It can be very fun and exciting to go out and photograph a wedding, a corporate event, headshots, and anything else you can think of. 3 tips for photography is to game plan, get rid of unwanted items out of your image, and bring extra batteries and memory cards. It is very easy to get caught up in the moment and forget crucial things you wish you could go back and fix. Slow down but hurry up! What I mean by that is you need to be quick and always be aware of your surroundings. The more you practice the better you will be of course. Here are 3 tips that you should keep close to you when shooting. Game Plan
1. Game Plan
Have a game plan going into your event, session, party, etc… This will allow you to be prepared for the best shots, where to be, and to stay out of every body’s way while still getting “the shot”. If you are shooting a big event with an agenda, study it. Know it so you can always be ready. Speak to the event planner and the DJ to make sure everyone is on the same page and everyone has good communication throughout. It’s teamwork! If you are doing a session shoot and you are running the show, run the show. Make an agenda and execute! Before all your events or sessions, you should arrive a little early or know the facility you will be at in advance, so you are/get familiar. This will help out a lot!
2. Remove Garbage and Objects
Move trash, water bottles, and all other objects out of a picture that isn’t supposed to be in it. It does happen to even the best one in a while. This will save you so much time in post-production, so you do not have to remove those objects from the pictures later. It can also be difficult to remove some objects sometimes depending how loud the picture is. Things happen and a person gets in the shot or a fire hydrant is in the shot and it just cannot be removed until post-production. Do what you can with that is in your control.
3. Bring Extra Memory Cards and Batteries
I know, pretty obvious right? Things happen and that is why you need a checklist. Before all my events and sessions, I use a checklist that has all of my equipment on a spreadsheet. I check off everything needed the night before and the day of the event to make sure I have everything I need to succeed. If you follow this process, you too can have a very successful shoot without worrying. It can be scary to have an hour or 2 left and you’re almost out of batteries and memory. There are other things you want to add to that list, but I find these to be very important.
Photography is a lot of fun and can be very stressful. I hope those 3 tips for photography help and I share this with you because I have made these mistakes and do not want you to feel the struggles I felt. Learn from my mistakes and I will continue to deliver content to help you either be a photography enthusiast or professional. If you are already a professional, thanks for supporting as well. Have fun and make sure you are READY!
Barret Elengold – Scottsdale Event Photography
