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?