Event Photography, the Similarities Between its Sub-Genres and what Clients are Looking for - op-ed
- Gianluca Barbazza Photography
- Jan 28
- 3 min read
Event photography is a vital part of preserving special moments, whether it's a festival, corporate event, sport event, or any celebration in general. Professional event photographers play a key role in documenting the essence of these occasions, ensuring that memories are captured in the most vibrant and authentic way possible.
Events are full of fleeting moments, from spontaneous laughter to heartfelt speeches, and a skilled event photographer ensures these moments are preserved. Whether you’re planning an office party, conference, or charity gala, having high-quality photos allows you to relive those experiences for years to come. Event photography helps capture the atmosphere, emotions, and intricate details that are often missed in the hustle of the day.
After covering a wide range of different events, I have got to say that they all hold something so unique in terms of the experience they provided me with, and also what they've helped me produce in terms of photographic results.
Started off by mainly covering corporate events as an assistant, and shortly after on my own, I have then recently shifted (or in better words, widened my horizons) to something slightly different and less static, such as festivals and sports photography.
Although these are very different genres, the way of photographing them is somehow similar, especially because in modern times, you will hear the words natural and story-telling a lot. This means that clients have started expressing a lot of interest in less posed and sometimes unnatural images, and more relaxed and candid.
This is due to a change in the market and a higher interest on online image and presence.
In a simpler way: content that shows a person laughing at a photographer's or crew's joke during the shoot, for example, has got way more appeal than an imposed and scripted smile facing the camera. Obviously this depends and can vary from client to client and what message needs to be pass through, but generally speaking, this is what's often demanded to event photographers.
The public is more attentive and informed, thanks to the free access to information that has been achieved through the internet first, and social media more recently.
They can see when a campaign is aimed to market a product (or a brand) for its own benefit, of if there is also a genuine selfless motivation behind it.
And what could be possibly helping a client more than a set of honest and natural-looking images, depicting happy staff at a company conference or highly entertained attendees at a football game?
I believe the way images look nowadays, has never been more important.
However, this is in my opinion (potentially from a more commercial angle) of why a lot of event photography-related briefs contain these key words, what's the real purpose of it, and ultimately why these similarities could be easily perceived as common ground between the large variety of event photography commissions out there.
Lastly, whichever side you are on, I could not stress enough the importance of hiring a professional event photographer. Event Photography is an essential investment for capturing the heart of your special occasion, and a helpful tool to help defining your online identity. By hiring a professional, you ensure that the important moments are preserved beautifully, allowing you to relive your event long after it’s over. Whether it is a corporate event or a private party, a professional event photographer can help tell your story through stunning images and bring your vision to life.
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