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October 2017

John Morris Photography | San Diego Event Photographer > Blog > 2017 > October

Event Photography Attire and Professionalism

Large convention crowd enjoying poolside networking party at the Encore Beach club in Las Vegas

Appearances and Professionalism in Event Photography

As an experienced event photographer in San Diego and Las Vegas, I get asked a lot of attire and basic etiquette questions from beginning photographers. “What should I wear?” “Can I eat with the guests?” “They said it was an open bar.” I have also observed new and inexperienced photographers make bad decisions that make them appear unprofessional and cost them repeat clients. I thought I might share some of my opinions on event photography attire and how I view certain situations that might not be obvious when considering how you are viewed as a professional event photographer. 

Appearance is more than just what you wear. It’s an attitude and professionalism that clients and attendees notice when you are on the job.

What Should you Wear?

It’s as much about what you wear, as when you wear it. Proper attire is not only about the clothes, but also the atmosphere and occasion. Your attire says something about you and it can make a strong statement both good or not so good. How people receive and perceive you, and the job you are doing, is influenced by what you wear. Make sure it’s appropriate for the occasion. I recommend wearing black when possible. Black blends in. Your client may also request that you dress to match the crew, and the color is almost always black. If you’re unsure, ask your client. They will generally give you an idea of what they expect and if they don’t, wear black.

Large, seated crowd listening intently to presentation during corporate event

But it’s My Brand!

Your Brand is important, I get that. But in event photography, your client is as concerned with your brand images as they are about the images you create and how you go about it. Unless you are the entertainment, or it’s a costume party, low key and appropriate is the way to go when dressing to shoot events. Most event planners and corporate clients want you to blend in as much as possible. Bright colors, bold statements or trendy hats are counter to that idea. Remember, just because they didn’t comment, doesn’t mean they didn’t notice.

Keeping your outfits low key and professional is the safe bet every time. Some photographers like having their business name or logos embroidered on their shirts and as long as the colors are muted, I guess this is okay. I personally don’t care for it though. I’m not sure why.

Joyous attendees enjoying some stage time during a corporate networking event.

So What do I Wear? 

Black and dark gray are my go to colors for almost all of my events. Keeping my wardrobe simple makes deciding what to where easy and stress free. The brands and styles I have chosen are comfortable and easy to work in. I combine the pants and shirts depending on the event and usually add a sport jacket to the ensemble. Without exception, I would rather be slightly overdressed than underdressed.

Here’s what hangs in my closet:

  • Prana pants (3) Black and gray. Light weight, moisture wicking, extra gadget pocket.
  • Hagar slacks (2) Black. For slightly more formal events.
  • Levis (2) Dark blue, never faded. For very casual and some outdoor shoots
  • Van Heusen shirts (4) Black, long sleeve button ups. 70/30 Polyester/Cotton Blend. Moisture wicking. My go to shirt.
  • Nike (3) Performance Golf Polos, Black, of course.
  • Calvin Klein (2) Black sports jackets. Light weight, slim fit (good for slinging cameras)

I am very fond of my Pranas. They are light weight, moisture wicking, and look good with or without a sports coat. I keep three black and three gray in my closest, ready to wear. When I find a style of shirt, pair of pants or shoe that I like, I tend to buy multiple’s and keep them boxed so that when used ones wear out, I just open a new package and move on.

Group of attendees heading to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway center buildings after an evening of fun.

Shoes and Boots?

I must have comfortable shoes. I wear doctor prescribed orthotics for collapsed arches and sometimes it’s difficult for me to find a pair of shoes that are appropriate, comfortable, and that allow me to fit the orthotics. Unfortunately, I have spent an inordinate amount of time in shoes stores trying to find the perfect shoe.

I have several different styles depending on the formality of the event, and Ecco and Merrell are my favorite brands. Merrell? Don’t they make hiking boots? Well yes, yes they do. For outdoor events, and some multi day trade shows, where I have been known to walk 18+ miles in a single day, I wear hiking boots when appropriate. My Merrell’s are dark grey and black desert hikers that are lightweight and well ventilated. They are very comfortable, low key and they accommodate my orthotics well. However, I do carry a nicer pair of Ecco dress shoes just in case the boots are too casual.

On a side note, for longer days, when I know I will be putting a ton of miles on my feet, it’s amazing how changing into a fresh pair of socks can rejuvenate your feet and give you a boost.

Hats and Head Wear

Don’t.

Peyton Manning making a point on stage during a talk for a corporate event at the Aspen Institute.


Courtesy Considerations During an Event

Saying Hello and Goodbye

It should go without saying but always arrive just a few minutes early, whether it’s the first day of an event or the 3rd, and check in with your client or event planner. Leave enough time to go over any changes to the coverage or last minute details you may need to prepare for. Also make sure you reach out to your contact person when you rap up a day’s shooting. Even when the start and finish times are set in stone. It’s just good form to let them know you have rapped up and are heading out.

I have found that it is good practice to give my clients a heads up about 30 minutes before I am scheduled to finish. This gives us a chance to touch base to insure there are no additional photo’s needed before I leave. Many times, there is a shot they want and this keeps me from rushing last minute or going into overtime. Last minute stuff happens all the time so this is a great habit to get into and my clients really appreciate it.

A choir, on stage, joyously belts out background vocals as an energetic singer raises her hand towards a crowd of attendees during a convention

Meals and Eating

For anything less than 4 hours, I don’t expect my client to provide me food or the time to eat it. A few power bars to keep me energized is all I need. I also don’t feel that it looks professional for someone to see me grabbing a beef slider or pot sticker from a plate as it goes by when I should be capturing people having a great time. Many times, even on shorter events, clients are very generous and will tell me to help myself, but call me old school, I think it’s just better to avoid.

On all day, or multi day events, it’s important and necessary to eat. Again, I don’t feel that this is my clients responsibility nor do I ask for it in my contracts. Having said that, there are many times when it makes sense from an efficiency stand point to accept a clients offer of meals. For instance, if there are no restaurants or snack bars close to the venue, or when timing is tight and you may not have the time to leave the venue for lunch. It is important that you talk to your client or planner in these cases. Confirm that they are okay with the timing of your meal break and whether you can join the attendees at the buffet or should dine separately with the stage and event crew. The one thing I don’t do is just help myself. If in doubt, I always bring my own food and eat it when I can.

Taking Breaks           

You may have just finished working 4 hours straight and need to get off your feet for a few minutes, go to the bathroom or drink some much needed water. When I take breaks, I like to do it out of sight of my clients and their guests or attendees. This applies to events both big and small. Someone is always watching and even when you think you are being low key or lost in the crowd, people notice you. The gear gives you away and people are curious. They may not know that you just finished 4 straight hours on your feet and a break is necessary and deserved. All they might see is photographer sitting when they should be working. Finding a quiet spot where you can rest inconspicuously and uninterrupted is a smart move appearance wise.

Gene Simmons is recognized by a shocked fan walking the aisles of the SIA Snowsports Show is Las Vegas.

Open Bar 

In my opinion, it is never a good idea to take advantage of alcoholic drinks, before, during or after shooting an event. Surprisingly, I am invited more often than not. Again, someone is always watching and it would be easy for people to misinterpret or make assumptions based on appearance alone. Best to just avoid the temptation. When offered, I don’t openly or verbally decline the offer, I just say “thank you, I appreciate that”.

Final Note, Your Team 

Remember, the people you hire to work with you, represent you. They are an extension of you and your company. I employ several second shooters, photo assistants and image editors on many of my shoots and it’s very important that I share our clients expectations with them. Don’t assume your employees know the dress code, rules or arrangements. Make sure everyone on your team is on the same page before the event begins. This will help avoid any potentially embarrassing misunderstandings that can leave a negative impression of how you do business.

As always, I welcome any questions or ideas you may have so please feel free to contact or comment on my article, until next time……

October 27, 2017
Corporate Event Photography·Photography
0 comments
by John Morris

Photographing Celebrities

Meet & Greet with conference attendee and General Colin Powell

Working with Celebrity

One of the many unexpected perks of working as an event photographer in San Diego and Las Vegas is how many celebrities I meet and get to work with. In my experience celebrities might be movie stars, entertainers, athletes, authors, and even CEO’s. Honestly, where they come from matters little. My goal is to treat any celebrity I work with the same amount of respect and professionalism I would treat any of my clients. The difference with celebrities is to respect the demands on their time and be flexible to their needs. While many rules of photography are specific and concrete, learning to be professional and deal with celebrities is not a skill that comes with clear instructions. What makes the best event photographers successful is not just skill of the craft, but how those photographers deal with people. Event photographers are in the people business after all, and celebrities are people. So here are my thoughts on working with celebrity and some tips I have picked up along the way.

Peyton Manning speaking and posing with attendees at a corporate event in Aspen, CO.

Be On Time, Better Yet, Be Early

Being on time means being early enough to make sure you have plenty of time to setup and prepare. In my experience, there are always obstacles to setting up despite how well you may know the venue or how sure you are that you have everything you need. Being early enough to setup depends on how much work you need to do to prepare. Just make sure to give yourself extra time.

Celebrities are almost never on time, but never count on that. I honestly can’t remember a time when a celebrity or politician has been on time. This is not an indictment of the person, but more about the busy schedules they keep. Celebrities are constantly delayed, so be efficient, don’t waste their time, setup early and plan for things to go wrong.

The better prepared you are, the happier your client, and your guest will be.

Comedian Jay Leno hugging a couple during a meet & greet in front of a gold backdrop.

Be flexible When Working with Celebrities

You have probably already noticed, but there are two factors that I keep talking about, flexibility and timeliness. They work hand in hand to help you manage the time you are with the celebrity. Efficiency is a combination of these two elements. Greet them and get started. I like to introduce myself and go right into explaining the setup up, what they can expect and where we plan on starting. But while I like to get started as quickly as possible, it is important that you analyze the situation and be respectful. Don’t interrupt, be overbearing or inappropriate. Timing is everything. Celebrities may want to chat or take a moment to catch their breath and gather themselves. Others may want to get right to it, so be prepared for both.

Flexibility is important. One celebrity I worked with had her own ideas about my lighting setup. After spending several hours setting up and perfecting my lighting, she arrived, introduced herself and promptly rearranged my main light to a position she preferred. I’ll be honest, it irked me, but she wasn’t rude about it and in the end, the change did not make much of a difference either way. She left happy with the shoot and the experience and the clients who hired me were thankful that I remained flexible and professional. I earned that clients trust and was hired for several more shoots after that.

Senator Hillary Clinton and husband, President Bill Clinton posing and shaking hands with constituents.

Ultimately, You Are in Charge. Control the Shoot

Celebrities are inundated with attention, good and bad, so be understanding of that. Some are nice, some are not. Celebrities can be diva’s, photographers want to be diva’s, but as a professional event photographer, you don’t get to be a diva if you want to keep your clients happy. Keeping celebrities happy will keep your clients happy. Some will take charge, others will expect you too. Listen to them, they have been through this many times before. Having said that, you are in charge. You need to use professionalism and tact to manage the shoot to the best of your ability. The kind of shoot will dictate what you can and can’t do to keep things rolling as efficiently as possible.

Greet them and get started. In my fifteen years of experience, I have never met a celebrity who arrived to a shoot and wanted to have a lengthy discussion with me about anything. What I have been asked after a smile and a handshake is “where to you want me” or “give me a few minutes to get ready”. My response to the first one is to show them their spot and to quickly explain the process in as few words as possible. The approach to the second statement is to wait until they are ready and then show them to their spot and quickly explain the process in as few words as possible. Get it?

Rick Harrison, signs a book and poses with an attendee during a corporate event.

Grip & Grins

A grip and grin, as defined by me, is a photo line where the celebrity will stand in a specific spot and one at time, shake hands and take a photo with attendees, or VIP’s designated by your client. These can be large or small groups and generally last anywhere from 10 minutes to at most an hour. One of the biggest challenges to you and your celebrities time are those people who want to talk with the talent. People get excited, some are star struck, but most are respectful and move on quickly. Some however, will monopolize as much time as they can and seem oblivious to everything but the chance to speak with someone famous. I control this situation by remaining polite and using verbal cues such as “next” and “thank you” as a way to indicate we are done and to move the guest along. You can also corral an event coordinator to help you move people along. Keep in mind that how you keep the line moving depends on the attitude of the celebrity and his or her patience and temperament.

As an example, I have worked several times with a General and Secretary of State who is a pro at the grip and grin. All I have to do is tell him where to stand and then be ready to snap the shot. He pulls the guest in, tells them to smile, and sends them on their way with a firmness and warm smile that leaves everyone feeling good every time. I have also worked with a late night talk show host who is warm, he hugs, jokes, and talks with his fans so long that we end up going way over every time. But his enthusiasm and kindness are infectious and fun. I have also worked with a first ballot Hall of Fame quarterback who was nice, but awkward and I had to keep people moving along because he seemed uncomfortable doing so. The lesson here is to respect the celebrity and be flexible to how they want to handle it. Use your observations to your advantage to help keep control of the shoot. Again, the most important thing you can do is be prepared, have a backup plan for equipment failures and be flexible and professional while respecting the celebrity and your clients wishes.

Speaker of the House, John Boehner poses with a group of executives during a conference in San Diego.

Meet and Greets

The best way to describe a meet and greet is selected VIP’s will be in a room designated by your event planner or client. The celebrity will arrive and mingle with the guests for an allotted amount of time. Generally 30-45 minutes. These can be simple affairs or larger cocktail style receptions. You do not have a lot of control over this kind of celebrity event. During a meet and greet, I like to shadow the celebrity and be responsive to photo opportunities while not being creepy. I am respectful and get the shots without being pushy or obnoxious. I don’t overshoot, and try to find a balance. I anticipate and place myself at angles and in positions so that I can get the best shots quickly. It’s important to be vigilant and observant and take clues from the celebrity so as not to annoy while still getting the job done.

It is important to mention the privacy of the celebrity here as well.  Be conscious of circumstances while you shoot and avoid taking shots if the celebrity seems uncomfortable or is in a compromising position. This doesn’t have to be anything bad or obvious. Simple considerations such as don’t shoot if they are eating or otherwise not on guard. They may wave you off or frown at the presence of the camera. Be aware and respectful during these times and give the celebrity some space. As a professional event photographer, you are not paparazzi. Your job is to photograph the celebrity at their best, and in a professional and dignified manner.

Marie Osmond posing for the camera during a lifestyle, commercial photo shoot for promoting healthy eating.

Photo Shoots

Everything we have discussed applies here with the main difference being that you are in the spotlight here. I won’t go into much detail here but suffice to say these can be the most stressful shoots but most rewarding. I will share my thoughts on photo shoots in a future post.

Steve Forbes and Executive smiling and posing for the camera during a book signing event.

Final Thoughts

You will almost never be hired by the celebrity themselves. You will be hired by event planners or coordinators and therefore you will be a representative of the event company who hires you as well as the company sponsoring the event. As an illustration, Major Events Inc. is an event company that is planning and organizing a sales convention for their client, Big Corporation United. They have booked super star athlete Johnny Colorado to be present for photos during a meet and greet with Big Corporations 50 top salesman. You are representing your self, Major Events and  Big Corporation and everyone wants the shoot to go perfect. With a celebrity involved, the spot light will be on you and you are ultimately responsible for the success of the shoot, regardless of any other factor. Be prepared and be flexible.

October 18, 2017
Uncategorized
0 comments
by John Morris

10 Tools Event Photographers Should Have in Their Bag

Weezer on stage with enthusiastic crowd at a corporate event

10 Tools  Event Photographers Should Have in Their Bag

Here is a list of must have items that I always carry with me when I am hired to photograph corporate events of any size.  While I always have these items with me, this is by no means an all inclusive list. And while some of the items might seem obvious, I am always surprised that many event photographers don’t include these items on their checklists.

Checklist? Maybe I should have included “checklist” on my top ten items list. As an event photographer, I find checklists invaluable to not only make sure I haven’t forgotten anything, (hey, it happens) but also to help ease my anxiety as I prepare for an event. Another trick I have learned is to keep my camera bag organized in such a way that every item has an assigned place. That way, if there are any empty spaces anywhere in the bag, I know I have forgotten something. This also helps at the end of the day to remind me if I have left something behind.

Okay, so here we go and in no particular order of importance……,

Flash Bracket

After many years and much money spent, I have finally found a flash bracket that I am happy with. I have settled on a Custom Brackets RF Pro. It’s light weight and separates the flash from the camera. More importantly, this rotating bracket gives me both horizontal and vertical flash positions. I bounce flash a lot and this helps me keep the shadows to a minimum as well as letting me adjust the flash into a plethora of angles and directions. It works in both with the camera in portrait or landscape mode. As a plus, I can also set the camera and flash down and it stays upright and easy to grab.

Tungsten and Fluorescent Gels

Without delving too deep into color temperature how’s and whys, different lights sources emit light in different colors (temperatures). Here is a great article giving a thorough explanation. Relatively speaking, Daylight is blue, tungsten or incandescent light is orange, and fluorescent is green. Flash is similar to daylight. When the light sources falling on your subject are the same, everything is fine, but if multiple light sources are hitting your subject you can get ugly and distracting colors, particularly in skin tones. This mixing of lights can be hard to correct for, even in Photoshop. This is a common problem when using flash in tungsten or fluorescent lit rooms. To make my life much easier in post, I will gel my flash to match the dominant light source in the room. I carry two different colors of gels. For tungsten, an orange gel or 1/2 to 1/4 CTO and a fluorescent (green) gel for fluorescent lit room. You can purchase 12 by 12 gel sheets at camera stores or light shops and just measure and cut to create strips. I then  just Velcro over the front of my on camera flash. In a pinch I have also taped or rubber banded the gel in place.

Three trade show attendees posing for the photographer in separate exhibit booths during conference.Two Remote Flash Triggers and a Commander

My triggers of choice are Pocket Wizards, though I have heard that less expensive brands are also available and just as reliable.  Having radio transmitters used to be critical before I upgraded to Speedlites with wireless communication and control, but I still find them valuable in certain situations. One of my favorite tricks is to place a second camera with a wide angle, mounted on a tripod, close to the stage and armed with a Pocket Wizard. I carry a second trigger in my pocket and use this to fire remotely for some great close up stage shots without me have to actually be stage side. I can then focus on other shots from different locations throughout the venue.

Step Ladder

I know a photographer who carries one of these where ever she goes. I used to think it was too much, but every time we worked together, I would end up borrowing it. I finally caved and started bringing one myself and while I don’t always use it, when I need it, I need it. Getting elevated can really help crowded room shots and gives a slightly different perspective. It also works great as a work bench or a make shift place to rest your feet if you find you have a few seconds. It’s easy enough to leave this item in the trunk if you don’t think you will need it but I always have one available.

Four golfers seated under and tree and posing for the camera during a corporate golf outing.

Circular Polarizer

The one filter that Lightroom doesn’t emulate very well, I use a polarizer for outdoor shots to add pop to colors, remove glare and reflections and capture beautiful blue skies and clouds when possible. More importantly, a polarizer can give me an added four stops which is really helpful when you are using fill flash in bright outdoor situations. Golf tournament group shots come to mind. Being able to slow the shutter down by 4 stops often times gets my shutter speed into a safe, flash sync number that I need it to be for outdoor flash. Handy tool to have.

USB Flash Drive

Small, portable, I always carry a few of these for  delivering images on the fly, transferring to others, slide show presentations, and well, you know what they are used for.

SD-CF Card Reader

Most laptops and computers have built in SD card readers but only a few have CF card readers. Since I shoot dual cards, RAW files on my CF cards and jpegs on my SD, if for some reason I need to transfer files to a computer other than my own, lets say to a marketing rep, then I have learned to have both options available.

San Diego Commercial and Editorial PhotographerPortable Light Stands With Umbrellas

Depending on the situation, I may leave these in the trunk, but I always have them nearby just in case. Impromptu headshots, speaker shots, even magazine cover shots are possible if you have a ” light stand and umbrella kit” handy. My kit consists of 2 Manfrotto 6 foot stands similar to this one, and two 60″ Westcott Satin umbrellas with adaptors so that I can mount Speedlights. I store my kit in a Manfrotto lightstand bag which neatly holds the stands and umbrellas and is small enough so that I can easily throw the whole thing over my shoulder.  This kit is also handy in situations where maybe a small stage or presentation is not lit. Five minutes setup and my images improve 100%.

Monopod & Tripod

These are must haves. I use a monopod regularly for shooting keynotes and large rooms with my Mark IV and 70-200.  See my article hear for details on this combo.I Use a tripod for low light levels, mounting a second camera as mentioned, and for shooting booths and large crowed rooms. Tripods open up a whole world of possibilities that are just not available hand holding.

Laptop

Believe it or not, I didn’t always carry a laptop. But as digital has evolved, and with the popularity of social media, many times our clients just expect to have images available on the fly. While I currently shoot large RAW files and smaller jpegs that I can just download to them, sometimes I still need to adjust or resize and a laptop becomes a necessity. I have a small enough laptop that I fit it in the front of my camera bag and have it with me just in case.

Eager attendees stream into the exhibit hall at Mandalay Bay for the SIA Snowsports Trade Show in Las Vegas.

Comfortable Shoes

One of the best investments you can make. However, this is not a easy as it seems. I can easily spend 12 hours on my feet for large events and have walked upwards of 12-15 miles a day photographing major conventions. Comfortable shoes that also look good and are outfit appropriate depending on the setting  clients you are working in should not be overlooked.  I’m a tennis shoe and hiking boot kind of guy and while both qualify as comfortable, they are not always appropriate. Over the years, finding the perfect shoes for each and every event has been an ongoing mission. When I have found shoes that I like, I will often times purchase 2 or three pairs to be able to switch out during the day and to make sure I have an extra pair should they discontinue the line. It can be rejuvenating to switch to clean socks and fresh shoes in the middle of a long day or right after a long day is about to become a late night. Comfortable shoes, a must have.

Well there you have it. A small list of top items that I always carry with me when photographing an event of any size in Las Vegas or San Diego. I am sure you can think of at least 20 more items to add to this list and I welcome your suggestions and thoughts.  Until next time……

October 5, 2017
Uncategorized
0 comments
by John Morris

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