Why hire an
Event Photographer
for your Corporate Event?
Whatever event you are organising, you might well be asking yourself, “Do I really need to hire a professional photographer?”.
After all, loads of people in the room will be snapping away on their phone and surely you can just borrow/share their social media posts…?
However, the difference between someone grabbing a few phone photos and a professional event photographer is actually vast. The photographer is there specifically to document the event while you get on with running it, and thus making sure the right people, the important moments, the whole atmosphere of the event, along with the small details, are all captured – and captured well.
And once you have invested in those professional event photographs, you’ll find they can be extremely useful long after the event itself has finished.
As a professional event photographer, what do you actually do?
At an event, I am there to capture the story of your event through photographs.
That might include:
- Speakers and presentations
- Guests arriving and networking
- Natural conversations and interactions
- Workshops and activities
- Awards and presentations
- Group photographs
- Exhibitors, stands and displays
- Venue details, signage and branding
- Behind-the-scenes moments
- The atmosphere and smaller moments that might otherwise be missed
It’s not just about photographing the Big Moments on the stage. I have discovered over the years, that the images my clients find the most useful – the images that work the hardest for them after their event – are the moments that can happen between the official parts of the event; people meeting, chatting, laughing, making connections or getting involved.
Why shouldn’t I just ask one of my colleagues to take photographs?
Of course you can. And if budgets are tight, or it’s a one off or a small event, this is very much something you should consider.
The issue, however, may well be that the person taking the photographs is actually there for another reason too. They might be the main organiser of the event, or there to welcome guests, to network, to listen to speakers or there to generally problem solve the inevitable things that crop up during a busy event.
But, an event photographer has one job: to photograph the event!
I can concentrate on what’s happening around me, I can anticipate important moments and move around the venue without taking you or your team away from what you actually need to be doing.
And there’s another advantage. I know how to work in different lighting conditions, how to move around to get the best vantage point and when to wait patiently to photograph people naturally rather than simply pointing a camera at whatever happens to be in front of me.
What makes professional event photography different?
Yes, a ‘good’ camera can produce ‘better’ images. But it’s not about the equipment. I’m not simply standing around with my Canon camera looking for photographs of people smiling at the camera.
I always look to capture a mixture of images that will give you a genuine feel for the event; that really tells the story.
So that can include the obvious moments — a keynote speaker, an award being presented or a specific group shot — but also the less obvious ones.
A conversation over coffee. Someone enjoying a workshop. A busy exhibition stand. A speaker interacting with the audience. The details you’ve spent time putting together.
These photographs help tell the whole story rather than giving you a collection of random snapshots.
Why would professional event photographs be useful for my business?
One of the biggest benefits of the event photography that I capture, is that those images can (and often do) continue to be useful long after the event has finished.
You might use them immediately for:
* Social media and LinkedIn
* Your website
* Newsletters
* Blog posts
* PR and press coverage
* Internal communications
But in the future, those images can be helpful for:
* Marketing materials
* Future event promotion
* Annual reports
* Presentations and other business materials
They might also show potential clients and customers what your business is really like.
Photographs of your team talking to clients, or perhaps presenting at an event or even working together during a workshop can be much more useful for your marketing than another generic stock photograph.
Charlotte Gormley, Give To Get
Don’t forget the details
It’s easy to concentrate on the main event and forget about everything you’ve done to make it happen.
The venue. Your signage. Exhibition stands. Branded materials. Table settings. Products. Displays. Even the little details that probably took far longer to organise than anyone realised.
I like to photograph these as part of an event because they help tell the story and give you a wider selection of images to use afterwards.
Do I need an event photographer for the whole day?
You don’t necessarily need to keep a photographer on site for the entirety of your event.
The right amount of coverage depends on what you’re trying to achieve and which parts of the event are important to you.
For example, you might want photographs of:
- Guests arriving and networking before the event
- The main presentations
- A workshop or panel discussion
- An awards ceremony
- An exhibition or networking session
- The final part of the event
A shorter period of photography can often give you a useful collection of images without needing full-day coverage.
It’s worth thinking about what you want the photographs to achieve after the event when deciding how much coverage you need.
Event Photography Frequently Asked Questions
Can event photographs be natural rather than posed?
Absolutely. Much of my event photography is candid and documentary-style, capturing people as they interact rather than constantly stopping them for photographs.
There are occasions when a posed group photograph or a quick portrait is useful, but it doesn’t have to dominate the coverage.
Do I need to provide a shot list?
Not necessarily, although a list of key people, moments or photographs you particularly want is always helpful.
I’ll also use my expertise to look beyond a shot list and capture the things that are happening naturally throughout the event.
What types of events do you cover?
All sorts! Professional event photography can work for all sorts of business and corporate events, including:
* Conferences
* Networking events
* Workshops and seminars
* Business expos and exhibitions
* Corporate away days (a good excuse to throw in some headshot sessions!)
* Awards ceremonies
* Company celebrations
* Product launches
* Charity events and fundraisers
* Panel discussions
* Training and team events
I can adapt my approach depending on what your event is, the venue and what you need the photographs for, so coverage can be scaled to suit the size and format of the event, from smaller business gatherings and workshops to larger conferences and exhibitions.
Professional event photography in Kent, Sussex and London
I photograph corporate and business events across Tunbridge Wells, Kent, Sussex and London, from networking events and workshops to conferences, exhibitions, company celebrations and charity events.
My approach is relaxed and unobtrusive. I want people to feel comfortable rather than feeling as though a camera is constantly being pushed in their face.
Most importantly, I want you to come away with a collection of photographs that doesn’t just show what happened, but gives you plenty of useful images to promote your business afterwards.
Planning an event? Get in touch to discuss your photography requirements and how much coverage would work best for you.
Who is your Event Photographer?
It’s Me! Hi, I’m Georgina.
I absolutely LOVE photographing events. Big or small; spotting those stand out moments, capturing the atmosphere and documenting all the action is a side of my business that I really enjoy. I’m happy to blend into the background when needed and engage with particpants and attendees if required.
I have photographed conferences, panel talks, book launches, enrichment events, fund raisers, reunions, staff away days and many more besides! If you would like to chat about your event and what I can capture for your company, please do get in touch.