Conferences are dynamic hubs of knowledge exchange, networking, and industry inspiration. As attendees immerse themselves in discussions, presentations, and workshops, capturing these moments can be overlooked as unimportant. Photography at a conference can be seen as peripheral to the point of conference itself. But, professional conference photography goes beyond mere documentation; it elevates an event’s impact and helps organisers leave a lasting impression. Let’s delve into why professional conference photography matters and how I aim to excel in this field:
1. Building Brand Familiarity.
A well-photographed conference serves as a powerful marketing tool and work stimulant. Here’s why:
- Social Media Content: Professional images provide a wealth of content for social media. Sharing glimpses of attendees in discussions, speakers on stage, and networking interactions in the days following a conference helps keep discussions alive. The conference remains front of mind for delegates. Consistent posts throughout the year will help with bookings for follow-on/annual events.
- Trust and Recognition: Familiarity breeds trust. When potential attendees see high-quality conference photos, they associate excellence with the event. It’s like a visual endorsement that says the event was worth attending.
2. My Technical Skills Matter
As a professional conference photographer since 2007, I have honed a particular set of skills:
- Mastery of bad light: Conferences happen indoors, in challenging lighting conditions almost always. I understanding ambient light and how to best use any available sources. For me, this means using a high quality professional camera and the right lenses. Using a phone camera simply won’t cut it. It’ll send out the wrong impression and not provide you with useable marketing collateral.
- Composition: I frame conference shots thoughtfully and in a way that helps my clients tell the story of the day. I focus on faces, gestures, moments and interactions. I also try to include blurred audience members and wider shots to represent how well attended a conference or event was. Shots of a speaker in isolation could mean them talking to an empty room!
3. Post-Processing Magic
Image editing is where I make images truly shine:
Consistency: I maintain a consistent editing style throughout a conference image set. Whether it’s colour grading, contrast adjustments, or cropping, I ensure uniformity across all photos. The style I inject is one of authenticity. Nothing is overly retouched or artificial looking. I am to shoot your conference day in the most flattering way possible, but I keep it real.
4. Delivering the Final Product
Once I’ve edited a set of conference images, I deliver them promptly, typically within a week. An all day conference with coverage of talks, networking, breaks, lunch and a drinks reception results in an image set of 200-400 shots. Each is individually edited and the set is stylised for consistency. I then export the final files in both web-friendly lower resolution (for online use and social media) and print-ready high resolution (for printed marketing or brochures). All files are supplied without limitations on their use, in effect giving my clients a copyright licence to use them as they wish.
In Conclusion:
Professional conference photography isn’t just about clicking a button, it’s about capturing the pulse of an event and telling its story. It’s always worth remembering that professional images contribute to a conference’s legacy. If the images focus on excellence, authenticity, and the stories that unfolded, they will be powerful reminders of everything that happened and everything that was discussed and decided. This is immeasurably useful for the work discussed, follow-on work and decision making as well as for the marketing of future events.
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