ThursdaySnapShots

Whether you do it for clients or for family and friends, birthday party photography can be challenging!!! Today on #ThursdaySnapShots we bring you more tips on party photography on Lets Go Big Tunes blog page

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Take More Photos Than You Think You Need

Don’t be afraid to shoot A LOT. Anytime you’re photographing kids or animals, the movements are quick and unpredictable. Shooting lots of photos can help ensure that there will be at least a few good shots in there for each moment being captured. Part of the beauty of shooting digital is that you can be on continuous shooting mode without extra cost. Especially as you’re learning the ins and outs of event photography, take more photos than you think you need. You just never know when someone blinking or talking mid-sentence will ruin an otherwise perfect shot!

Photograph the Guests Too, Not Just the Family

It’s not all about the guest of honor. Yes, photos of the birthday girl should be the majority, but don’t forget to document the guests! Whether candid or posed, photos of the guests helps to tell the story of the party. Be extra aware of family members, and especially elder family members. While all guests are important, the family will most likely treasure the photos with great-grandma a bit more than the ones with the next-door neighbors. Family should get a bit more attention, but make it a point to document every guest at the party.

Take Close-Ups to Capture Unique Expressions

While getting groups of people in each shot can be fun, getting in close can make the viewer feel like they’re right there with them. Kids make great expressions during moments like lighting the candle on the cake, opening presents or playing party games. Also, use a zoom lens to capture a chat between guests to show people connecting at the event.

Pose Subjects for Better Compositions of Key Moments

Sometimes, people gather in ways that aren’t ideal for photos. It’s part of your job to ask folks to move one way or another so that the photos look better. Most people will happily comply, and the hosts will be really happy when they see great photos! Key moments to consider this is when the guest of honor is blowing out their birthday candle or when they open gifts. Make sure you have a spot with clear line of sight to your subject, and consider arranging some friends right around them to help show the crowd of guests and add more interest.

Figure Out Indoor and Outdoor Settings Before the Event Starts

Often, parties have areas that are dimly lit or have different lighting conditions. Typically, this ends up being the difference between indoors and outdoors. Be mindful of your ISO and shutter speeds to adjust for these differences. When you first arrive is a great time to figure out your go-to settings for the entire event. Test your settings for indoors, then walk outside and test settings for outdoors. This way, when you walk in and out of the house and need to change settings, you’ll automatically know what you need to change to. Figuring out this information early on when arriving at the event will make your job easier as you move around. And it will make you look ultra professional because there will be no guesswork or testing mid-party.

Participate in the Games for More Creative Perspectives

If you can, jump into games or groups and get photos from within. This gives an entirely new perspective that can better show the joy of the event. By enjoying yourself, bonding with guests, and making others smile, you create fun moments that otherwise may not happen. And you create connections for your photography business that may lead to new opportunities.

Conclusion

Private events or birthday party photography can be incredibly rewarding. You’re being allowed into a personal space to celebrate an occasion that’s special to your clients. Creating a story with emotion through high-quality photos can feel challenging at first, but with the above tips, you’ll be at ease documenting any occasion big or small!

Get the next load of tips and tricks for event photography next week on Lets Go Big Tunes blog page