Event photography
How to shoot to hit the event target
PHOTOGRAPHER MARIA ZHYTNIKOVA OFFERS
SOME PROFESSIONAL TIPS FOR SHOOTING
YOUR EVENT TO BEST EFFECT
1.
Beauty is in the eye of the
beholder. People are beautiful,
and the photos should show
the best of each person. Be excited about
the people, love them – it will make a
huge difference.
Select what speaks directly to your
heart.
7.
Paint with light. The lighting
situation at an event is almost
always difficult, so the flash is
your best friend. But it’s critically
important to be able to use it gently,
lightening up faces and keeping the
atmosphere intact at the same time, to
blend the flash with the atmosphere.
2.
Empathy is the key. Events are
all about people and their
emotions. See through their
eyes, feel their joy and their excitement
about their event and preserve their
emotions for the future in your photos.
8.
3.
Smile and be positive. A photo
is taken by a person, a camera
is just a tool. A genuine smile
can perform a miracle, it relaxes people,
helps them to feel comfortable, and
makes them shine.
4.
Connection to the event. This
is like being on a flight on a
timeline, and pressing the
button at the right moment. It requires
full 360-degree attention and speed.
The right shot may present itself at any
moment in any place absolutely
spontaneously, so quick reactions and a
quick camera and lenses are essential.
5.
Curiosity and openness are
essential. It’s like travelling.
The map is one thing, the
real territory another. The
photographer may know the schedule,
the venue and all the organisational
information, but at a live event things
may go in an unexpected direction.
Quick adjustment to the real situation is
important.
6.
Rich visual experience is
fundamental. It will build the
sense of colour and
composition inside your mind, and will
help you to feel the right moment and
press the button at the right time.
Colour and composition theory can be
helpful as well. It’s absolutely necessary
to look at great classical and modern art
and photography, visit museums and
exhibitions regularly and to watch
movies by great film directors. My
personal favourites are the movies by
Federico Fellini and Giuseppe
Tornatore, movies of the Golden Age of
Hollywood, Italian art of the
Renaissance and French Impressionism.
Above: View to an
event killer shot.
Three examples of
Maria Zhytnikova’s
work
Keep the end result in mind. Be
a storyteller. Show a clear
storyline. The start, the
development of the action, the main
moment, the end, the main hero, the
atmosphere, food, etc. This is like a
photo movie or a photo novel. These
photos have to make a good and
inspiring impression, and this
impression is designed by the
photographer. So, from a particular
point of view the event photographer is
like a film director or a writer. Your
client should be able to say proudly
when looking at the pictures and
showing them to others: “What a great
celebration we had!” And the job is well
done if other people who are looking at
these photos can say: “We would love to
have been there!”
Maria Zhytnikova is a UK-based event
photographer. She also enjoys taking
portraits for creative industries. Her
approach is all about live reportage and
capturing real emotions and atmosphere.
www.mariazhytnikova.com
ISSUE 100
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CONFERENCE & MEETINGS WORLD
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65