As a photographer, it is your job to produce the best pictures for any event and any occasion. But event photography can be really challenging and it requires constant awareness of your surroundings so that you can make these brilliant pictures.
But are there any tips for event photography that you can use to your advantage? In this article, we are going to tell you the most important tips that will make your pictures stand out at any event.
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1. Preparation is The Most Important
No matter your occupation, preparation is always important in any field of expertise. But in photography, preparation and logistics will save you a lot of time and it will help you identify critical flaws and errors.
In order for you to produce the best pictures, you have to do some research about the event itself and identify key activities that will be happening. This is where you will be taking photographs of most of the guests attending the event.
Furthermore, prepare by asking for a photography shoot list. This list will save you a lot of time and it will help you understand everything that needs to be taken picture of.
And the last of the preparation tip is the way you dress. Namely, you need to wear something that will be neutral in color so that you don’t create a color cast from the light that reflects from the camera. According to experts at The Photography Co, most event photographers wear colors like black or grey in order not to stand out from the crowd.
2. Having The Right Tools Will Help You A Lot
There are a few gadgets that every photographer needs for any event. While expensive equipment is not the deciding factor, tools like an external power flash, reflector, full-frame DSLR, spare batteries and spare memory cards are the stuff that will greatly help you during the night.
Most photographers have a spare camera with them if the event requires it. The spare camera is used to save time between changing lens to adapt to the crowd.
3. Show Up Early and Take Some Samples
It’s recommended for the photographer to show up at least 30 minutes before the event starts. The photographer needs to have a look at the event venue before the guests arrive so that he can have a clear look at everything that is going to be happening. Similarly, this is the time when you build up relationships with the hosts and this is the time when you take pre-event setup shots.
4. The Real Challenge Begins
What makes a good photographer is his ability to take action shots, rather than take pictures of guests posing. The art of event photography requires the photographer to be on constant alert for anything unusual happening. This is when the best “spontaneous” pictures are taken. That cliché photo of the bride throwing the bouquet is the best example of action shots, and they are the best pictures produced from any event.
5. Shoot in RAW Image Format
Every photographer knows that shooting in RAW format produces the best quality photos. The RAW format records all the data from the sensor, and for events with low light, it would be hard to take pictures in JPEG format. However, due to the excellent quality of RAW format, you could run out of space on your drives before you even notice. So make sure you keep an eye for that.