Photographer’s Checklist for Event Photography
Preparation:
____ Do I know the date and time of the event so that I can arrive a few minutes early?
____ Do I know what types of shots are needed? (horizontal or vertical; action or reaction)
Do I have:
____ Camera that suits the occasion (action; class shots; group)
____ Correct lenses (telephoto or zoom for sports; normal for classes; wide angle for groups)
____ Flash (to freeze action; to light classrooms if available light isn’t enough; for groups taking indoors or fill-in-flash for outdoors)
____ A bag to protect equipment.
____ Fresh batteries for the camera and flash.
____ Compact flash card or other media to record photos.
____ A pass, letter of introduction, ticket or some other means to gain access to the event.
During the Event:
____ How can I move around to get different angles without disturbing people unnecessarily?
____ What will my close-up, middle and wide-angle shots be?
____ What is the direction and quality of the lighting? Can I take some available light shots, or do I need to use the flash?
____ Can I bounce the flash off the ceiling or wall to create better lighting? (not for gyms or outdoors)
____ How can I avoid people’s backs and get strong facial expressions?
____ Have I captured the mood of the event?
____ Do my photos tell the complete story of the event from all the stakeholders’ perspectives?
____ Do my photos have a strong center of interest?
____ Have I used leading lines, framing, interesting angles or textures and patterns to add depth and interest to my photos?
____ If the background is busy, did I use a shallow depth of field to blur it?
____ If the subject is moving, am I using a fast enough shutter speed to stop the action?
____ Did I take both vertical and horizontal shots?
____ Did I shoot enough shots to make sure I got the WOW ones?
After the Event:
____ Did I get all the equipment packed away?
____ Did I get digital pictures loaded on the server?
____ Did I return equipment to the publications room and sign it in?
