Photojournalism’s impact on corporate event photography.
After years of working as a photojournalist for magazines and newspapers like the New York Times and National Geographic, I developed instincts and skills that allow me to find and photograph authentic and spontaneous moments during corporate events.
In the case of the Mexican dancer, I shot with a shallow depth of field so the background would go out of focus and draw all your attention to the dancer, and I shot slow enough to get movement from the flowing dress and fast enough to keep her face sharp. I think it was 1/30 of a second.
Event photography of Mexican dancers in Los Angeles. Shot for Target Corporation.
Additionally, I framed her with Target’s brand color in the background to keep my client’s branding needs in mind. This is why my clients hire me again.
Keeping my client’s needs in mind for corporate events like this is necessary since they are paying me. It certainly does not compromise my photography, but it does make my clients happy.
My camera gear is always the same for event photography. A pair of Nikon Z9 bodies, a Nikon 24-70mm f 2.8 lens, and one Nikon 70-200mm lens. Additionally, two speed lights for filling harsh sunlight, extra batteries, and CF cards for all-day corporate events. I also bring a wifi transmitter when clients want real-time delivery of event images for social media.
This allows me to shoot JPEG images to my phone or iPad, where I can send them via email or text to my corporate event photography clients.
The Nikon Z9 shoots at 20 frames per second, which allows me to shoot multiple exposures of a bright stage and a dimly lit audience, and even out the exposure later in Photoshop. This technique was never feasible at corporate events before
The wide-angle zoom lens allows me to get close, intimate moments of event attendees, and the long lens allows me to get images of speakers on stage and people at a distance.
Another useful skill to have is the ability to observe and find images that give context to the event. If you look for a particular kind of image, you can miss great images that you are not looking for. The trick is just to be open to seeing, to wander without seeking anything in particular, and just let the images of the event come to you. I know it sounds kind of woo-woo, but I have been doing this for so long that the process is second nature to me.
I do cover the client’s shot list, but between those events, I am wandering and letting the images come to me.
Detail image of a person with the event client’s logo reflected. The event photography assignment was for Chivas Regal. Event photography by Ed Carreon
For the image on the left, shot for Chivas Regal, I just wandered around observing the scene when the reflection in the sunglasses of the client’s logo caught my eye. It is a cool image and my client chose it as one of the final selections of the shoot.
The lens was a 24-70mm lens shot at f2.8, and since I was focusing on the logo everything went further out of focus and accentuated the logo.
Corporate Event photography of dancers shot for an Airbnb promotional event in Los Angeles. Event photography by Ed Carreon
I do corporate event photography in Los Angeles, and the competition is fierce, so I look for ways to set my work apart. Sometimes I change lenses to a 50mm f1.2 for the ability to toss the focus in the background. It is a cool look. The drawback to shooting with this lens is that if you use auto-focus, the camera chooses which eye to focus on, so it is easy to miss the ideal focal point, like in the image below. The client still loved the image anyway.
I still need to be able to anticipate moments and capture action, so that is where my photojournalism comes in. In fact is the key to making great pictures during corporate events. Otherwise, you are just taking pictures instead of making pictures.
My ability to anticipate moments is central to my work as a corporate event photographer. It is a skill that most event photographers do not possess, especially in Los Angeles, where shooting entertainment events is about shooting people posing for the camera. Entertainment events are where people go to be seen, so posing for the camera is important in those events. All that is required is to get a decent exposure and push the button. Not so much in corporate events, trade shows, or athletic events.
These events need to include authentic and spontaneous moments, scene-setting pictures that include branding, and people speaking or engaging in activities like the image that I shot at a Chevron-sponsored soccer camp, where kids win and lose soccer matches, play dynamic exercises, and have fun with professional soccer players.
My ability to anticipate moments allows me to capture the spirit of the event without setting up any pictures like in an entertainment event.
