Monday, August 20, 2018

Tips for Special Event Photography


David Deusner offers Photography Tips For Taking Better Photographs At Special Events

As a freelance photographer, David Deusner has had a lot of experience working at a variety of special events including:

  • weddings
  • holiday parties
  • birthdays
  • bridal showers
  • seminars
  • conferences
  • charity events
  • festivals
  • galas
  • and many more

Each event is unique and should be captured in a special way so that guests and those who were unable to attend will be able to remember and appreciate the event upon its completion. In order to make this possible, here are a few essential tips to make any special event all the more special through photography and video.

David Deusner Special Event Photography

Take shots before the event begins

This is a great way to impress that client of yours. Take pictures of the location before the setup for the event occurs, and while it is being setup as well. Having some great pre-event shots makes for a perfect way for the client to be able to catalog and capture that particular setup, just incase they need to use that again. This must be the de-facto way in which you start any event.

Overshooting vs Undershooting

Balance is the key here. Remember, that although you are there to take some great pictures, the people attending the event must have a good time. This must be your priority. Whilst it is perfectly acceptable to capture guests in either candid or posed moments, make sure you make a note of which guests have already been photographed and who all need to be photographed, so that you avoid taking repeated shots of the same people. When people start eating, that is the cue for you to take conservative shots, and to point your camera to the stage instead of the tables. This is not dogma, but a good rule of thumb to keep in mind. Find the right balance between overshooting and undershooting.

Close up and wide angle shots

If the event you are covering has speakers on stage, then you need to be busy capturing close up and wide angle shots of the speakers. You might not have the best choice of location for capturing these shots, so come prepared. Get a good lens for your camera and be prepared to shoot from far, far away or up close. As a rule of thumb, take your shots quickly, so as to be as unobtrusive as possible to the guests who are trying to listen to the speaker.

Look for moments to shoot

Special events create moments, which can turn into treasured memories if captured properly. This is where you as the photographer come in. Be proactively looking out for such moments in special events, where you can capture that. For a concert, it could be the time when the band is interacting with the crowd. At a wedding, it could be the moment when the bride and groom kiss. Capturing these moments makes for great photographs and unforgettable memories.

Check out some of David Deusner's photography and DIY projects on Behance and check out some additional photography tips on his Medium blog: https://medium.com/@daviddeusner.

Monday, January 15, 2018

Photography How To

Photography is an essential part of our lives.  I am sure you are wondering why I say this.  I was talking to a friend recently about his mother whom had passed away 35 years ago when he was 12 years old.  He said he could hardly remember what she looked like.  I asked if he had any pictures of her and he did not.  I found this to be profoundly sad.  It would have been so great for him to have a picture of her to remember her more clearly.  He now documents even the smallest things in his life.  He does not want that to happen to himself or any others in his family again. 

I have always taken pictures and I know it drives my friends and family crazy at times but when I tell them this story they have a better understanding of why I take pictures.

Here are some videos with some great tips to get awesome photographs!