Finding the Best Photographer for Your NYC Corporate Event: What Event Planners Need to Know
You’ve secured the venue, locked in that coveted keynote speaker, finalized agreements with vendors and sponsors, and put together the perfect swag bag for your guests. As a NYC corporate event photographer that shoots events and conferences for industry leaders around the country, I know all of the work that goes into putting an event together.
Months of planning, countless emails and conference calls, endless site visits — and it’s over in an instant. Your photos are all that’s left of the event, and they can either be a valuable recurring resource to your brand, or a quickly-forgotten post on your company’s socials. If your photos have been missing the mark, follow our tips for choosing the best corporate event photographer in NYC for your next event.
Identify Photography that Aligns with Your Brand
Every brand has its own personality and visual identity. Find a photographer whose style aligns with your brand image and knows how to adapt their approach to each client’s visual aesthetic. Ensuring consistency between your photos and branding will make for a seamless audience experience and open up numerous use cases for the images after the event.
Nailing the Shot List
Event photos are so much more than just a recap. Photos of activations work to retain vital sponsors and attract new partners. Atmosphere and environmental shots are a key reference point when planning future events. Candids of happy attendees help to convey the experience you’ve created and drive future registrations. Look for photographers who understand all of the elements of your job and shoot with those goals in mind.
Experience Matters
Corporate event photography is a combination of preparedness and anticipation — being ready and in the right spot at the right moment. Though your agenda is perfectly scheduled down to the minute and we hope everything goes exactly as planned, we recognize that an ROS often turns out to be more of a wish list. Experience matters most when these last-second changes arise. Look for portfolios that consistently capture all of the key moments in a variety of event settings, while being mindful to get event branding in the shot and leave space for future copy.
Communication is Everything
Communication is key in any successful collaboration. Look for a photographer who listens to your vision, understands your event's objectives, and actively works to incorporate your ideas. A photographer who can effectively combine their expertise with your vision will ensure that your event is captured authentically.
A Keen and Patient Eye
Too many photographers rush through the room capturing candids of attendees without intention. How often have you received dozens of unflattering event photos of guests awkwardly captured mid-conversation or with a mouthful of food? A good photographer waits for that brief moment when everyone is laughing, toasting, reacting to stage content, or otherwise engaged in a way that reflects positively on the event experience. Look for a NYC corporate event photographer who has a portfolio showcasing their knack for capturing these key moments that make your event attractive.
It Takes A Village
Or, at least, a small team. One photographer is fine for an intimate fireside chat, but you’ll want an experienced team to manage a multi-day, multi-city conference. Look for a studio that has the crew in place to cover the full scope of your events and can scale up or down as needed.
Professionalism and Discretion
Your corporate event photographer should be just as comfortable with the corporate environment as they are with their camera. Social skills are crucial, as they will be acting as an extension of your brand and will occasionally need to interact with high profile guests and celebrity talent. Make sure to choose a photographer who knows how to adapt to different social settings and will represent your brand well.
It’s the Little Things
A photographer who pays attention to detail can beautifully capture the atmosphere and aesthetics of your event. Look for event photographer portfolios that showcase branded materials, intricate decorations, and other bespoke elements that make your event unique. Their ability to highlight these details will help create a comprehensive visual story of your corporate event (not to mention serving as a useful portfolio of your work when considering your next career move).
The event industry is built on relationships, and your relationship with your photographer is as important as any. Using these tips will help you find the best corporate event photographer in NYC for your next event and ensure that it’s a memorable one.
Don’t just settle for a quickly forgotten post on your company’s socials; find a photographer who will cover your event in a way that is authentic to your story and provides your business with a suite of brand assets with recurring value.