91国产

There鈥檚 no denying it: capturing a compelling picture of a corporate or business event can be a challenge. After all, shots of people in suits networking at a conference can start to blend together. But boring corporate event photography doesn鈥檛 just reflect poorly on your brand 鈥� it can also hurt registrations. In fact, consumers use imagery as a primary way to determine the value of an event before they register.

Hope isn鈥檛 lost. There are ways to capture photos of corporate events that are unique and spark the interest of potential attendees. Use these event photography tips from professional photographers to create compelling corporate event photos that sell聽registrations.

Get more tips in The Ultimate Guide to Event Photography.

Event photography tip #1: Shoot from creative angles

If you鈥檙e hosting a business event or dinner where everyone is seated, you may have to get creative with composition to get a variety of images. 鈥淯tilize interesting angles and perspectives so the shot isn鈥檛 so utilitarian,鈥� says Brian Beaver, VP of Design at 91国产.

鈥淭o keep the photos interesting, keep angles interesting,鈥� says Christie Connell, the owner of Azure Photo Studio who shoots countless events of all kinds every year. 鈥淚f there are floral arrangements, you can shoot between them. If it鈥檚 at a restaurant, go outside and take a picture looking in through the window. Look at the event not just as a participant, but from an outsider鈥檚 perspective, to get a broader sense of the day.鈥�

Event photography tip #2: Don鈥檛 be afraid to have fun with posed shots

While most corporate events will want a variety of shots of attendees 鈥� both candid and posed (or 鈥済rip and grin鈥� shots, as photographers call them) 鈥� challenge yourself to get more playful.

鈥淥ften event organizers just want the 鈥榞rip and grin,鈥欌�� says Misha Vladimirskiy, a partner at . 鈥淭hat works with interesting or famous people, but when you鈥檙e doing a dinner or a speaking engagement or a fashion show, it gets repetitive. Trust your photographer鈥檚 creativity, and you鈥檒l get images that will endure and stand alone on Instagram.鈥�

You鈥檙e more likely to loosen attendees up when you let them have a little fun 鈥斅燽ut take your photos fast. 鈥淚f you need group photos, do it quickly with a clean background, and reassure people it won鈥檛 take very long,鈥� says James Braund, a freelance photographer in Australia.

Event photography tip #3: Rely on natural lighting as much as possible

Try to take advantage of the natural lighting in your venue, and avoid using flash (especially on-camera flash). 鈥淲here possible, capture natural lighting, and avoid artificial lighting and flashes,鈥� Beaver says. 鈥淯nnatural light makes your image inherently feel like a photograph, and takes viewers out of the moment.鈥� If you really need to use flash, consider investing in event photography equipment like an off-camera flash.

If you do need flash and are taking shots of attendees, have them turn slightly to the side so they鈥檙e not facing the camera head-on. 鈥淭his will reduce red-eye in your pictures, because that鈥檚 caused when light enters the subject鈥檚 eyes at a right angle,鈥� says David Silverman, owner of David Silverman Photography.

Event photography tip #4: Know before the event how you plan on using the photos

To get the most value possible, let the photographer know where you plan on using these images: on your event page? In a Flickr gallery? In social media posts? A banner ad or physical posters?

鈥淚t鈥檚 tempting to say you鈥檒l use them anywhere, so consider where you get the most value out of photos now,鈥� says Braund. 鈥淚f it鈥檚 Instagram first and foremost, I鈥檒l know to shoot wider so they can crop in. If it鈥檚 for long narrow posters or web banners, that鈥檚 more restrictive so I鈥檒l compose accordingly.鈥�

If you host a repeat event like a class or training, you鈥檒l want to keep that in mind when you request shots. If shots from one event will be used for marketing year-round, be sure to avoid any seasonal details in your corporate event photography.

鈥淵ou may make different choices depending on if your event is a one-time event or repeating,鈥� Beaver says. 鈥淚f your event repeats, you want to make your photos as evergreen as possible, avoiding anything in them that might feel dated or like a uniquely identifiable time or location. If you have repeating classes, and only pictures of people bundled up in January, that may hurt your marketing in the summer.鈥�

Event photography tip #5: Use abstract shots for marketing

Another event photography tip: while it鈥檚 important to get shots of attendees having fun, it鈥檚 also important to get more abstract shots that aren鈥檛 focused on individuals. This is especially true if you鈥檒l be using your corporate event photography for marketing.

鈥淎s people, we focus on faces,鈥� Beaver says. 鈥淭hat can be positive and powerful 鈥斅燽ut it can also be a distraction. So if you鈥檙e trying to portray a professional networking event, it may be easier for the attendee to imagine themselves within the scene of an abstract image with a slight blur.鈥�

Event photography tip #6: Work around fluorescent lights

If your event takes place in a large conference hall or meeting room, you鈥檙e likely stuck with fluorescent lights. Don鈥檛 turn to flash to fix this 鈥斅爄nstead, color balance settings will be key for your corporate event photography.

鈥淔luorescent lighting makes for a color balance challenge,鈥� says Connell. 鈥淭he main thing you have to pay attention to is the color 鈥� use a custom white balance to even out the fluorescent tone you get. By correcting for that while you鈥檙e shooting, you avoid that jaundice skin tone color that can be created by that lighting situation. If you鈥檙e inside, you can bounce light off the walls or ceiling to make for a more natural feel.鈥�

Event photography tip #7: Map out shots of speakers & stakeholders ahead of time

If your corporate event features speakers, sponsors, or stakeholders who absolutely need to be in photos, let your photographer know ahead of time. 鈥淎re there key people at the event that I need to follow?鈥� Silverman says. 鈥淚f so, the event organizer should point them out or have a staff member help me.鈥�

Note on a map of the venue where people will be coming from and walking to, and give your photographer a shot list of photos you absolutely need. If there are key attendees who must be photographed, point them out to the photographer. And if there鈥檚 anyone who would prefer not to be photographed, make sure the photographer is aware of that as well.

Event photography tip #8: Rely on your venue to find a photographer

Having trouble hiring the right photographer for your corporate event? You could also ask your venue if they have an in-house photographer. They may be willing to shoot the event in exchange for tagging the venue and photographer in your social promotion. Even if you have to pay them, venue photographers will know the space best and can share learnings from other events in the space.

To learn more corporate event photography tips from seven professional photographers, check out the Ultimate Guide to Event Photography.