Shooting People – Top tips for shooting at an event
As Nottingham’s self-proclaimed busiest networking photographer, this lockdown has hit quite hard as obviously there are no events to attend and currently no clue as to what they will be like once it’s lifted. I’m not expecting a return to the old ways for quite some time but hopefully it won’t be that long until we’re back out and together. In the meantime, if you’re enjoying finding out how your camera works and what you can do with it then here are a few tips to event shooting.
Know where you’re going and what’s going on. It may sound obvious but it’s helpful to know the layout and lighting of the venue so that you can be better prepared with regards to what lens you’re going to use and whether you to take flash or not. It’s also nice to know if there are any decent vantage points from which to shoot i.e. open staircases etc.

Have the correct equipment with you. If there is to be a speaker and you’re going to be some distance away then a longer lens may be required as you don’t want to get too close and disrupt them just to get your photo.

Arrive early. It’s always good to get into the venue early, especially if there are tables laid up with any special decorations.

Take candid action shots. My favourites are always of people talking to each other or taking selfies, so a fast shutter speed will be required to catch them in the act, so to speak. If you’re unsure about shutter speeds have a read of my previous post on Understanding your Camera.

Framing your shot. You might need a shot of the room to show how busy the event was, but don’t be afraid to ask people if you can have photo of them with whoever they are talking to.
Adjust for lighting. If the venue is quite dark then you’re going to need flash, I always use a diffuser on mine so that the light is softened and isn’t harsh like direct flash can be. Also you’ll need to adjust your ISO to get perfectly exposed images, again check out my previous post on Manual mode if you’re unsure.

Be alert. There’s generally a lot going on so you need to be ready for the unexpected, if you’re camera isn’t in use then try to leave it on a fast shutter speed, just in case!

Choosing your image format. I always shoot in RAW format as it allows for the most adjustment in post-production, look out for a post on this subject soon.
If people are eating, don’t shoot. It’s never pretty to see images of people eating and nobody will thank you fro them, so the best advice is DON’T DO IT!
