DFW Conference Photographer
This short video summarizes the logistics of event photography and its value in the age of smartphones. Your customer base will be able to distinguish between professional and non-professional photos. To ensure your first and potentially only opportunity to make an impression is a good one, consider hiring our photography team as part of your event.
Conference and Event Photography Samples
The Value of a Professional Photographer
You can take photos of your event with your phone and many people do. The convenience of instant posting to social media can’t be overstated. The selling point of a professional photographer is two-part: The better equipment and the better eye.
The Better Equipment
We use a combination of Canon (7D Mark II and 6D Mark II) and Sony (A7 Mark III) cameras for photos, most of which were released within the last two years. These have industry-grade image processors, upgraded autofocus systems, and are combined with their professional grade lenses, Canon-L and Sony-GM, respectively. Optical zoom lenses we use also mean we can capture the intended close-up shot but from a distance away so as to not disturb your event. We also use diffused flash which produces softer lighting and either helps direct a viewer’s eye to the intended subject or fills in darker areas of an image.
By contrast, phones use whatever light is available, which in most event settings, is generally dimmer to help build atmosphere. When taking photos, they often slow their shutter speed to compensate for a lack of light which produces motion blur. Because lighting control is not optimized nearly as well as a professional who knows what they’re doing, phones will frequently take high contrast images either adjusting for a very bright or a very dark section of lighting, but seldom for both simultaneously.
If not adjusting shutter speed, phones will artificially brighten an image and use digital processing to compensate for the increased noise that results from high ISO? Too much tech talk? If you ever see small randomly-colored spots on an image or if an otherwise sharp photo looks a little soft, either can result from artificial brightening of an image. The images may look decent on a phone, but put them on any larger screen and the differences between professional and phone photos will definitely become more evident.
Lastly, professional photos receive professional editing from Adobe software, most often Photoshop or Lightroom. This means a photographer is going through and making little adjustments to ensure color, exposure, and other attributes of a photo are at their best.
The Better Eye
It’s very common for a professional photographer to take hundreds of shots, only to deliver a percentage of those. While this could be in part due to occasional technical issues, it’s most often because they are looking for the best photos based on what was captured. Maybe they caught someone in the middle of a handshake or a product demonstration. Perhaps there was a good smile here or a hand-raise there. When photographing people who are speaking, the absolute funniest and non-flattering faces can be made. Photographers are sifting through hundreds of shots looking for what will portray your event and company in the best possible light.
Anticipation is the key and is a skill that takes practice to develop within an event setting. Storytelling through photography is another attribute that takes time and practice. If a photo album is the only way a potential customer interacts with your company, can they get an accurate assessment of what your event is about and what they can expect from it?
Check out more examples of our work on our Event Photography page, and contact us today for a quote. Be sure to include the date, time, location, and schedule of your event as well as any special instructions for the photographer or for deliverables.
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