Event photography for business

Event photography for business can be a tricky proposition. One of the biggest things to remember is you are shooting “marketing material”, not family portraits or scenic landscapes. These images are destined for websites and corporate collateral and advertisements. Everything has to be viewed with this mindset. Beyond the Keynote Speakers, everything else you shoot will for the most part be considered “bonus” material. Be sure to get a few candid shots of people during the meet & greets. Again don’t be bashful here. Feel free to approach a couple/group and ask politely for a photo op. If there are silent auction items make sure to grab a few of those. Here is your chance to be a little creative. Shoot the items off angle or close up.

One other thing you may or may not want to do involves cropping. Normally I try to get my shot framed correctly in the camera and only crop if necessary. However with events I tend to shoot a little wider so the client has some freedom to crop the image as needed. You never know exactly how they will use your image rather it be on a website or a print publication. Giving them a little freedom like this will be greatly appreciated. And just so they know I do always make it a point to inform them of this freedom.

Hopefully some of this has been helpful to anyone who is thinking of shooting an event or has been hired to shoot one. I’ve only touched on a few of the many areas to consider (contracts, payment, how images are licensed, etc). Please feel free to contact me if you have any additional questions.

Photography Equipment Reviews - From My Favorite Source!

Photography Equipment Reviews - From My Favorite Source! I have been an avid follower of DP Review for quite some time. I find their website to be loaded with some of the best features on photography equipment, including articles, tips and especially reviews of the latest equipment coming through their doors. Below you'll find links to some of the recent reviews I found particularly helpful and interesting:

CAMERA REVIEWS: http://ow.ly/6mJQn

ACCESSORY ITEMS: http://ow.ly/6mJTd

HELPFUL ARTICLES: http://ow.ly/6mJZX

Please feel free to post a link to this blog on Twitter or your other favorite social media sites, as my goal is to share this information and advice with as many people as possible... until next week, shoot straight & keep things in focus!

What to Look for When Choosing a Commercial Advertising Photographer

What is commercial photography?Perhaps the best way to describe “commercial photography” is it’s the use of images to represent a brand, product or service. As part of the “message” it may also portray an image of our everyday surroundings, the times we live in, or the environment we create.

Commercial photography as it applies to advertising is about using photos to tell a story and educating consumers about the product or service. Commercial photography as a selling tool is used to bring the viewer’s imagination to the concept, thereby invoking a “need” response for that product or service.

What to look for in a commercial photographer Considering the investment in hiring a commercial photographer, it’s imperative that you have a face-to-face meeting before hiring them so that you both can discuss your thoughts, ideas and requirements for the project.

Book the meeting in their studio if possible as it gives you the perfect opportunity to lay out exactly what you want, but also to see the facilities and make sure they are appropriate for your needs. The meeting will also give you the ideal opportunity to see for yourself some of their work that they've done for other clients and get a feeling for their style.

If you have a limited budget then, be up front & discuss what can be achieved with the available budget. Sometimes you’ll get more for your money if a good working rapport can be developed, and also if there is a possibility of additional work being done together in the future.

In Studio or On Location? The photo studio is the ideal place to control lighting and the overall conditions for the photo shoot. Usually, the final decision on “where” to shoot is best suggested by the photographer as they will be able to recommend which setting offers the best conditions to enhance the key elements of the product or subject.

Lighting is an essential element in that gives food shots their mouth-watering effect, that beautiful morning sunshine streaming in the window, or that sensual warm snuggly effect to the bedroom or duvet set.

Location shoots are sometimes essential but to getting great results involves extra time & work in order to control the surroundings and the lighting. In all cases a good commercial photographer will have a range of extra lighting with soft boxes or diffusers as well as a few additional props to produce a stunning set of photographs for your project.

Copyright & Ownership Considerations So who actually does own the rights to those photographs you've commissioned a photographer to do? The straightforward, legal answer is that the photographer always retains the copyrights to the photos. The photographer essentially grants you a license to use the photos only for certain things, as determined prior to the photo shoot taking place.

Future use of the photos outside of the original terms often requires additional charges so be prepared to discuss this at your initial meeting.

How to Shoot Great Travel Photography!

How to Shoot Great Travel Photography! When embarking on that vacation of a lifetime, or even a simple weekend getaway, keep in mind how much the “other details” such as geographic features, landscape, public spaces, and even the locals, can add a rich “layer” to the all-important family photos you'll automatically take. Here are a few suggestions for capturing these other elements.

Planes, Trains & Automobiles (and Boats, too!) Photography from your airplane seat can be tough because the plastic windows are thick and often times scratched. But these candid aerial shots can be great little additions to that 4 x 6 photo album. You can minimize blur by getting the lens as close to the window as possible, but avoid touching the surface because the airplane's vibration will cause camera shake. Take-offs and landings are some of the gest opportunities to capture features that will appear more recognizable and tell the story better.

You'll also find yourself using all sorts of other means of getting around, from cars, buses, trains to even watercraft. Photographs taken from them give the feel of “being there” with authenticity & detail not found in other shots.

Tracking Your Adventures Since “getting there” can often times reveal some of the most interesting landscapes and sights, be sure you have your camera ready to snap the shot the minute you spy something of interest. Digital “point & shoot” cameras are great for this kind of photography, because they let you shoot quickly without worrying about camera settings.

Once you arrive at your destination, take a look around for interesting views. Straight shots of a ship in a port or a train at a station tend to be static & uninteresting, so instead find compositions that reveal their relationship to the area you’re in, or the people that are moving about.

On the road, especially in more exotic places, spotting interesting signs is fun and presents a great opportunity for shots that identify where you’ve been, show a cultural feature, or are just plain funny. These signs can also be great identifiers of your trip’s progress when it comes time to arranging your photo album.

Remember… it’s a vacation, so keep it light! It’s always great to remember that you’re “on holiday”, and as such make sure the photos you capture of you & your traveling companions are silly, fun and express the true character of the moment. Your photos will be more fun to look at and also a lot more fun to take!

The state of commercial photography

I've been reading a lot of blogs and tweets on the state of commercial photography. There seems to be an overall feeling of change and many seem threatened by the ability of anyone with a camera to take away our livelihood. I'm left wondering how so many have lost their vision. Not "creative vision" but their dreams of the future. Why do we choose our professions? As we segue from the safety of our family life with our parents to pursue life on our own, I doubt anyone chose to become a photographer because they thought they would become monetarily wealthy. Why is now that that we seek finical wealth? It's because of that loss of vision. That drive to "create" has been replaced by a want to provide. We've become lost in consumerism. I doubt that a new TV will produce as much enjoyment as the opportunity to create a new photo, painting, sculpture or etc.

Don't worry about others. Embrace change and commit yourself to living your dreams. Go out and create!