I’ll be speaking about the technical aspects that go into the jobs and how to best achieve the ultimate goal- a happy client! Here are a few photography tips for a successful event.

This is my first post:

Those of us in the event photography market often learned early-on that the devil is in the details.  Special events run like clockwork, not to infer they always run smoothly, but rather they depend on many gears of varying size and complexity, working in unison to create a finished product.

This machine, though, is constructed with human beings, flawed by definition.  In order to pull off a successful shoot, it’s imperative that you indentify the adverse variables involved and have your ducks in a row before opening your shutter.

Confirm shoot times and dates with your client – in writing.  Always in writing, so you aren’t liable about what everyone thought they said or heard.  Event photographers always need to have it in writing!

The gear: It’s important to remember that your tools are of no use to you if they’re left on the shelf in your bedroom.  We all know how easy it is to leave behind an essential piece of gear.  I combat this risk by packing the night before.  This grants me a safety cushion so a last-minute addition may come to me at any time — or after reviewing the event parameters.

Aside from your default gear bag (body, zoom, flash, cards), you may need to bring supplemental pieces along to suit your client’s needs.  For speaking engagements, you’ll need a fast telephoto lens.  For décor shots, you’ll want to pack your tripod and perhaps an ultra-wide angle lens.  In events with a lot of movement (such as runway shows), a turbo battery pack will help keep you up to speed.

The universal tool: the AA battery. This is the one piece in your equipment tool box that will always be in demand. No matter how measured your approach, you’ll never know exactly how much power you’ll need, so bring extra!

Directions: Before stepping out the door, print detailed directions to your event, or at least bring a GPS-enabled phone.

Arrival time: A cardinal rule in event photography is to always arrive early.  There’s a very thin line between on time and late, and late is the fastest track to a bad first impression.

Onsite contact: Once you’ve arrived, first things first: locate your onsite contact.  A face-to-face with your contact is a valuable chance to run through the event schedule, identify VIPs and to discuss any last-minute changes, while you still have their undivided attention.

Onsite assistants: If you have a lot of VIP coverage ahead of you, don’t be afraid to ask for an intern or staff member to wrangle the VIPs for you.  Gaining assistance from somebody familiar with the VIPs will make your impromptu group shots more efficient and save you a lot of hassle and stress.

Small necessities: Now that you’ve appeased the client by showing them you’re up to speed, it’s time to help yourself by finding the bathroom, finding water and finding the chef.  These elements will sustain you throughout the event.  A good rapport with the chef or lead caterer will always work in your favor, especially for full-day marathons.

Organize:  As an event Photographer, you’ll know you will need to familiarized yourself with the venue and the key players, you’ll need to stash your gear bags somewhere.  You’ll want to find a spot that’s both accessible and out of view, if possible, although we’re usually forced to compromise between the two.  With your bag in place, unpack your gear, assemble it and load fresh batteries.

Always carry as many batteries and memory cards as possible while still remaining comfortable.  I keep my fresh batteries in one pocket and reserve another pocket for the used.  It’s helpful to keep this arrangement consistent from event to event, as not to confuse the pockets and fumble batteries when a quick switch is imperative.   Now’s a good time to take a few test shots to confirm your gear is in order, and keep an eye out for your VIPs and make sure your photography for the event is all ready to go .

At this point, all your preparation winds down and you’re ready to set your best laid plans into action.  Things will go wrong, as is the nature of such dynamic, spontaneous environments.  This capricious nature is where your planning turns priceless.  With the correct portions of time, practice and foresight, you can bridle such untamed environments on your own terms.

The truth is, anyone can call themselves a “photographer” these days. Because of the relative ease and low cost of camera equipment and setting up a website, tons of people have decided to go into business as “professional photographers”. Today, you can hire a photographer at nearly any price point, from budget to high end. Because it can be very confusing, the staff at 5th Avenue Digital put their heads together and came up with the top things to look for when hiring an event photographer to help you choose intelligently.

Hiring an Event Photographer: The Top 10 Things to Look for:

1. Look for a company whose website has a specific section on event photography and examples of projects they have shot that are similar to what you want. For example, if you want your guests to be able to take photos home with them (one of our most popular services) make sure that the company has Onsite Printing on their website.

2. Ask what type of camera equipment the photographer is currently using – make sure your photographer uses a professional quality camera from one of the big three Canon, Nikon, or Fuji. Going to a site like www.dpreview.com will allow you to check on the style of the camera if you are unfamiliar. Because digital cameras over the past few years have changed significantly, you will want to know what a photographer is working with and if it is up to a professional standard.

3. Find a company that is well-established with a healthy roster of experienced photographers. Stay away from companies or independent photographers who haven’t been around very long and don’t have experience in the type of photography you need.

4. Make sure they can supply highly trained, professional photographers who can work well under pressure, make changes at the drop of a hat, and who understand the importance of proper lighting and other standards of the craft.

5. Confirm that the photographer or company can deliver your images within 48 hours after shooting, via a method that works for you (such as an online link or a DVD). This shows a level of professionalism.

6. It’s important to feel you’re getting responsive customer service right from the start. Make sure the company has someone you can speak to right away, who will get back to you promptly, and who will work with you pleasantly and professionally.

7. Look for someone that explains in advance what you can expect from the photographers working at your event, the breadth of their service, the process of the job from beginning to end, what’s delivered after the event, and when you’ll receive it.

8. Look for a company that supplies photographers in your local area. Long travel times can cause lateness, stress and frustration – as well as additional costs to you.

9. Understand how they prepare for the job. Do the photographers bring any extra/backup equipment? Will the photographers do a location scout? How a company answers these questions should give you a clear idea of what their photographers have done before.

10. Ask for a list of clients they have worked for in the past. The most reputable companies will have a list of previous clients with examples of what they have done for those clients displayed on their site or blog.

So choose not the lowest cost photographer, but an event photographer that offers the best value all around for your event and your brand.

Fifth Avenue Digital provides photographers for all corporate needs, as well as ancillary services such as prints and albums. For over 10 years we’ve been vetting and hiring great photographic talent for our clients around the country. Our unique mix of creativity and technology has enabled us to be chosen by top companies such as Edelman Advertising, JP Morgan and the Walt Disney Company. We handle every aspect of corporate photography, including meetings, event marketing and onsite printing, as well as executive headshots and group portraits. And, we always listen carefully to our clients needs and assign the right photographer for the job.