| Your next business event is coming up and | | | | 4: Provide a safe place to stash camera gear |
| everything seems to be coming together nicely. | | | | Expensive camera gear is a prime target for thieves. |
| You've got the catering, the sound system and the | | | | You want your photographer to be concentrating on |
| guest speaker all lined up. What about your | | | | getting great images, not worrying about someone |
| photographer? | | | | walking off with his gear. If possible, have a safe, |
| Corporate events should always be recorded in | | | | secure place where extra camera gear can be |
| photographs. Its a time when you bring members of | | | | stored. |
| your staff together, often away from the usual | | | | 5: Arrange parking and unloading areas |
| workplace. It might be a celebration luncheon, a | | | | Depending on the event, your cameraman might |
| pep-talk, a training session, a welcome to new | | | | bring along a load of equipment. He or she will need |
| members of the leadership team -- whatever. You | | | | to get all that gear to the event venue. If possible, |
| will find numerous uses for photos from such events, | | | | provide the photo crew with close, accessible parking. |
| especially if it is successful. | | | | If that can't be managed, then make sure they can |
| I've shot countless corporate and small business | | | | unload at a convenient spot and then move their |
| events over the years, and I've experienced great | | | | vehicle elsewhere. |
| and not-so-great event planners. If you're charged | | | | 6: Always brief security before hand |
| with planning your company's next affair, consider | | | | In the post-9/11 world, security is often very tight at |
| these points when working with a photographer. | | | | major corporate events. This is as it should be, but |
| 1: Don't plan on briefing the photographer just before | | | | you don't want your event photographer to be |
| the event | | | | caught up in a security snafu. Provide some sort of |
| Your photographer needs plenty of information to | | | | written credentials and make sure security knows |
| achieve the best results. Often, an event planner will | | | | you have hired a photographer for the occasion. If |
| contract me to shoot a corporate event or meeting | | | | you fail to do this, security might detain or otherwise |
| and suggest we meet "a few minutes before hand | | | | prevent the photographer from doing his job. You will |
| to go over everything." It sounds good in theory, as | | | | most likely be emersed in other aspects of the event |
| it saves time for both the planner and the | | | | and won't be available to straighten everything out |
| photographer to eliminate an advance meeting. In | | | | until afterwards. So much for photos from the event! |
| practice, I've found that no matter how well planned, | | | | 7: Find out if the photographer will be bringing an |
| the hours leading up to the start of the event are | | | | assistant |
| extremely hectic. The planner always envisions plenty | | | | Assistants can be a great help to a photographer -- |
| of time to go over things before the occasion starts. | | | | running errands, holding up lights, taking notes, running |
| Then the caterer gets lost. Or the sound system | | | | interference or shooting additional images. If your |
| goes on the frizz. The harried planner waves me off | | | | photographer is bringing an assistant you will want to |
| saying something like -- "Sorry, cant meet now. just | | | | know before hand, so you can provide credentials, |
| shoot whatever you think looks interesting..." | | | | brief security and make whatever other |
| Trust me. always schedule an advance meeting | | | | arrangements necessary. |
| before hand to go over specifics. Both you and the | | | | 8: Inform the photographer about the dress code |
| photographer will be glad you did. | | | | There was a time when corporate or business |
| 2: Explain to the photographer what kind of photos | | | | events had a simple dress code: suit and tie for men, |
| you need | | | | business suits for women. The only deviation from |
| How do you intend to use photos from this | | | | this would be a true black tie affair. Today, corporate |
| occasion? Print? The web? How soon do you need | | | | events are all over the map. Some may still be formal |
| them returned? Do you need digital (delivered on CD | | | | or at least dressy. On the other hand, causal dress |
| or DVD) or prints? Will the photographer provide you | | | | has invaded the workplace at many companies, |
| with an online gallery you can download from? These | | | | especially for out of the office meetings and the like. |
| factors will impact the way the photographer shoots | | | | You want your photographer's clothing to match |
| the event and what equipment he uses. Get all of | | | | what everyone else is wearing. Some of the best |
| this laid out in writing before the event. Don't skimp | | | | event photos are candids, shot when the subject |
| on this step. | | | | was unaware they were "on camera." If your |
| 3: Don't surprise your photographer | | | | photographer is dressed to blend in with everyone |
| Event planners love to surprise their guests. Nothing | | | | else, they will have a much better chance of catching |
| wrong with that, but the cameraman should not be | | | | good candids. If their attire sets them apart, they will |
| kept in the dark. Recently I was shooting a corporate | | | | be easier to spot...and avoid. |
| event where the planner arranged to have a small, | | | | Every event is different, and there may be other |
| concealed cannon spew forth hundreds of streamers | | | | aspects you and your photographer need to address. |
| into the air. Acting quickly, I was able to catch some | | | | By taking care of the above issues, however, you |
| of the streamers in flight. Had I known what was | | | | will have a much better chance of obtaining excellent |
| going to happen before hand, I could have placed | | | | photographs from the event. |
| myself in position to capture a much stronger image. | | | | |