How to take great photos at an event
Are you a photographer looking to take your event photography skills to the next level? You’ve come to the right place! Taking great photos at events can be tricky, but with these 12 must-know tips and tricks, you’ll be ready for any event.
Set Up a Shot and Wait for Someone to Smile or React
One of the most important things when it comes to event photography is capturing expressions. To do this, set up a shot and wait for someone to smile or react. This will give you a better chance of getting an authentic expression that captures the moment perfectly. Make sure you smile and are overly friendly. This will make your subjects smile too, and be more likely to let you take a few snaps! Don’t be afraid to get up close if it helps capture their emotions and uniqueness.
Find the perfect backdrop
One of the most unique parts of the photo for the customer will be the event they were at. Find a great backdrop that’s unique to the particular event, and make sure it’s framed perfectly so that it doesn’t distract away from the customers. This will help give a sense of where the photo was taken, and help the customers remember the great times they had at the event. It can also be an opportunity to add a pop of colour to the shot.
Use Unique Posed Photos
Unique posed photos are always a great way to capture special moments at events. Ask your subjects to pose in different ways, such as having them make each other laugh, hold hands or lift each other up. If you’re at a music festival, get them to air guitar. If you’re at a sports event, get them to mime the sport! This will help create unique and memorable photos that your clients will love. Remember to observe your customers, and make sure you don’t ask them to do anything they might be uncomfortable with.
Try Different Angles
Experimenting with different angles can help add interest and creativity to your photos. Try shooting from above or below your subjects, or even from behind them for a unique perspective on the scene. Get creative, you never know what the customer is going to fall in love with.
Utilise Flash and Natural Lighting
Using both flash and natural lighting can help you get the best possible results when taking photos at events. Flash can help light up dark areas while natural lighting can provide softer light that helps bring out colours in your images. Experiment with both types of lighting until you find what works best for each situation. Remember, if you’re outside the lighting will change throughout the day, so don’t be afraid to adapt.
Chat With Participants
Chatting with participants before taking their photo is always a good idea as it helps put them at ease and makes them feel more comfortable in front of the camera. Asking questions about their experience at the event is also a great way to break the ice and get some interesting stories out of them!
Move Around Discreetly
Sometimes it’s important not to distract guests by moving around too much during an event. So act like a ninja – move around discreetly so that guests don’t even notice you’re there!
Know Your Camera Settings
Knowing how to use all of your camera settings is essential for taking great photos at events. Make sure you understand how shutter speed, aperture, ISO, white balance, autofocus modes work so that you can quickly adjust settings as needed during an event without wasting time fiddling around with buttons on your camera body!
Have Backup Gear Ready
Having backup gear ready is always a good idea when shooting events as anything could happen which could cause problems with your equipment (e.g. battery dying). Having spare batteries, memory cards, lenses etc, on hand will ensure that if something does go wrong then you have something else ready which can save time and hassle during an event shoot!
Look Out For Interesting Details
Look out for eye-catching details such as brightly-coloured decorations or quirky props which can help set your images apart and give them a unique, special touch! Don't be afraid to add a splash of personality - that'll really make your photos pop! Little touches can make a big difference.
Be Prepared For Low Light Situations
A lot of events happen indoors or late into the night so it’s important that you have a camera which can handle low light situations well – this means investing in cameras which have larger sensors (such as full frame cameras) which are better suited for low light environments than smaller sensor cameras like compacts or bridge cameras!
Take lots of photos
Taking a variety of photos increases your chances of success - you never know what kind of shot your customer is going to love! From different angles, lighting, and perspectives - you'll give yourself the best chance that your subject will find something they adore in the selection. Taking a large number of photos also helps increase the likelihood that your customer will end up with one (or maybe even ten!) photos they can't get enough of!
Have Fun & Enjoy Yourself!
Last but not least – have fun & enjoy yourself while shooting events! Events are all about capturing special moments so don't forget to take some time out between shots to enjoy yourself & soak up all those amazing memories being made around you! The more you enjoy the events you attend, the more eager you’ll be to get back out to the next one!
How can Pixme help with event photography?
Pixme makes it easy to make money from any event. We use facial recognition to match your customers to their photos as soon as you upload them. We also handle the purchasing process, so as soon as you upload your photos, your job is done. It also takes the pressure away from you trying to sell your photos at the event itself. All you have to do is get your customers to scan the Pixme QR code once you’ve taken their photo and ask them to sign up. Then, once you’ve uploaded your photos, we’ll match them using facial recognition and notify them that your photos are ready. They’ll then have the opportunity to buy the photos (or you can choose to give them away for free!) Why not give it a try at your next event!