So, you have a corporate event coming up, and you would very much love for it to be properly, professionally documented? No, I’m not talking about taking notes on who did what and who wore what. I’m talking about taking photos during the event, and thus having visual reminders of the great time you had, as well as potentially some promotional material for your social media pages or other platforms, if that’s what you’re aiming for. On this page, you’ll find some tips on how to hire the right photographer and make that happen.
Anyway, as it should be clear already, the worst thing you can do here is assign the task of taking photos to someone from your staff. For one thing, they want to have their own fun at the corporate event, and they certainly don’t need any additional responsibilities. Especially not ones they don’t enjoy, and it is a common misconception that everyone enjoys taking photos.
In addition to that, the truth is that you will most likely not really love those photos taken by amateurs at the event. Sure, they may be fun, but chances are that they won’t do the trick. They won’t pop. They won’t shine. You may not be able to use them for anything but your private gallery.
All of this clearly indicates that you need to hire professional photographers for your corporate event. You most likely understand that already. But, what you may be struggling with is understanding how to hire the right ones. To be even more precise, you may be worried about making certain mistakes in this process and thus winding up with not such a good professional on your side, and with not-the-best photos, to say the least. Since that’s not what you want to happen, let me tell you about the potential mistakes, and then teach you how to avoid them.
1. Choosing Just Anyone
A lot of people assume that, if you’re a photographer, you can take pretty much any kinds of photos. What they don’t understand is that there are plenty of different types of photography, all of which require a specific skillset, as well as specific equipment. So, the worst thing you can do is choose just anyone, thinking that they can handle your event if they have a camera and they know photography slang. Instead of doing that, you should carefully research the different pros you’re considering, so as to ensure that you’re a good fit.
2. Not Checking Experience
Since you need someone for your event, you will have to check how experienced the professionals you are researching really are in event photography specifically. As you can see at https://charlottencphotographers.co/services/charlotte-corporate-event-photographer/, even the size of the event is a factor, so you should check what sizes specific professionals can handle. The trick is, naturally, in choosing someone experienced, so don’t forget to check this before deciding on anything.
3. Not Defining Your Specific Needs
Sometimes, even the organizers of the event don’t really understand what they need. This leads to poor communication with the photographers. And to, of course, poor end results and your dissatisfaction. You don’t want that, though, do you?
Since the answer is most likely no, here’s what you should do. Sit down and clearly define your needs. Think about the type and size of the event, the number of attendees, as well as about any key moments that absolutely need to be captured. Then, remember to define the purpose of the photos, that is, what you will use them for, be it social media, press releases or anything else. Finally, decide on the types of shots you need, such as candids, group shots, stage presentation or others, and remember to clearly communicate all of those needs to your photographer, so as to get the best results.
4. Not Taking a Look at the Past Work
To get a feel of what it is you should expect from specific professionals, you will have to take a look at their past work. And, well, you’d be surprised with just how many people fail to do this. You shouldn’t. Most likely, you’ll get to find previous work on the official websites, or you can inquire about a portfolio when you get in touch.
5. Hiring Based on the Prices
It is completely normal for you to worry about your budget. But, since you also don’t want professionals to make photography mistakes while shooting your event, you should never hire based on the prices alone. Sure, do consider the prices, but always keep in mind the quality you will get in return.
6. Not Asking for an Estimated Turnaround Time
Not inquiring about turnaround time can lead to unrealistic expectations on your part. So, talk to the professionals you’re thinking of hiring, and let them give you an estimation on when it is that you would receive the edited photos. Doing this will help set your expectations and thus plan on how you are going to use the photos.
