Weddings aren’t the only events for which photographers are hired. Planners of corporate gatherings, charity galas, concerts, and sporting events also hire photographers to document the event. Many images shot during a corporate or charity event will be used in future fundraising efforts or to promote future events.
If you think you might have what it takes to build an event-photography business, check out the free educational guide available from PhotoShelter. In the guide, leading photographers and industry buyers provide expert tips on how to connect with clients and keep them happy during shoot day.
In the introduction, the guide’s authors emphasize the importance of people skills: “No matter what type of event you’re photographing, you will probably be interacting with people more directly than say, nature photographers do. In fact, people skills, crowd control, and a welcoming, yet authoritative demeanor are important assets for any photographer wanting to cover events and attract repeat clients.”
The 28-page guide includes tips for:
- making the crowd love you
- visually telling the story of the event
- promoting your business through word-of-mouth marketing
- partnering with other vendors
- building a robust, reasonable contract
In addition to the skills outlined above, it’s also important that you find ways to streamline your post-processing time. Today, clients expect event photographers to be able deliver images almost immediately.
“I used to deliver event photos a week after the event—that doesn’t fly anymore,” says Angela Jiminez. “Now I deliver the full set 48 hours later.” For a small additional fee, she will deliver a small set of photos within a few hours after the event ends.
“Growing Your Event Photography Business” is the latest in PhotoShelter’s ongoing series of free business guides for photographers and marketing professionals. PhotoShelter’s e-book library includes 22 educational guides including topics such as email marketing, search engine optimization, Google Analytics, blogging, and starting a photography business.
About PhotoShelter
PhotoShelter offers professional, reliable and innovative online tools for building and growing a successful photography business. Every day, over 74,000 photographers use PhotoShelter’s websites, social and SEO tools to show their work and attract customers. Their online image archives enable you to stay organized and access images on the fly. With PhotoShelter’s image delivery and e-commerce tools, you can sell your work easily and securely.
LINKS
Growing Your Event Photography Business