Here are some photos I took last month on location around Liverpool St, with the fantastic Ibs. We got a great selection and some very cool shots.
If you need a London portrait photographer, I’d love to help. My style is creative and contemporary.
What can conference organisers do to ensure good photography?
Aside from all the millions of things you have to think about to organise a good conference and once you have chosen the right photographer, here are a few little tips to make their job a bit easier and ensure you get some awesome imagery:
1. Don’t bother using an app for asking questions. Firstly, they can fail and from experience often do. Also, they can distract the session chair and it doesn’t look good in photos when the speaker is talking and the chair is just looking at their phone. An app also limits audience interaction, so the photographer would not get those cool shots of people holding mics asking questions directly.
2. Make sure projectors aren’t shining on people during panel discussions. Often the tops of people’s heads can be skimmed with the light of the projector. This is almost impossible for a photographer to remedy and looks pretty terrible. Either aim your projector higher or project from behind. If you can't do either of those then prepare a slide with the conference logo in the top half and have the lower half blank. Ask AV to display this slide during panel talks if the above issue arises.
3. Create custom branded items such as toys, goodie bags, gifts, programs. These can make for really cool, quirky shots that do well on social media.
4. Have lots of branding in the form of signs, banners, projections. The bigger the better. Hung just above head height is best. Also, it’s best to give these a matt finish to prevent unwanted reflections.
5. Make stage lights bright. It’s surprising how many venues don’t light their speakers well. The lights should illuminate the speaker/speakers/panel well, but not be so harsh that they squint. This improves photos greatly and if I can shoot without the need for flash it’s even better.
6. Make sure that there aren’t overly distracting items on the podium when people are speaking, eg mics in the way, laptops, water bottles, etc.
7. Seat as much of the audience near the front of the auditorium. If they are too spread out then the venue may look less full in the photos. You may need to rope off areas at the back to encourage delegates towards the front.
8. Give your photographer a good shotlist and itinerary. Best as a printout, as checking apps can be annoying when you are already juggling a couple of cameras.
9. Elevate static videographers on a platform. This will ensure the photographer does not obstruct their line of sight.
10. Feed the crew well! This is something that usually happens anyway at conferences, thankfully. But it can be very tiring shooting a conference and so it’s important to keep the crew energised.
In summary, we live in a visual age, when billions of photos are uploaded to the web every day. Images are vital selling tools and ensuring you have bold, slick photos will help your conference stand out and look its best. I hope these insights of a conference photographer were helpful to you and they help you create even better photos at your events.
Case Study March 2018: Future of Utilities Conference
Marketforce never fail to deliver a great conference and this years Future of Utilities was no exception. Etc venues St Pauls is a great London conference venue and I always look forward to the bento box lunch (thanks EY)! Here's some of the conference highlights:
Slide of the day here. You can't beat multiple dancing Carltons!
My Favourite London Evening Venues, Part 1.
In no particular order:
1. Grange St Pauls Hotel
A great hotel in the heart of The City, beautiful and modern roof terrace with stunning views.
2. Gibson hall
A very large, grand, classical banqueting hall in The City.
3. Tobacco Dock
A huge and impressive, converted and listed warehouse space.
4. Kensington Roof Gardens
Beautiful, stylish rooftop venue in Kensington.
5. Tower Bridge
Everyone knows the iconic landmark, but did you know they host events in the high level walkways? They also have a section of glass floor, so if you are brave enough you can stand on it and wave to the boat passengers passing below!
Looking across from one walkway to the other
The view from Tower Bridge
6. The Painted Hall Greenwich
The Painted Hall is part of The Old Royal Naval College, in Greenwich. It is absolutely astounding. Often referred to as "The Sistine Chapel of the UK" words cannot do it justice.
Why I love shooting Conferences
1. I love learning
I often find myself really appreciating interesting talks and debates. I have very broad interests and have enjoyed learning about science, tech, marketing, medicine, and politics as well as motivational talks by specialist speakers. We are living in exciting times, scienctific, technological social and political revolution abound, bringing forth a brand new world. Photographing conferences allows me to bear witness to these developments from the inside, which sometimes feels pretty special.
Amazing displays at The Hunterian Museum
A fascinating historical tour of Manchester Town Hall
2. I love meeting interesting people
Conferences are a great place to meet people who are passionately engaged in their subject. There's always a good buzz. Occasionally a special speaker or VIP guest also shows up.
Referee Pierluigi Collina, balloonist and adventurer Bertrand Piccard, with a robot.
The mighty Evander Holyfield
Football referee Pierluigi Collina
President of the Supreme Court Lord Neuberger
3. I get to go to some really interesting places
I have ended up in some great venues over the years in London and all over the UK. Some of the best places my conference photography has taken me include: The houses of Parliament, Tower Bridge, The Hunterian Museum, The Crystal, The London Eye, The Churchill War Rooms, The Natural History Museum, The Painted Hall Greenwich, The Royal Pavillion Brighton, Manchester Town Hall, The Emirates Stadium. Attending conferences means I get to go to places I would not have done otherwise, often I might not even know they exist.
Manchester Town Hall
The events space at the top of Tower Bridge
The Hunterian Museum
The V&A
4. I get to participate in fun activities and see great shows
I get to meet some great entertainers, including magicians, musicians and theatrical displays and I always enjoy their shows.
5. I enjoy the shooting style
Each photographer has their own preferred style. Personally I enjoy documentary and location portraiture. Conference photography offers me this opportunity. I even end up shooting a bit of product, interiors, architecture, food, action at conferences.
6. I like the variety
Each conference is different and I never get bored. I am constantly encountering new people, places and subject matter.
The Power of the Panoramic
Sometimes you just can't fit everything into a standard aspect ratio. Then it's time to go wide!
In the lab again...
I love science, so shooting in a lab is always a fascinating experience for me. It's never easy, as a photographer, with all that glass and chrome bouncing the light about and causing crazy reflections, but I always relish a challenge. My recent shoot at BPL labs was no exception, but we got some great shots!
Posing in the park
A great location shoot with Angela in St James Park. Just the right time of year and we were lucky wit the weather.
A birthday shoot
I was recently asked to shoot Yana's birthday party. We did a few shots outside with Yana and her friends and then into the restaurant. As you can see, it was a very stylish birthday!
Shooting London
I recently had the pleasure of photographing London for Airbnb's "Neighbourhoods" project. I had a great time shooting the sights, people and general life around 6 of London's most interesting areas. London really is a photographer's playground, there is so much to take in and so many weird and wonderful things happening. Below are some of my highlights.
The Southbank
Southwark
Marylebone
Lambeth
Bermondsey
Brick Lane
For more of my travel / guide photography visit http://www.londonphotographer.co.uk/travel-photographer-landscape-photographer/