Get the Most from Event Photography During Covid-19
Businesses and organizations in all sectors are working to come up with new ways to reach customers and create marketing content during Covid. As a photographer who shoots events, conferences, seminars, galas, and all types of large and intimate gatherings, I’ve compiled some ways that great event photography can boost the reach and impact of your event even during Covid-19:
Good event photographers make small events look bigger
One thing I always do when I’m shooting events or conferences is make crowds and events look bigger and more elaborate. By picking the best framing and angles, good event photographers can make even the smallest event look huge. Of course this was easy when I shot a conference at the Javits Center in New York City that had over 30,000 people in attendance, but I’ve also shot a standing-room only conference for 100 people in the US Capitol Building in Washington DC that was literally smaller than a studio apartment and a retail store’s Grand Opening where only three people showed up. In all cases, clients want their events to look well attended and engaging. A good event photographer can focus on the details, cleverly use their angles and their framing, and deliver a set of images that are filled with energy regardless of the event’s size.
Podiums make events look more official
Put a presenter or speaker at a podium and you have yourself an instant BIG TIME event. I’ve photographed many different groups having press conferences and major press releases at places like The National Press Club. The big secret...the rooms were often empty. The photos made it LOOK like a major event or press conference and when posted on social media or sent to the press for publication, they still give a major impact. Photographed correctly, a good photographer can give the illusion of a crowded press conference or event by framing the speaker at the podium in clever and dynamic ways.
Promote responsible and healthy event design
Many event design and production companies are coming up with great new layouts for events to make them safer and more comfortable for guests. Throwing a small event and using a new event layout or design is a fantastic way for an organization to continue on with their mission and promote health and responsibility. If you’ve chosen to continue on with events, it’s important to have a creative event photographer who can show as little or as much of this new event format as you’d like shown.
The step-and-repeat is more important than ever
As guests file into events to take their seats, having a step and repeat will allow all guests to be photographed for archival purposes or so that everyone who attends walks away with a great image of themselves to share on social media. Step-and-repeats are great because you insert your event sponsors and your organization logos into every guest’s photo. Guests share photos on social media or use them as their profile pictures and your logo is shared all over. Pictures of VIPs taken on the red carpet or at a step and repeat are often the most published images from events in the traditional media. Putting on a tiny event with a creative branded step and repeat could be enough to get major press attention for your organization.
The headshot station
Many professional organizations and companies have hired me to do headshot stations at their events. Having a small gathering and inviting everyone to get a quick headshot before they leave or as they arrive is a great way to get professional and consistent pictures for your organization’s website, email signatures, and more.
New marketing content is essential
New and fresh marketing content is essential to keeping your organization’s brand relevant ESPECIALLY this year. Most organizations are cancelling their events for 2020 but when it comes to relaunching their signature events in 2021, they need fresh images for marketing and promotion. Throwing a single small event now would generate hundreds of images for use on social media to keep people engaged, create content for blogs or articles, and can be sent to the press with interesting story ideas. Also, most companies are required to put out yearly or quarterly reports and these require good, fresh, and relevant images.
Signing a fair contract during Covid-19
I’ve been booked for dozens of events during 2020 and nearly all have been rescheduled MULTIPLE times. Dates and times are getting pushed back everytime we learn something new about the Covid-19 virus. It’s important to sign a contract with a photographer that gives you the flexibility to sign with little or no deposit and/or allows you to reschedule as many times as you need. So much is uncertain now, don’t let fear of a bad contract keep you from locking in your photographer now before every single photographer gets booked up for 2021 with the backlog of rescheduled events.
Conclusion
Great event photography can make sure your organization does not fall behind in 2020 due to lack of marketing material, low fundraising, and low media presence. A great event photographer can help drive your organization’s narrative and continue to build your brand even though 2020 feels like a major setback. I specialize in helping companies and organizations build a strong point of view using photography and there is no reason why Covid-19 has to get in the way. We got this!