Event photography can be overwhelming and hard, especially if you’re a beginner.
There is so much going on at the same time, there’s a lot of noise to distract you, and you feel the fear of missing a good shot while waiting for another one to happen.
Don’t worry, we’ve all been there. Here are some tips and tricks to help you through your first event photography gig.
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Do your research
Before the event, it’s important to ask questions and gather information. What is the venue like? What kind of event is it? How many people will be attending? These will all help you figure out how to set up your gear and camera, make a list of possible shots you want to get, and separate the main focus from the surrounding crowd.
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Get the right gear
Depending on the venue and event, you might need different types of gear. For example, while outdoor events that happen during the day like sports events, weddings, fairs, etc. might not require extra lighting, indoor or nighttime events will require extra lights since you won’t have the natural sunlight. Therefore, you need to know what you might possibly need and pack for the event accordingly.
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Always be ready to take a shot
There is constantly something happening at events. You most likely won’t be able to catch all of them with your camera, but try to catch as many as you can. The worst thing you can do in event photography is planting yourself somewhere and not leaving that spot on the off chance you might catch a good shot. Walk through the crowd with your camera and always be ready to capture anything you deem worthy of a photo.
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Try to take different shots
While taking photos while the event is happening is a great way to catch the essence and emotion in the room, don’t be afraid to take posed shots of people. You can lead your subjects to stay at a certain angle or look at a certain point without breaking the natural interaction that is happening at the moment. Posed photos do not have to look staged, think of yourself as a director and your subjects as actors. You can also ask them to pose for you; having a variety of posed and candid photos will help a lot!
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Fill your frame
When you’re capturing a moment, pay attention to your surroundings. As much as people say it is hard to apply this during event photography, rule of thirds will enhance your shots like nothing else.
If you’re not familiar with the rule of thirds, it is a way of placing your subject in the frame in a way that will enhance the pose and balance the shot. It is used in photography, videography and film, graphic design, etc. It will help you fill your frame in a way that won’t mess up the main focus-background balance of your shot.
Like any other rule, the rule of thirds can also be broken and your shot might still come out pretty good. Do not limit yourself to it, but it’s good to know.
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Take as many photos as you can
Don’t be afraid to take photos after photos, keep your finger on the shutter and capture anything you see. It’s better to eliminate the bad photos during the editing process than missing what might be the best moment you capture on camera. Event photography is hard for beginners because they’re afraid to miss some good shots while trying to capture others. So, keep taking photos!
If you’re a beginner and you’re not confident in your skills as an event photographer yet, you can always go to a professional event photographer and ask to be their apprentice. Go to events with them, or find the photographers at the events you attend to and ask them questions. Practice makes perfect, so grab your camera and go places to capture anything you might see. Don’t be afraid to try.
