occasion, and it’s also the perfect way to promote your business. You’ll have artistic images of your event you’ll be able to use on your website, on social media, and in other forms of advertising. Seeing photos of attendees enjoying an event is the best way to encourage people to book into your next function. Event photography is a specialized area, so here’s what you need to know before you hire a photographer.
What is an Event Photographer?
Event photographers have mastered the art of putting people at ease when their pictures are being taken. They are friendly but professional and manage to blend in amongst the crowd as they skillfully capture your required images. Using a combination of lenses, they produce different results in varying conditions. They capture impressive pictures of the whole venue to show the scale of the place and take photos of groups, couples, and individuals too. Photography services for events require planning, modern equipment, and a specific range of expertise. Being a photographer at an event involves knowing how to use existing light to make flattering portraits of their subjects and understanding when it’s necessary to use a flash to illuminate details that would otherwise be lost in the shadows.
What Types of Events Should Have a Photographer?
From birthday parties to corporate functions, if you organize an event that you want to remember, you need an excellent photographer to capture the occasion in a way that can be cherished in the future. If an event is significant enough to organize, it’s worth photographing for posterity. Reading about an event doesn’t have the same appeal as looking at photos of the people and products involved. Could you be bothered reading a thousand words in a blog post about the costumes at a fancy dress party, or would you rather see a few photos instead? Which will have a greater impact on you? Which will you remember in a year?
The phrase “all publicity is good publicity” is rumored to have been said by circus owner and marketing genius P. T. Barnum in the 19th-century, and it’s still relevant today. Photographs tell the story of your event in a way that’s easy to digest and recall. Images are more likely to be shared by others, spreading the joy of your event long after it is over. Remember Oscar Wilde’s famous quote, “The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about.” In this digital age where visual media is essential, unless you have photographs of your event, you won’t be talked about, and you won’t be seen!
During the Covid era, many nightclubs and restaurants had difficulty staying profitable. To maximize the chances of your business rebuilding its brand and gaining new customers, it’s important to establish an enthusiastic social media following. Hiring a photographer for an event like a brunch or themed evening is the easiest way to generate extra publicity and grow your business. Stylish photographs of restaurants and bars and detailed shots of scrumptious meals and tantalizing cocktails will make a venue too tempting to resist. When you add photos of people enjoying these dinners and drinks, you will bring more customers through your doors.
Why Hire a Professional Photographer?
If you want a record of your event for promotional purposes or simply to remember the occasion, you need an experienced photographer. Snapshots from a smartphone are fine for letting your friends know what you’re doing, but a talented event photographer will produce images that can be used in many ways, from online marketing to traditional advertising. Nothing beats high-resolution images of professional quality.
Having a photographer for events such as corporate functions and festivals gives you peace of mind. They know what to look for and will be ready to capture those moments for you. After you have provided a list of the people and objects you want to be photographed, you can relax knowing that it will be taken care of while you enjoy participating in the event. With their creative vision, you can be assured of sensational composition, great timing, and high-quality images. Experienced photographers have confidence in their ability to cope with all situations. This will show itself in their interactions with your clients and the results they send to you.
Making a good choice in a photographer is more than just finding someone who can produce clear photos. They’ll choose the best photos from the event and edit them so you have a selection of sensational images covering all the areas you require. A professional photographer will also present your images in the format required by publicists and your marketing team.
First impressions count! Make sure your website is filled with high-quality, colorful photos that show off your event in the best way possible. Vibrant, enticing images from a professional camera will catch the eyes of the public and make them interested in attending your next event.
Unless you hire a professional photographer for your event, you risk capturing nothing! What if your camera stops working just before a key moment? And at the end of the day, how will you feel if there’s a problem with your memory card and all those images disappear while you are trying to download them? Experienced photographers have extra cameras on-hand in case there is a sudden equipment failure. Professionals also save images to external devices as they shoot, guaranteeing the safety of your photos. Hiring a professional photographer isn’t just about taking pictures; it’s also a way to have an extra backup source if your computer systems lose their data. Your photographer will keep your images stored on cloud servers to ensure your photos are always available.
What to Look for in an Event Photographer?
Being able to trust your event photographer means less stress for you. So, make time to interview a few photographers to make sure they communicate clearly, have a friendly, outgoing nature that your attendees will feel comfortable with, have a professional attitude, and can display a portfolio of event photographs that suit your style of function. Photographers all have different styles. Some are edgy and trendy, which will appeal to the younger crowd of nightclubs and music festivals. Others are more traditional, which is more appropriate for corporate functions. So make sure you look at examples of their work to ensure you both know what you are signing up for.
Event Photography Tips
Having clear communication with your photographer must work in both directions. The event photographer must detail their range of expertise, and it’s essential that you provide sufficient information about the type of photos you require. If you love the kind of images taken at previous events or if you’ve found pictures online that you feel are a good fit for your brand, send example shots so the photographer knows what to aim for.
A comprehensive shot list is necessary if you want the photographer to understand the number of photos and the type of images you expect to receive. Let them know if you want them to take photos of the event location before attendees arrive and if you want photographs of guests as they socialize. Also, be specific if you need portrait-style poses of special clients and if you want images of the food and decorations. A timeline of key moments of the event will help the photographer plan their movements, and they can make sure they are in position at the right time to capture the elements you need. Sending an event agenda detailing the arrival times of VIPs and the location of meeting rooms is extremely helpful.
Make sure you offer advice on how to access the stage and tell the photographer about various vantage points across the venue. And send their ‘access all areas’ pass well in advance so they won’t be detained by security personnel. Also, let them know if any areas are off-limits. Your photographer will appreciate this level of pre-planning so they have time to seek good angles and can check on the best lighting for the images you desire.
All events are different, so making your photographer accustomed to the setting of your event is helpful to you both. If possible, arrange for the event photographer to walk through the venue a few days before activities begin. Or at least have someone meet the photographer upon their arrival so that they can be shown to the key areas.
Ready to Book an Event Photographer?
Anyone with a camera can document the environment and people at an event, but when you book a professional photographer, they will produce an impressive visual record of the occasion while also capturing the overall mood of your guests. Jure Ursic is a highly recommended event photographer with many years of training and experience. You can hire him for a single event or on a regular basis if you have weekly or monthly functions. Contact Jure for more information. He’s happy to answer any questions you have. He adds creative flair to event photography and will produce incredible results that you’ll be proud to share.