Tips for Great Convention Photography
We’ve all seen bad event photography plastered on promotional materials and posted on event websites. You can’t put your finger on just what makes it unappealing, but it comes off looking like stock footage or just staged and stale. If you want to increase attendance and vendor involvement at your next conference, vibrant, innovative photography makes it an easy sell.
Go for Candid and Casual
A fly on the wall perspective often yields the best results. People have a habit of becoming stiff or uncomfortable when a camera is around. The key to taking unique, professional-looking conference pictures is to blend into the background. Subjects appear at their best when they’re relaxed and happy. You’re there to capture the moments, not stage them.
Don’t Stay in Auto Mode
You may think it’s more convenient to shoot in auto mode, but this is one of the main reasons that convention photos sometimes have the look of amateur vacation pictures. Shooting the event in P or program mode allows you to have more flexibility and control shot for shot. Scenes aren’t static, even indoors, so why should your camera settings be?
Make Sure You Bring Backup Gear
Whether the event is a three-day convention or an all-day conference, you want to make sure you don’t miss a moment. It may seem like a no-brainer to remind you to bring spare chargers and batteries, extra USB cables, and a variety of card readers, but you would be surprised at how many photographers are caught short due to lack of proper equipment. It’s also good practice to check out the venue beforehand whenever possible. This allows you to have an idea of the layout and access to electrical outlets, lighting sources, and other considerations.
Although candid photos taken by attendees are fine to capture the spirit of an event, the bulk of the event photography in Las Vegas should be done by a professional. That will help ensure that you get quality production value and flattering images that show your conference in the best possible light.
