A Guide to Event Photography for Getting the Best Shots

In this guide about event photography, we will try to cover all that is there to know about capturing the important occasions and professional events. We know that photographing events is a hard work to do. Stories by Radhika is renowned and one of the finest event photographers in Chandigarh.

As there is a lot at stake you don’t always get another chance to fix the mistakes at an event. What’s important to note is that you do not take these shots for your pleasure but rather for the client’s satisfaction. That can sometimes certainly be a bit stressful.

We will try to give you some important tips that you can consider and definitely can prove to be a successful application in reaping the benefits of your success. As a lot is at stake you are under a lot of pressure in order to meet your client’s expectations.

But luckily, there are some very practical and easy to use steps you can make use of so as to ensure you meet all the needs of your client. So if you are a beginner in this field we will give a brief overview about how you can learn the art of being a professional in this genre.

Equip Yourself with the Necessary Gear

What will ensure your success and capturing the best quality pictures is having yourself equipped with the finest gear and other essential paraphernalia. That includes the right camera, flash kits, appropriate lenses and other little bits and pieces that will make all the difference.

It’s also very important to get yourself very well acquainted with your gear inside out. That helps you to manage the right camera settings so you don’t get bogged down when trying to fix the settings. Choosing the right camera, lenses and lighting adjustments are the primary things you need to be mindful of when you are capturing an event of significant importance.

Other accessories that will come handy are a good sling bag to carry your camera and of course that much needed battery backup and memory cards. These all come handy whenever you are capturing such occasions as there would be a lot of fine pictures you will be going to capture.

What’s Crucial Is Mastering Your Camera Settings

Well, there’s no point in showing up at an event if you have no idea about your camera settings. It is significant to understand but what’s more important is to try practicing it over and over again. Along with the camera settings, it’s all about the concerted efforts from all the settings to work everything in unison.

Let us briefly tell you what we are talking about. The other important settings you need to take care of are like the shutter speed, aperture, ISO and continuous shooting or the burst mode. These all play a crucial part in capturing the best pictures at an event. You will need to adjust them accordingly so you are ready to deliver what your client expects of you.

Have you heard about that RAW mode over JPEG? While on a professional event photography you should always choose to shoot in RAW mode. It will allow your camera to capture and retain every bit of possible detail that your camera sensor captures. JPEGs do not store that much information.

Don’t Miss Working on Client Communications

It doesn’t matter at all whether you are photographing a birthday party or a corporate event for a client of yours. Communication is absolutely critical to both the events. Make sure that before capturing the event you develop a rapport with your client and have clarity about their expectations.

You can also choose to show them some fine examples of your past work and try to get that feeling of what they really expect of you. You may even ask some necessary questions regarding this and have a brief idea of what style of the pictures would your client find most desirable.

While at the event, also make sure to pay heed to all the client requests that may on the spot pop up from time to time. When you maintain a strong line of communication with your client it definitely ensures client satisfaction and your success.

Make a Hit List

After you have communicated with your client and covered all the important questions on your checklist, now is the time to plan. Create a running sheet on your mobile or a print out that will prove to be a handy tool.

Keeping track of the flow and being aware as well as active about the key moments of the event will allow you to be ready at the right place and at the right time. Do your best to include images your client has marked for you as essential and also be mindful of those that need to be avoided.

You can also share the document with your client prior to the event so as to ensure there is enough comprehension about what is expected. It certainly also works as an insurance for you and leaves no chance for the client to complain that you missed the crucial moments after the event.

Take Some Candids

While you are clicking all the major pictures your client discussed with you, also don’t miss to take those extra candid shots. It’s when the guests did not expect a photograph and you capture that moment. Candid images always have a natural innocence about them.

You can experiment with a lot many things like taking a shot when people are enjoying a drink or their meal together. Such shots are great and complement all the other formal images in the long run.

Shoot That B-Roll

Before you capture the formal and the candid pictures, if you take time to capture some b-roll images it will definitely help you. You can use the b-roll to tell the story to your client about the event. Arriving at the location well before time the party starts is always a great.

You can shoot the venue and identify where the key moments will take place. Get that feel for the lighting and be proactive in dialing in your camera settings to match. You can go photographing the venue; capture the staff setting up decorations, food places or decor.

Mind Your Manners

This is one of the most crucial and necessary parts of being a professional photographer. You should always make sure you reach on time for the main event and also for all the client meetings that take place before and after the event.

When you are capturing an event and have a break to have your meal, don’t eat with the guests in there. It’s good to get friendly with the kitchen staff and seek some little corner to grab some snacks. Your professionalism will take you a long way to ensure you have a positive experience with your existing clients.

Keep Up With Your Appearance

You can always tailor your outfit that will suit the occasion. Finding out about the dress code for the event is a great thing to do. If it’s a wedding or an engagement, don’t miss out on selecting the nicest clothes from your wardrobe for the complete event.

If it’s an award ceremony or a black tie event, what you might require is to be quite formal with your attire. For any casual event, you can choose to wear your polo shirt or your company logo will also do the necessary for you.

If you are not able to decide and are confused about what you should wear for the event, making a quick phone call to the event organizer is the right option to go for as it will clarify the whole situation.

Try Getting In Close

While the participants experience critical moments there is a great value in capturing all the intimate images. Be aware how intimidating you may be with your camera and when you approach people.

Pictures of a guest’s expressions always go a long way and tell a true story just like the portrait headshots. Capturing the emotions such as surprise, joy, and sadness will definitely elevate the quality of your work.

Direct Your Subjects for That Perfect Pose

An indispensable skill for a professional photographer is learning the art of posing others. Most of the people do not know how to pose best for a picture. No matter if you are posing a couple or a larger guest audience, you should always be considerate and encourage as well as guide your subjects in a supportive way.

Ask them to take a deep breath and exhale with a smile. Do something that will make the atmosphere lively and will facilitate breaking the ice. You can click that as a test photo and try to sneak some giggles out of your subject.

Always understand that not all people are comfortable while their photo is being taken. Be nice with your subjects and instruct them how to strike a good pose.

If there are multiple people you may also guide them how the pics together would look nice. Never make your subjects feel awkward about anything when they are being clicked. Make sure you always talk in a gentle soothing tone with a smile on your face.

And we know that a work can only be judged by its results. We assure you that whenever you consider the aforementioned tips and bring them to use while you are photographing an event, the results will surely be desirable.

If you have any queries and concerns which are related to professional photography you can directly get in touch with our team of professionals. We are always available for all our esteemed clients and provide holistic solutions to all the major concerns about professional photography.

Be it a grand wedding event, pre-wedding photography, candid photography or travel photography we are the best and deliver excellent customer satisfaction. We were also one of the elitist photographers at the Rose Festival photography event in Chandigarh held at the Zakir Hussain Rose Garden. You can contact us directly or through any of the major social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Linkedin etc.