First Corporate Event...some advice

Hi all,

I've been asked by work to cover our locations corporate launch event at the London Excel soon.

I'm not a pro, I'm still learning and photography isn't my day job (yet). That said, I'm a keen amateur and am willing to do things like this as it all provides good practice so I was quite happy to be asked to do it.

shot wise they want some shots of the presentations, close ups of the presenters, groups of people, the food(!) etc.

Equipment wise, I've got a canon 400D with a 18-55 f/4 IS lens, sigma 70-300mm apo dg macro, canon 50mm 1.8 mkII and a friend has kindly lent me his 580EX2 flashgun and 17-85mm f/4 IS USM Lens

I'd appreciate some advice please however small that maybe as this is my first time at something like this, I've only ever shot outdoors before.


Thanks!

If this is something you are doing for free I would do the best I could with the skills and knowledge that I have. My advice would be not to shoot any and everything. Make a list to make sure you get the shots that are requested. If you do a good job this could lead to a paid event in the future.

practice bounce flash. Raise your ISO up a bit so in combination with the flash you get balanced backgrounds to whatever degree possible.

Will the launch be indoors or outdoors?

If indoors, what will the lighting be like?

How close (or far) will you be from the subject you are being asked to shoot?

If this is like most corporate launches, you may need a 70-200 f2.8, and possibly a prime 1.4 or 1.8 lens. Many of these types of launches are best shot without a flash, again depending on the lighting circumstances.

You need a flash bracket, so you can shoot red carpet type celebrities and executives. even without the bracket, use the flash for people shots, can be direct flash, or bounced, I am not sure which lens is better the 17-85 or the 18 to 55, your 50 1.8 will be very useful if the lighting is not great so you can take available light cum bounce flash. Take plenty of shots, if you can shoot raw do so and post process with LR or similar. 70-330 will be dependent on lighting at the venue.

How big is your company? do not over promise if you can tell them to get a pro.

After about 30 years of enjoying mainly landscape photography as a hobby, I have recently been shooting some events for my company. The first time I was 'begged' to take pictures of an event where a motivational speaker came in and did a talk to about 150 people. I reluctantly agreed. This was held in a room with partially mirrored walls and a large number of pillars - it was a horrible introduction. I found it very challenging and soon realised that I was out of my depth. The lighting was horrible and because of the potential disruption to the speaker and the mirrored walls I decided I couldn't use my flash. I was not that pleased with the results, but the company were pleased with the shots I had taken. I later thought, well the company are happy with them and as a photographer it couldn't have been more difficult !

I have since done a few more easier ones and have now started to enjoy the experience. I recently took portraits of about 300 staff for the company online directory, which I found very enjoyable. I had never experienced taking portraits of so many different people, some with dark skin, some with light skin, different coloured hair, some with spectacles, some without, some old, some young, but I learnt a great deal from it. In some ways the people I shot put me the photographer at ease and I learnt a great deal and my confidence in my own ability has vastly improved. I was pleased with the results.

I enjoy photography as a hobby, and do not consider myself a professional but as long as the company and I work on that understanding they shouldn't expect a top notch professional job from me and will have to understand my limitations (also I am usually doing it in my own time and I'm free of charge). It is not my day job that they pay me for, but they are happy as in my own way I am saving the company money. They are happy, I am happy, it's a win/win experience as far as I am concerned. I am enjoying the experience and consider it a good learning opportunity. I am learning more and more as time goes on.

So I say - just go for it, you will find it stressful but it's a very rewarding experience.