"Social Event Photography" with a catch - How can this be done?

Hey peeps, got a call from a potential client wanting me to shoot a social event. The catch is that with each image taken of guests, they're going to need each guests name recorded for each image.
Aside from viewing each file name and carrying a note pad to scribble who's who, how is this commonly done?
I've never had to do this as I mainly do weddings, but I'm sure it's done somewhere.

Any input is appreciated.

I've had to do this for a few smaller events. The easiest way is to have an assistant come with you and put them in charge of the names. If you need to do it by yourself, it will obviously take a little longer to do. I'd also recommend taking the photo of the person, getting their name down with a number next to it and then taking a picture of the paper with the name and number on it. I always try to slate shots like that so I'm sure I've got their names right next to their images when it comes time to edit. It's also handy to have pics of the names/numbers in case anything happens to the paper you used to keep track of names.

I would take a sound recorder and dictate my notes and include a description of each image and the names listed left to right....."Image 45,321, 4 people with flowers (or big guy with hat or whatever), john smith, joan smith, ron biggs" Easy. I used to take field notes using a recorder, after a while and a bit of practice I was just about able to dictate my whole report directly into the recorder on site.

How large is the event? sounds like an initial video with the host naming who is who would help.

Your other option would be to have someone from the group that hired you walk with you and help identify people. Might be the quickest way to get the names you need.

Get the organisers to give you a guest list. Have an assistant follow you with the list. When you take a photo you tell the assistant the number and they then ask the persons name and write the image number next to the name on the guest list.

Sounds like the way to go with an assistant. They may be providing me with someone. I have also given them my standard rates, and they replied with "so and so is going to be there, so the exposure for your business will be great! Give us your best price."

I'm rolling my eyes so hard right now I think I may have torn a ligament.

what about a white board and markers, get them to print their names and take their picture with it. that way its all stored digitally for you.

S-Man wrote in post #14747682
Sounds like the way to go with an assistant. They may be providing me with someone. I have also given them my standard rates, and they replied with "so and so is going to be there, so the exposure for your business will be great! Give us your best price."

I'm rolling my eyes so hard right now I think I may have torn a ligament.

Raise it by 10% and see if they notice. If they do, just give them a line in a friendly tone like "Oh, that was the best price I can offer you currently, so when you said best price as something other than that I assumed you meant the best for me."

That, or just explain your standard rates are the best you offer for standard jobs.

Just charge them extra for the extra exposure!

GerryDavid wrote in post #14747706
what about a white board and markers, get them to print their names and take their picture with it. that way its all stored digitally for you.

As a guest, if I saw someone asking me to do this I would think they were to lazy and unprofessional to do the work themselves. Plus, I'd be willing to guess he wouldn't be able to read thier names half the time anyway, based on how people write these days.

Update: So they're interested in using my services, but they will not be providing me with an assistant. I'll have to hire someone. How much does an assistant like this get paid for taking names?
They also want full commercial rights to the images for publication and website use.
Sounds expensive to me.
Thoughts?
And thanks for the input thus far.

hire someone? $7 an hour and up. but I think there are a couple ways to do this, one way will require you to do paperwork and pay employer social security, the other way I think would be freelance work. I havent hired someone so I dont know the details. I think its simpler if you hire a freelance? That way they are not an employee?

Thanks Gerry, it's only a 5-hour gig, so I'm thinking probably between 50-75 for the evening.
The Major thing I'm worried about is how much full commercial rights should cost.

What about strapping on a GoPro or something similar? Although I could see a problem with proper spelling of names.