Mr.

Mineet Thakkar
Course Coordinator
&
Mentor
(Photography)
 BA in Journalism and Mass communication
Indira School of Communication, Pune, India.
Relevant subjects: Radio, Television, Film, Journalism, Photography, Advertising, Current Affair

 MA in Commercial Photography
Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK.
Relevant subjects: Studio Photography, Food Photography, Product Photography, Fashion and Portrait
• For the past four years I have been working as a commercial photographer for individual clients
and organization in India and United Kingdom.

• I have pursued MA in Commercial Photography and having domestic as well as international

experience, it surely helps me cope up with my profession and also brings strong artistic skill
and knowledge to my commercial projects.

• I have a great deal of experience in composition, technicalities like cameras and lighting,
creating drama, utilising shadows, retouching and uploading photographs for online publishing
or for print in the given timeframe.

• I am highly organised and motivated for commercial photography with a wealth of experience
in Product & Food photography and also including a range of photographic style and services
like Fashion, Interior & Event photography
 Introduction to Event
Photography & Videography
• Introduction to Photography & Event Photography
• Understanding the Basics of Photography: Aperture, Shutter Speed, ISO
• Elements of a Great Event Photograph: Composition, Lighting, Timing
• Significance of preparation and planning in event photography
• Event Photography Logistics & Practical/Workshop
How often do you get excited to see a good
photograph?
• Communication became one of the basic needs of our lives.

• To express the idea, emotion we use different types of

communication channels, like air/cloud for any type of
interpersonal or group communication, technology based mass
media which includes newspaper, television, radio,
photographs like visual communication.

• Visual communication has a different appeal to influence all

categories of people, whether it may be a photograph published
in the newspaper or moving images.
• Photography is a universal means of communication and a valuable
tool in many fields.

• From the moments of a family event to the Big Bang picture or a

satellite picture of the moon or the earth, photograph can record not
only that human being see, but also so many subjects, which are
beyond our range of vision.

• Though we usually discuss that photography is the process of making

pictures by means of the action of the lights, means it is a scientific
invention, but the most important point is that, it is not only a science
but also a major art form.

• Literally photography means writing with light.

Photography is the art of capturing light with a camera, usually via a digital sensor or film, to
create an image.
It is the process of recording visual images by capturing light rays on a light-sensitive recording
medium which is Film or Digital CCD
Photography can be thought of as two pursuits:

1.Technical:
The science of setting up the camera and the
recording medium to take images in a controlled way.

2.Creative:
The art of composing good images to capture.

Traditional photography uses film as the recording medium, which is a

chemical process.

Modern photography is heavily geared towards digital photography, which is

an electronic process. In either type of photography the basic process is the
same
• A critical part of the camera is the optical element, i.e. the lens.

• The role of the lens is to take incoming light rays and bend them to
form a clear image on the recording medium.

• The structure of the lens determines how much the light is bent
and the magnification of the resulting image.
•
• To understand photography, you just not need to understand
camera but your lenses too as that creates a major difference.
For centuries images
have been projected
• The camera obscura and the camera
onto surfaces. lucida were used by artists to trace scenes
as early as the 16th century.
• These early cameras did not fix an image
in time; they only projected what passed
through an opening in the wall of a
darkened room onto a surface.
• The entire room was turned into a large
pinhole camera. Obscura literally means
“darkened room,”
Daguerre and the
Photographic Revolution
During the mid 1800s, scientists and photographers were experimenting with
efficient ways to take and process photographs.

Daguerre continued his experiments, and it was he who discovered that exposing an iodized silver
plate in a camera would result in a lasting image if the latent image on the plate was developed by
exposure to fumes of mercury and then fixed (made permanent) by a solution of common salt.

Initially, this process, too, required a very long exposure to produce a distinct image, but
Daguerre made the crucial discovery that an invisibly faint "latent" image created by a much
shorter exposure could be chemically "developed" into a visible image. Upon seeing the image,
the contents of which are unknown, Daguerre said, "I have seized the light – I have arrested its
flight!“

It was then to learn that daguerreotypes of the streets of Paris did not show any people, horses or
vehicles, until he realized that due to the long exposure times all moving objects became
invisible.
The first photograph of a human. Abraham Lincoln
Henry Fox Talbot
• Fox Talbot went on to develop the three primary elements of photography:
developing, fixing, and printing.

• Although simply exposing photographic paper to the light produced an image,

it required extremely long exposure times.

• By accident, he discovered that there was an image after a very short

exposure. Although he could not see it, he found he could chemically develop
it into a useful negative.

• Talbot’s calotypes could be exposed within one to two minutes.

• Importantly, unlike the daguerreotype, the calotype could be reproduced

quickly through contact printing.
• With the negative image, Fox Talbot
realized he could repeat the process of
printing from the negative.

• Consequently, his process could make

any number of positive prints, unlike
the Daguerreotypes.

• He called this the 'calotype' and

patented the process in 1841.
George Eastman
and the Roll
Standard
No history of photography would be complete without considering the massive
accomplishments of George Eastman and the Kodak company.

Eastman’s work would prove to change the standard of film technology, and
some of his discoveries are still in use today.

Eastman’s company, known as the Eastman Dry Plate and Film Company went
into producing early photographs.

Eastman capitalized on the growing consumer demand for photography with the
invention of the first Kodak Camera in 1888.

He invented film with a base that was flexible, unbreakable and could be rolled
which means there was not a requirement to constantly change the solid plates
The camera could hold rolls of film enough for 100 exposures and came
with a single fixed focus lens with no focus adjustment systems and a
single shutter speed.
Types Of Photography
Landscape
photography
Landscape photographs typically capture the
presence of nature but can also focus on
man-made features or disturbances of
landscapes.

As with most forms of art, the definition of

a landscape photograph is broad and may
include rural or urban settings, industrial
areas or nature photography.
Photojournalism
Photojournalism is a form of journalism that
uses images to tell news stories.

Photojournalists cover recent events that

are news worthy.

The goal of photojournalism is to provide

objective and unbiased visual documentation
of current events.
Street
Photography
Street photographers aim to capture the
essence of a particular place or culture, while
reflecting the emotions, stories, and
interactions of the subject.

It often focuses on documenting everyday

life and the unique moments that occur in
urban environments.
Event Photography

Event photography is a specialized genre that

involves capturing photographs at various
events such as weddings, parties,
conferences, concerts, and other social
gatherings.

The goal is to capture the essence of the

event, the emotions, the people, and the
overall atmosphere.
Travel
Photography
Capturing a place through its
architecture, food, people, and unique
culture is travel photography.

It aims to document the essence of a place

and tell a story through photographs.
Fashion
Photography
Fashion photography is a genre of
photography that focuses on capturing
clothing, accessories, and fashion trends in a
visually appealing and artistic manner.

It involves working with models, stylists,

makeup artists, and designers to create
images that showcase the clothing and
convey a specific mood or concept.
Portrait
Photography
Portrait photography is a genre of
photography that focuses on capturing the
personality, expression, and mood of a
person or a group of people.

It aims to highlight the subject's unique

features and convey their emotions or story
through the photograph.
Product
Photography
Product photography is a branch of
commercial photography that focuses on
capturing images of products for advertising
or selling purposes.

The goal is to showcase the product in the

most appealing and accurate way possible,
highlighting its features, details, and quality.
Food Photography
Food photography is a specialized genre of
photography that focuses on capturing
appetizing and visually appealing images of
food.

It involves various techniques and

considerations to make the food look
enticing and appealing to the viewer.
Interior &
Architecture
Photography
Interior and architecture photography is a
specialized field of photography that focuses
on capturing the beauty and design of
interior spaces and architectural structures.

It requires a keen eye for detail, composition,

and an understanding of lighting techniques
to showcase the space in the most appealing
way.
Wildlife
Photography
Wildlife photography is a genre of
photography that focuses on capturing
photographs of various forms of wildlife in
their natural habitat.

It requires a combination of technical skills,

patience, and a deep understanding of
animal behavior.
Types Of Events :
Wedding Photography:
Wedding photography is a genre of
photography that focuses on capturing the
moments, emotions, and details of a
wedding ceremony and celebration.

It involves documenting the couple, their

families, friends, and the overall ambiance of
the wedding day.
Corporate Event
Photography
corporate event photography is a subset of
photography that deals or involves taking
photos at corporate events.

The goal of corporate event photography

is to capture the essence of the event in a
creative way while also showcasing your
business's brand and achievements.

The photographs can be used for marketing

purposes like social media posts or printed
materials like brochures.
Sports Event
Photography
Sports photography is a type of photography
that covers every sport and sporting event,
capturing the action of a game and behind
the scenes of the players.

This type of photography helps to promote

brands, the players, as well as the sport.
Party and Social Event
Photography
Event photography is the professional art of
snapping high-quality images during a wide
variety of important occasions.
Fashion Event
Photography
Fashion Runway Photography is the art of
capturing models walking or strutting down a
catwalk highlighting what there are wearing
or carrying in a journalistic or documentary
style.

Though from a distance, shooting a fashion

show might look like a simple thing, in reality
it is anything but. Fashion shows move
quickly and you don't get second chances to
capture the glitz and glamor of the latest
designs.
Concert Photography
Concert photography is the photography of
activities and festivals or celebration relating
to concerts and music.

It encompasses photographs of a band or

musician as well as coverage of a concert.
Understanding the Basics of
Photography
Aperture, Shutter Speed, ISO
What is Shutter
Speed?
Shutter speed is responsible for two
particular things: changing the brightness of
your photo and creating dramatic effects by
either freezing action or blurring motion.
Shutter speed is the length of time the
camera shutter is open, exposing light onto
the camera sensor.
Essentially, it’s how long your camera spends
taking a photo.
When you use a long shutter speed
you end up exposing your sensor for
a significant period of time. The first
big effect of it is motion blur.
If your shutter speed is long,
moving subjects in your photo will
appear blurred along the direction
of motion.
This effect is used quite often in
advertisements of cars and
motorbikes, where a sense of speed
and motion is communicated to the
viewer by intentionally blurring the
moving wheels.
Slow shutter speeds are also used
to photograph the Milky Way or
other objects at night, or in dim
environments with a tripod.
Landscape photographers may
intentionally use long shutter
speeds to create a sense of motion
on rivers and waterfalls while
keeping everything else completely
sharp.
On the other hand, shutter speed
can also be used to do just the
opposite – freeze motion.
If you use an especially fast shutter
speed, you can eliminate motion
even from fast-moving objects, like
birds in flight, or cars driving past.
If you use a fast shutter speed while
taking pictures of water, each
droplet will hang in the air
completely sharp, which might not
even be visible to our own eyes.
All of the above is achieved by
simply controlling the shutter
speed.
• Shutter speeds are typically measured in fractions of a second when they are under a second. For
example, 1/4 means a quarter of a second, while 1/250 means one-two-hundred-and-fiftieth of a
second (or four milliseconds).

• The other important effect of shutter speed is on exposure, which relates to the brightness of an image. If you
use a long shutter speed, your camera sensor gathers a lot of light, and the resulting photo will be quite bright.
By using a quick shutter speed, your camera sensor is only exposed to a small fraction of light, resulting in a
darker photo.
Understanding Aperture
in Photography
Aperture is one of the three pillars of
photography (the other two being Shutter
Speed and ISO.
Aperture can be defined as the opening in a
lens through which light passes to enter the
camera.
It is an easy concept to understand if you just
think about how your eyes work. As you
move between bright and dark
environments, the iris in your eyes either
expands or shrinks, controlling the size of
your pupil.
Aperture can add dimension to your photos
by controlling depth of field. At one extreme,
aperture gives you a blurred
background with a beautiful shallow focus
effect. This is very popular for portrait
photography.

At the other extreme, it will give you sharp

photos from the nearby foreground to the
distant horizon. Landscape photographers
use this effect a lot.

On top of that, the aperture you choose also

alters the exposure of your images by making
them brighter or darker.
How Aperture Affects
Exposure
Aperture has several effects on your
photographs. Perhaps the most obvious is
the brightness, or exposure, of your images.

A large aperture (a wide opening) will pass a

lot of light, resulting in a brighter
photograph.

A small aperture does just the opposite,

making a photo darker.
How Aperture Affects
Depth of Field
Depth of field is the amount of your photograph that appears sharp from front to back.
Some images have a “thin” or “shallow” depth of field, where the background is completely out of focus.
Other images have a “large” or “high” depth of field, where both the foreground and background are sharp.
So far, we have only discussed aperture in general terms like large and small. However, it can also be
expressed as a number known as “f-number” or “f-stop”, with the letter “f” appearing before the
number, such as f/8.

Aperture will usually look something like this: f/2, f/2.8, f/3.5, f/5.6, f/8, f/11, f16 and so on.
What is ISO?
In very basic terms, ISO is simply a camera
setting that will brighten or darken a photo.
As you increase your ISO number, your
photos will grow progressively brighter. For
that reason, ISO can help you capture images
in darker environments, or be more flexible
about your aperture and shutter speed
settings.
However, raising your ISO has consequences.
A photo taken at too high of an ISO will show a lot of grain, also known as noise, and might not be usable.
So, brightening a photo via ISO is always a trade-off. You should only raise your ISO when you are unable
to brighten the photo via shutter speed or aperture instead
Common ISO Values
Every camera has a different range of ISO values that you can use.

ISO 100 (low ISO)

ISO 200
ISO 400
ISO 800
ISO 1600
ISO 3200
ISO 6400 (high ISO)

Quite simply, when you double your ISO speed, you are doubling the brightness of the photo. So, a photo at ISO
400 will be twice brighter than ISO 200, which will be twice brighter than ISO 100.
Digital Camera Modes allow photographers to control
the parameters of an exposure, specifically, Shutter
Speed, Aperture and ISO.

While certain modes can fully automate the camera

exposure, there are other modes that let the
photographer manually control some or all parameters
of the exposure.
Auto Mode
Automatic Exposure is when the camera
chooses the optimum shutter speed,
aperture, ISO and flash settings for your
shot.

All you need to do is point and shoot.

The shot here is correctly exposed as the

day is well lit, though auto-exposure may
struggle in situations where the light is
uneven, and it tends to trigger the flash
even when it’s not necessary.
Portrait Mode
Portrait mode will “think” that there is a
subject in the foreground of the frame
and choose a shallow depth of field to
keep the human subject in focus but the
background blurred.

If the camera reads the scene as dark, it

will add fill-in flash.

Fill-in flash is useful in sunny conditions

too, when the sun casts a harsh shadow.

Portrait mode generally works best in

well-lit conditions.
Macro Mode
Macro mode is very useful for taking
photographs of subjects smaller than
your hand.

Remember that macro mode will not give

you super close up images; for this, you
will need a macro lens.

Macro mode will work best in bright

conditions and will choose a shallow
depth of field to focus on the subject.
Landscape Mode
Landscape mode usually uses a small
aperture (high f/number) to create a well-
focused image from the foreground into
the distance.

Landscape mode tends to suit a wide

lens and works well if the scene is well lit.
Sports Mode
Because sports are fast-paced activities,
sports mode will give you a high shutter
speed of at least 1/500 – 1/1000 of a
second.

With a high shutter speed to freeze

movement, means that the flash is
usually not necessary – though once
again this works best on a bright day.
Night Portrait
Mode
In the night portrait mode, the camera will
try to balance the darkness of the
background with the need to light the
subject in the foreground.

The aperture will have to be fairly wide to

allow enough light in to capture the
background and keep the subject in
focus, but at the same time flash is
necessary to illuminate the person and
avoid blur.
Advanced Camera
Modes
M (Manual) : As the name suggests, “Manual” mode stands for a full manual control of Aperture, Shutter
Speed & ISO.

AV (Aperture-Priority): AV mode on a camera refers to Aperture Priority mode, which is a shooting mode that
allows the user to manually set the aperture while the camera automatically adjusts the shutter speed for proper
exposure.

TV or S (Shutter-Priority): TV mode stands for Time Value but is better known as Shutter Priority Mode. In TV
mode the user specifies a shutter speed, while the camera adjusts the aperture size to correctly expose the
image.

P (Programmed Auto): It is an automatic shooting mode that allows the camera to control both the aperture
and shutter speed settings, while still giving the photographer control over other settings such as ISO, white
balance, and exposure compensation.
Understanding Light
Importance of Light
The word photography comes from “photo” or “light” and “graphy” or “writing”, so photography
essentially means “light writing”

Light is what allows us to see. It is what shapes and colors every object we can see with out eyes, it
creates depth, mood, and color

Without great lighting, there can be no great photographs.

Lighting determines not only brightness and darkness, but also tone, mood and the atmosphere.

By distributing shadow and highlights accurately, you can create stylized professional looking
photographs.
Firstly, the basic tool of lighting are principles, not
the hardware.
Pattern of light convey information, just as any
spoken words.
For example, definite statements such as, ‘ The
bark of the tree is rough’ or ‘ This utensil is made of
stainless steel’ etc.
When we see an object we are seeing the light
reflected off of it
Sunlight contains light of every color and when it
illuminates an object we are seeing certain colors
of light reflected by that object that then travel
into our eyes
A photograph is created by capturing the light that
is reflecting off of our scene and traveling into our
camera, where it is captured by film or a digital
sensor.
Types of Light
• Natural Light

• Artificial Light

• Combination of Natural & Artificial Light

Direct Light
Light comes from the source to the subject
without any obstacles (Photo Sample)

Example, Light coming from the sun on a clear day

or light coming out of the bulb or flash without any
obstacles.
Direct light Produces strong shadows

Needs to be careful while using direct

light in photography, as the strong
contrast and high shadows can disturb
your image

It can be very useful at times, if you

know the composition beforehand
Indirect Light-
light reflects or bounce from another subject
or surface before reaching the actual subject.

Even the obstacles like clouds, curtains, etc.

are the examples of indirect light.
Soft lighting refers to a lighting technique
that creates a gentle, diffused, and flattering
illumination in a space.

It helps to reduce harsh shadows and create

a cozy, relaxed atmosphere.
Exposure
Exposure is the overall brightness or
darkness of a scene
A neutral or normal exposure is one which
creates an image that looks similar to how
we see it with our eyes
A typical scene during the day has about 10
stops of light in it, and the average high end
DSLR captures between 5 and 7 stops.
what we see in real life is not what we get in
the camera or on the screen or in print.
Color
Sunlight varies in color greatly and this color
is measured as temperature in degrees
Kelvin.
There are actually two sets of primary colors:
Reflected light primary colors and
transmitted light primary colors.
Transmitted primary colors are the color of
the light source itself and are red, green and
blue.
The reflected set refers to the colors red,
yellow and blue and are what you would use
when mixing paints to achieve any other
color you desire.
Natural daylight is blue in its color and will be somewhere between 5200 and 6500K. The diffusing effect
of the atmosphere also colors daylight, and normally daylight can vary from a warm 4000K in the late
evening to a cool 6500K on a cloudy day.
Tungsten light bulbs put out a light that is really orange at around 3200K, but, whereas fluorescent light
bulbs are in the 3,000-5,000K range.
Low Kelvin value white balance (3000 K) in an outdoor setting will produce horrible overly blue imagery.
Conversely, an outdoor white balance setting shot in artificial lighting can turn out very orange.
Quality
As well as being light or dark, light can also
be soft or hard
This is primarily a function of how large the
light source is compared to the subject.
Hard light comes from a single spot or source
point and is very directional. The sun is a very
good example of a hard light. The light from
an on-camera flash is another good example.
Soft light is very diffused light and multi-
directional. Overcast and cloudy days are
common examples of this type of light. Open
shade is another example.
A small bright light far from our subject
creates a hard light with hard well defined
shadows.

A large light source close to the subject

creates a very soft light with soft shadows if
any, the light wraps around the subject.
hard light is very directional you get very sharp, well defined shadows.
Soft light will illuminate objects very evenly, and produce very soft subtle shadows, or sometimes no shadows at all.
This was shot in direct sunlight, you can see the
sharp distinct shadows each peddle casts. Notice
also how the light and dark areas are sharply
defined with no mid-tones separating them.

This flower is the same exact flower as above shot

in open shade. Note the subtle shadows that each
peddle casts and note the fine detail in the middle
of the flower.
Direction
Light not only has the characteristics of being
harder or softer, diffuse or sharp, but it also
has a directional quality that you can use to
enhance or your subject and, therefore, your
images.

It may be hard or soft, but the sun/ any light

source travels in straight lines radiating out
from it.

It may bounce and reflect off of things, but

try to keep in mind that it has direction.
Front Lighting –
Front lighting typically comes from a source
that is behind the photographer and shining
directly onto the subject.
One of the characteristics of this type of
lighting is that it tends to flatten out your
subject.
It’s kind of like putting your subject on a copy
machine where everything is evenly
illuminated. It does, however, offer a very
well lit and defined subject
When the light is coming from directly in
front of the subject, there is less shadow and
a flattening of details.
Side Lighting
If you want to explore the creative side of
photography, side lighting takes you there.
To define the three-dimensional
characteristics of your subject, the best
possible light to use as a main light is side
lighting
Lot of portrait lighting or landscape lighting is
done with the light coming from a side
direction
It’s perfect for emphasizing texture, defining
depth, and bringing out patterns. When you
side light a subject, its texture pops.
Turning the image into a black and white
shot also helps with conveying the emotion.
Back Lighting
Back lighting is one of the most popular
lighting options for creating drama.

Back light is when the sun or other light

source emanates from behind your subject,
which means you’re shooting into the light

The best light to use for separating your

subject from a background is, of course, back
light.
Like side lighting, backlit images have contrasting depth as well
Usually, a back lighting technique is used to enhance a silhouette or to provide a little
separation in combination with other light sources.
If the sun is directly behind your subject, your subject will be that much darker.
Highlights
The highlight is the brightest part of an
image.

Highlights are normally created by a bright or

intense illumination or by various forms of
diffusion or reflection.

Small point-sources of light, or hard lights

(with small size and intense power) will
create highlights more often than diffused
soft light with a relatively large light source.
Shadows
Shadow is the darkest part of an image

When we are dealing with a single light

source this is normally a non-reflective
object or surface facing away from the light
source or in the shadow of something else.

The shape of a shadow changes based on its

relationship with its light source.
Contrast
Contrast in an image is the measurement of
the difference between the highlights and
the shadows.

If there is a lot of range between the two

there is very little contrast, if there is little
range between the two then an image is said
to have high contrast.

Images shot on a cloudy day usually are low

in contrast, and images shot in the bright sun
are generally high in contrast.
Tonal
Contrast and Color
Contrast
Tonal Contrast-
refers to the difference in tones from the
lightest tone to the darkest tone, in other
words, the difference in tones from white to
gray to black.
Tones are normally described as high, normal
or low. High tone images are harsh while low
contrast images are soft.
Color Contrast-
refers to the way colors interact with each
other. Color contrast is used to achieve great
compositions. Colors with opposite
characteristics, like blue and yellow, contrast
strongly when placed together.
Color contrasted images contain
complementary, or opposite,
colors. Two colors on the
opposite side of the color wheel
create contrasting colors. Yellow
& Blue or Green & Red create
contrasting images that grab
attention.
Composition Techniques
What is Composition in
Photography?
The main purpose of composition is to
influence viewing behavior.

This entails understanding the principles of

composition in photography and knowing
how to lead your viewer’s eye to your
subject or whatever focal point you want
them to look at.
Filling the Frame
For this technique, move in closer to your
subject to strengthen your composition.

Doing so allows the focus to fall on your

subject, such as a person’s facial expression,
and on details that may not be readily
noticeable by the naked eye.

As a bonus, it will help you get rid of

distracting elements in the background and
may even give you interesting abstract
patterns.
Rule of Thirds
This basic composition technique is based on
the idea that placing your subjects off-center
yields a stronger, more natural-looking
composition and allows you to make creative
use of negative space.

Following the Rule of Thirds also serves as

the perfect opportunity (or excuse) to shoot
your subjects from different angles. This will
ultimately allow you to capture more unique
images.
Leading Lines and
Shapes
Other significant elements of art that our
eyes are naturally drawn to are lines and
shapes.

Use them to your advantage by allowing

them to change the way your audience views
your image.

Lines have a natural way of leading the

viewer’s eyes, making them the perfect
element to help bring the attention to your
desired focal points.
Symmetrical Balance
Symmetry is a widely taught compositional
technique used for creating visual balance in
your photos.

We unconsciously look for symmetry in all

things. A photograph with elements that are
almost perfectly balanced usually makes for a
very appealing image
Framing
Also called sub-framing, this type of
compositional technique involves using or
adding frame elements to emphasize and
lead the viewer’s eye towards your subject or
to simply add interest to your image.

It can be anything from natural frames like

rock formations or man-made ones like
windows and tunnels. Whatever shape or
form, as long as it helps bring focus to your
intended subject, it’s bound to create a more
aesthetically-pleasing image.
Introduction to Event
Photography
What is Event
Photography?
Event photographers are simply professional
photographers armed with the skills and
equipment to capture emotions, reactions
and memories in high-pressure
environments.
They work in environments where they need
to think on their feet to respond to changes
in lighting, event agendas and the needs of
the client.
Event photographers are associated with shooting:
• Conferences and Tradeshows
• Gala Dinners
• Awards Presentations
• Corporate Anniversaries
• Product Launches and Brand Activations
• Private Parties
• Graduations and Formals
• Festivals and Entertainment
• Marketing and Editorial
• Capturing memories: Events such as weddings, birthdays, corporate functions, and concerts are
often once-in-a-lifetime moments. Event photography ensures that these special moments are
captured and preserved for future generations to enjoy.
• Promoting the event: Event photos can be used for promotional purposes. They can be shared
on social media, websites, and marketing materials to create buzz and attract attendees for
future events.
• Documenting important details: Event photos help in documenting important details such as
decorations, setup, and guest interactions. These images can be used for future reference or to
showcase the event's success.
• Creating a visual narrative: Event photos tell a story. They capture the emotions, interactions,
and experiences of the attendees, creating a visual narrative that can be cherished for years to
come.
• Building brand image: For corporate events, event photography plays a crucial role in building
and maintaining the brand image. Professional photos can be used in marketing materials,
company websites, and social media to showcase the event's success and professionalism.
The Fundamentals of
Event Photography
To make your photography stand the test of
time — and, more importantly, motivate
website visitors to get out their wallet — you
need to transport viewers to the live
experience
But the first step to differentiating the
event’s brand with photography is mastering
the basics. Before picking up a camera , you
need to have a vision for your photographic
style. To develop a style that reflects your
event’s brand, start by considering
composition, perspective, lighting, and focus.
Composition in Event
Photography
The rule of thirds is a simple, useful
compositional technique to make photos
that are more compelling

Divide a frame into thirds both horizontally

and vertically, and align the focal point of the
photo at a third of the way into the frame.
• If you’re hosting a business event or
dinner where everyone is seated, you
may have to get creative with event
photography techniques to get a variety
of compositions.

• If there are floral arrangements, you can

shoot between them. If it’s 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’s perspective, to get a
broader sense of the day.
Look for Lines
Less Posing, More
Candid Shots
Use a Shallow Depth
of Field
Perspective
If you want to take your photography to the next level, it’s essential to understand how to use different types of
perspectives.
In event photography, the objective is generally to give prospective attendees the feeling or vibe, and allow them to
imagine being at the event or the to go in flashbacks !

Their minds don’t have to make that leap if you show the event from the attendee’s perspective. Pull the viewer into
the action, so they’re an active participant and not a passive observer

Understanding how perspective works can help you create more dynamic and visually engaging images that instantly
capture the audience’s attention. It affects a viewer’s perception of the image and its subjects, influencing the size
and scale of objects within the frame
 Linear perspective.
As one of the most straightforward types of
perspective, it involves converging lines that
create an illusion of depth and distance
within a frame.

You’ll only need a vanishing point and at least

two parallel lines. This type of perspective is
commonly used in architectural and street
photography to give the impression of a
three-dimensional image.
High-angle
perspective.
With a high-angle perspective, your camera
is positioned above the subject, looking
down.

This makes a subject appear small and

powerless, creating a feeling of vulnerability
or insignificance.

It is also often used in aerial and landscape

photography to emphasize the scale of the
environment.
Low-angle perspective.
Low-angle perspective is when the camera is
positioned below the subject, looking up. As
it makes a subject look larger and more
dominant, it creates a feeling of power or
superiority.

This type of perspective is commonly used

in fashion photography to capture a sense of
strength or authority.
Forced perspective
This type of perspective involves
manipulating the size and distance of objects
to create a sense of scale and depth.
Positioning objects in a way that makes them
appear closer or farther away from the
camera than they are can help you to add a
unique twist to an otherwise ordinary scene.
Most commonly, forced perspective is used
in travel photography.
Fisheye perspective.
A fisheye lens can create a distorted
perspective, adding visual interest and drama
to an image.
It can make objects appear bent or stretched,
adding movement and energy to the photo.
This type of perspective is often used in
architectural and interior photography to
create a unique and unconventional view of
the environment.
An attendee
perspective

It’s really important to shoot from the point

of view of the participant, but also to bring
somebody into an experience they wouldn’t
ordinarily see.
A backstage
perspective-
Try a backstage photo of an artist, or a
unique aerial angle of an event.
What Event
Photography Gear Do
You Need

Event photography requires careful

consideration when it comes to selecting
the right equipment. Whether you're
capturing weddings, corporate events,
concerts, or any other special occasions,
having the appropriate gear can
significantly impact the quality of your
photos.
1. Camera Body
Selecting the appropriate camera body is the
foundation of event photography.
Look for features such as high ISO
performance, fast autofocus, and good low-
light capabilities.
Full-frame DSLRs or mirrorless cameras are
popular choices due to their excellent image
quality and versatility.
2. Lenses
Lenses are crucial for capturing different
types of shots in various environments.
Consider the following types of lenses:
Wide-angle Lens: Ideal for capturing group
shots and wide event spaces.
Standard Zoom Lens: Offers versatility for
capturing candid moments and portraits.
Telephoto Lens: Useful for capturing distant
subjects without getting in the way.
Fast Prime Lens: A wide aperture prime lens
(e.g., f/1.8 or f/1.4) is essential for low-light
situations and creating beautiful background
blur.
3. Flash and Lighting
Event venues often have challenging lighting
conditions. Having the right lighting
equipment is essential:
External Flash: A powerful external flash can
help you achieve well-lit images in dimly lit
environments.
Off-Camera Flash Setup: Creating off-camera
lighting setups adds depth and dimension to
your photos.
Light Modifiers: Softboxes, diffusers, and
reflectors help control harsh lighting and
create a flattering look.
4. Tripod
A sturdy tripod is valuable for group shots,
low-light scenes, and long exposure shots. It
helps eliminate camera shake and ensures
sharp images.
5. Batteries and
Memory Cards
Events can be lengthy, so carry extra
batteries and memory cards to avoid running
out of power or storage space.
Videography
Equipments
The event: A cooking
class or intimate
dinner

You don’t want to use a lot of flash, because it may detract from the event itself.

If the lighting there is minimal — like a candlelit dinner — use a higher ISO or a wider aperture.

This will create a more shallow depth of field, meaning not everything will be in focus, but that’s the best way to
convey the feeling and mood of the event without being too intrusive.

Jack up your ISO and use as little flash as possible. Match the color balance of the lights in the space with a gel
on your flash.
The event: A concert
The number one confusion people have is
that they need flash in the dark — but
people lose their detail flooded in light.

If you’re shooting the actual band, just use

the stage lights — you don’t need flash.

Work with the lights that are already there,

keeping your shutter speed high for the
motion and aperture smaller based on the
amount of light on stage.
The event: A
fundraiser or gala
Typically, the most important thing is who’s
in the picture. If attendees drop a lot of
money to be there, they want visual proof
next to the celebrity guest.
If a brand is hosting, you want a shot of
somebody with a local hook (like the town
mayor) with the celebrity guest and a
corporate logo in the background.
Get the interaction between guests, shoot
the fun. Turn around and capture the
reaction on peoples’ faces.
Be in front of the crowd or looking back at
the crowd.
Significance of preparation and planning
in event photography
How to Manage Your
Client’s Expectations and
Needs

This is a fundamental skill for all professional

photographers. Having an open dialogue
between yourself and your client is key to
getting the best shots.
You need to ask your clients important
questions such as these:
What event is this?
What kind of images do you want from this
event? Are you looking for headshots,
candid's, etc.?
What are the most important moments?
What style of photography do you like?
Who are the most important people/chief
guest/celebrity guest/etc.?
A Shot List Will Help
You Capture Those Key
Photos
A shot list is a checklist of the images you
want to capture during a shoot. Whether it is
a birthday party or an industry mixer, a shot
list can help you and your client organise
better.
A shot list ensures that no critical images are
missing from your photo shoot. Nothing is
worse than not capturing a photograph that
your client really, really wanted.

Ask the event organizer for help here, if there

is one. They can point out the key attendees
for corporate event photos, for example. Or
the key people at any event.
Pre-Event Photos Can
Contribute to the Overall
Story

Photograph the venue, table settings, and

other beautiful details before the guests
arrive. These are just as important as the
story that unfolds.

Many clients don’t think about this. But they

will appreciate a snap of the setting that they
spent so much time (and money) on.
Ask detailed questions
during the interview with
photographers

Can you provide a list of references?

A portfolio of pictures shows you the work they do, but personal references show you how they interact with
clients. This is the best way to know how your photographer works and interacts with others.
Have you ever photographed at this venue before?
If the photographer has not, ask if they will do a site visit with you.
Are you photographing any other events on the same day?
While it’s possible for a photographer to juggle multiple commitments, it takes away from time spent on details
and setup. Prepare to pay more if you require your photographer to handle only your event.
Will you photograph my event, or will you send an associate?
It’s important that the person who photographs your event is the person whose work you prefer.
Do you have backup equipment?
When something goes wrong, it’s essential that they have the right backup gear to continue the job.
If my event lasts longer than expected, will you stay longer? Do you charge extra?
Make sure all information communicated regarding time and costs are in your contract.
How do you present the final product?
There are many options, including online ordering or digital storage. Choose a photographer who makes this process as
seamless as possible. It’s also helpful to ask if they’ll work with you on sizing digital images for use on websites and
marketing emails.
How many photographers will be at my event and who are they? Having a second photographer to capture different
aspects of the event or meeting can add a new dimension to your final portfolio. They can cover more ground and with
different personalities and capture a different feel. Prepare to pay more for this addition.
What packages do you offer and can I customize it?
Many photographers offer packages customizable with a la carté items. Discuss your goals with the photographer to
create a package that best suits your needs.
Clarify the specialties of each photographer in your contact list. One photographer has more experience documenting
conference events with simultaneous activities. Another has an incredible portfolio of product shots.
Logistics &
Permissions for event
photographer

When it comes to event photography, there are a few important aspects to

consider regarding permissions.

These permissions generally revolve around the legal and ethical

considerations of capturing and using images of people, especially in public or
private events.
Consent
It's crucial to obtain consent from individuals
before photographing them, particularly if
they are the main focus of the image. This is
especially important for private events or
situations where a person's privacy might be
compromised. For public events, while
consent might not be legally required, it's still
a good practice to respect people's wishes
and ask for their permission whenever
possible.
Property Release
If the event takes place on private property,
the photographer might need a property
release to use the images commercially. This
is particularly relevant when the event is held
in a venue that is not publicly accessible, like
private residences or certain event spaces.

Model Release:
If the photographs feature recognizable
individuals as the main subjects and will be
used for commercial purposes (such as
marketing materials), it's advisable to obtain
a model release. A model release is a legal
agreement between the photographer and
the subject, granting permission to use the
images for specified purposes.
Event Organizer
Permission
It's a good idea to establish a clear
understanding with the event organizer
regarding what you can and cannot
photograph. Some events might have
restrictions on photography in certain areas
or during certain segments of the event.
Copyright and Usage
Rights:
As the photographer, you automatically hold
the copyright to the images you create.
However, it's important to communicate with
your clients or event organizers about the
intended use of the images. This might
include whether they will be used for
personal use, social media, or commercial
purposes.
Ethical Considerations
Even if you have the legal right to
photograph people at an event, it's
important to be sensitive to their comfort
and privacy. Always try to maintain a
respectful and professional demeanor.

Please note that the specifics of permissions can vary based on local laws, event type, and
individual preferences. It's always a good practice to have clear communication with your
clients or event organizers and, when in doubt, consult legal experts who are familiar with
photography and event laws in your jurisdiction.
Media Release Form
Obtain a signed media release form if you are
using photos/videos for marketing
communications—which include print or
online materials intended to promote your
department, office, or center—and the
people in those photos/videos are
recognizable. News-related use does not
require a signed release.
Do not take or use photos/videos of minors
(individuals under the age of consent, which
is 18 in Massachusetts) without obtaining a
parent’s or a guardian’s signature on the
media release form.
Keep signed permissions for as long as you
think you may use the photos/videos.