Everything to Know About Event Photography to Make Every Occasion One to Remember

Choosing an Event Photographer to Make Lasting Memories

Photographs are how we remember the best moments in our lives. They capture us at our happiest, proudest, and most carefree moments and are perfect souvenirs to share for years to come. Hiring a professional event photographer is one of the most remarkable ways to remember your time when you're hosting or attending a special event.

Whether you are capturing a family event, wedding, or business gathering, there are endless benefits to hiring an event photographer. Event photography differs slightly from the type of professional photography you might be used to, making it essential to understand why an event photographer like me (RayCee the Artist) is ideally suited to any special event in your life.

But what is event photography, and what kind of styles and occasions can you expect from an event photographer? This article will tell you everything there is to know about event photography and how you can capture some of the most significant moments in your life.

What is Event Photography?

Let’s answer an essential question: what is event photography? Event photography is a type of commercial photography with various categories. For example, wedding, party, and baptism photographers all classify as event photographers. Event photographers also work during live shows or concerts to photograph critical moments for future promotional purposes.

Event photography is unique because it captures all of your attendees during the event and crucial moments of the occasion. Event photography encapsulates any occasion or event that you want professionally photographed. One aspect of event photography that differs from other types is that many photos are candid, meaning that the photographer captures unstaged moments of your event as things unfold around you.

Event photography captures the emotions and joy of your special event. Event photographs are expertly captured to bring you back to the happiest moments of your life in their purest, natural form. As with any photography, there are certain event photography styles to suit your event's overall mood.

No matter what event you are planning, hiring an event photographer is essential to show off your hard work and dedication and remember this moment clearly in the future. Whether your event is big or small, private or public, an experienced event photographer can capture the most critical moments of your life and notice the more minor details you might overlook.

What is the Difference Between Event Photography and Other Styles of Photography?

While you might confuse event photography with other types of photography, such as portraits or street photography, there is a critical difference between these styles. Event photography differs from other styles because it typically involves less control, whether over the lighting, composition, posing, or any other factor that plays a role in different styles.

Event photographers don’t have as much time to set up and execute a shot and use their expertise to capture small, fleeting moments that you might not be paying attention to during your celebration. The right event photographer can find magic in any event and at any time, capturing human, authentic moments from the happiest times in your life.

What are the Styles of Event Photography?

Now that we’ve covered the basics of event photography, it’s time to ask: what are the styles of event photography? Identifying similar styles will help you determine how you want your next event to be captured when the time comes. Below are the main event photography styles to consider before hiring a photographer.

Lifestyle

Lifestyle photography is similar to event photography in many ways, and some consider it a facet of event photography. Lifestyle photography is candid, like event photography, but prioritizes photographing specific lifestyles in a laid-back, comfortable environment.

Lifestyle photography often captures memorable moments and events where a milestone is reached or more candid photographs of your day-to-day life, which sets it apart from general event photography. This style captures joyful, essential milestones and happy moments for you and your loved ones.

Photojournalistic

Photojournalistic photography relates to event photography because it centers around capturing spontaneous moments and action shots rather than set-up and posed shots. Photojournalism is also referred to as documentary-style photography and is perfect for capturing beautiful events and moments as they unfold.

There is a unique beauty to the authenticity and candidness of documentary-style event photography. This style of event photography is one of the most authentic, making it perfect for surprise parties, weddings, or other celebrations where you want genuine emotions to shine through.

Editorial

Editorial event photography is perfect for staged photographs and photoshoots. An editorial event photographer will prioritize lighting, posing, and other technical aspects of photography to capture beautiful images that, while posing, feel authentic and meaningful.

For instance, you might use editorial event photography for a theater production where the cast poses together or an official image of you and your work colleagues. If you want your event to feel elegant and professional, then the editorial style might be right for you.

Fine Art

Fine art style event photography focuses on the aesthetic appeal of your occasion. Images produced with this style are delicate and romantic while remaining natural. While fine art event photographs aren’t staged, they contain natural poses to capture the beauty of your environment. Many prefer a fine art-style photograph for romantic occasions like engagements, weddings, or anniversary parties.

Suppose you are having an outdoor event and want to capture the beautiful nature surrounding you. In that case, you might also consider fine art style event photography because it is the perfect style to capture the bright, playful colors found in nature.

Classic

Classic event photography follows a traditional style composed of staged, formal images. Many select a classic photography style for business events, family portraits, or unique, formal moments like baptisms. While it might not be suitable for a big, vibrant celebration, classic photography is perfect for the moments in your life that you want to capture with a serious undertone.

Moody and Dramatic

While it might not sound like the style you would select for a big celebration, dark and dramatic style photos are an excellent option for various events. With this photography style, you can create a fairytale-like feeling for your event, adding a unique, quirky vibe.

Moody event photographs utilize harsh lighting and lines to emphasize specific parts of your surroundings. You might select this style of event photography if you are having a wedding at a historical location or a themed party.

What Type of Events Can I Hire a Photographer For?

When considering an event photographer for your upcoming celebrations, you might get lost thinking of which events are appropriate for this style of photography. Though many people presume that event photography is typically reserved for weddings or corporate events, the reality is that event photography covers a wide range of occasions.

Below are some occasions where event photography is appropriate if you are curious about what you can use an event photographer for in the future.

Birthday Parties

Make your birthday special by considering an event photographer for your next celebration. While you can capture birthday parties at any age, you might give this option extra consideration if you are a parent looking to capture milestones in your young child’s life.

For instance, an event photographer is perfect for your child’s first birthday party–something they won’t remember but can look back on fondly with a beautiful photoshoot. Additionally, capturing your child’s birthday party is a perfect way to look back on their journey in the future and appreciate how much they’ve grown.

However, birthday parties aren’t reserved for young people. If you want to celebrate your birthday, your parent’s birthday or anyone else's in your life, why not throw a fantastic party and capture every moment with a talented event photographer?

Sports

Capturing sporting events is essential to any coach that wants to commemorate their team’s efforts. Events like basketball, baseball, or soccer games are the perfect opportunity to hire an event photographer that can capture high-quality action shots that transport you back to the winning goal.

You don’t have to be on a professional sports team to hire an event photographer for your sporting events. Some people hire an event photographer for simple, friendly tournaments, school sporting days, or a fun competition with friends and family. Whatever your case, you can capture the magic of every sporting event with an expert event photographer.

Boxing Events

Along with sporting events, you can hire an event photographer to capture special moments and events such as boxing matches. These intense moments are easy to get caught up in, so having an expert event photographer present is essential to look back fondly in the future.

Boxing events are a unique time to hire an event photographer. While you might worry about finding a photographer with experience capturing boxing matches, event photographers like me have experience in this niche.

Public Speaking

Whether you’re giving a speech for school, business, or individual passions, hiring an event photographer for public speaking can add more meaning to your speech. I have experience photographing public speaking events, often some of the proudest moments in your career and life.

If you are giving an impassioned speech and want to commemorate the moment, you should consider hiring an event photographer. The right photographer will capture all the emotions, dedication, and knowledge in your words within single images. Capture moments of success with an event photographer at your next public speaking event.

Business Events

Corporate and business events are the perfect occasion to hire an event photographer. Capturing corporate occasions is vital for numerous reasons and can add a layer of professionalism to your company’s website, social channels, or portfolio.

Additionally, you might consider an event photographer if you are launching a new business. Business launches are perfect for promoting a new company and spreading the word about its future. Photos from a business launch can be spread online, in newspapers, through brochures, or anywhere else you hope to advertise your next venture.

Live Theater

Hiring an event photographer is a perfect way to capture the magic on stage if you are part of a theater company or production. There are numerous moments to photograph during a theater production. You might consider hiring a photographer to take staged cast photos before the production commences or to capture the set.

An event photographer can also capture images during the production without interfering with the cast and crew. These pictures are perfect for a portfolio, school yearbook, or professional theater website. And, if you want pictures with the cast after the show, an event photographer can effortlessly capture the moment's authenticity.

Proms and Dances

If you’re looking to capture the truly magical moments that happen during proms and dances, an event photographer is a perfect fit for you. These occasions are the perfect opportunity to capture romantic, authentic moments you can cherish for years.

Depending on the chosen style, you can hire a photographer to give your dance an elegant and romantic aura. Or, if you are a member or leader of a dance group, you can have an event photographer capture professional moments that are perfect for future use.

Community Events

If you are part of a tight-knit community, capturing special moments is a gift for everyone. Community block parties or gatherings can bring people together and foster long-lasting relationships and memories. In times of struggle, your community has your back and supports you. Why not commemorate the special moments with an event photographer that will capture the warmth and love you share?

Parades

Speaking of community, if you live in an area where parades are a regular event, you might consider seeking an event photographer for your next parade. Parades are a great time to celebrate, interact with new people, and see all of the good that the people around you offer to your community.

Parades are a perfect occasion to hire an event photographer to capture the action and magic that will inevitably occur. Hiring an event photographer for this occasion also opens opportunities to place pictures in your local newspaper or show them to any neighbors who couldn’t make it this time.

Graduation Ceremonies

Graduations are a time of celebration for most people, and whether you have a child graduating or are leading a graduation ceremony, getting quality photographs is essential. Graduations are huge milestones in life and represent success and prosperity, and graduations mark a significant turning point in one’s life and promise good things to come in the future.

Hiring an event photographer for a graduation ceremony is a perfect way to show students that their hard work and dedication matter and that their loved ones and teachers are proud of them for their accomplishments. Whether you hire an event photographer to take action shots while each student walks down the aisle, pictures of student speeches, or group photos of the recent graduates, capturing this moment in high quality will create beautiful memories for everyone involved.

Award Ceremonies

Another ceremony that marks a milestone in your life is an awards ceremony, where your hard work and dedication are recognized publicly. While winning an award is a gift, many people forget to capture the moment with quality photographs that they can look back on when sharing stories about their accomplishments.

Any successful, memorable awards ceremony should have an event photographer ready to capture each moment. Some of the most beautiful shots from these ceremonies are those when winners give impassioned speeches that leave no doubt about how deserving they are of the award.

Charity Events

Charities and fundraisers are perfect opportunities to hire an event photographer. With the right photographer, you can highlight the mission, branding, and love that makes this event unique and shows people what your organization values. An event photographer can help you produce content to publish on your website, in newsletters, or anywhere else where you want to spread the word about an important cause.

Baptisms

Baptisms are a special moment for many people and representative of a significant commitment and expression of faith. For religious communities, having keepsakes of crucial ceremonies is invaluable. As one of the first ceremonies for many lives, baptisms are something you want to capture in high quality and with genuine care.

An event photographer can expertly capture the sense of magic, elegance, and seriousness at baptisms. While some families stick to traditional methods and bring their cameras or take pictures on their phones, hiring an event photographer is the best option to ensure you get quality photos that you can keep for a lifetime.

Family Reunions

Family reunions are often some of the most valued memories in life, especially as you grow older. Making quality time for your loved ones isn’t always easy when conflicting schedules and locations get involved. Therefore, when you find the time to have a large family gathering and reunite with the people you love most, it’s essential to memorize the moment with an event photographer.

An event photographer is perfect for family reunions because they capture the love and care present in every moment. When you can’t be with your family in real life, you can look back on these stunning photographs and remember the deep, genuine love you share.

Concerts

It’s not uncommon to see an event photographer taking pictures at concerts, operas, or other live music events and festivals. Having an event photographer capture the magic of concerts and the shared love of music is perfect for musicians that want to look back on memorable moments or fans that want to remember seeing their favorite bands in concert.

Solo musicians also hire event photographers to capture their one-off concerts to use on their site or when advertising themselves for future gigs. No matter the reason, hiring an event photographer for a concert will capture the mood perfectly. An event photographer can likely take images that encapsulate the type of music performed; for instance, a band playing dark, moody music could hire an event photographer that takes perfect pictures in this style.

Weddings

Of course, a list of occasions to hire an event photographer wouldn’t be complete without mentioning a wedding. Wedding photographers are some of the most influential people at the wedding, save for the happy couple. Wedding event photographers capture the love, romance, and joyfulness of a wedding ceremony that you and your spouse can look back on for years to come.

Wedding event photographers can serve numerous purposes throughout your wedding day. For instance, they can photograph the ceremony, such as the bride walking down the aisle or the first kiss between the newlyweds. After the ceremony, an event photographer can take group photos of the newlyweds, family members, and wedding parties.

During the reception, an event photographer can shake things up with action shots of your guests dancing, speeches from the wedding party, first dances, and cutting the wedding cake. No matter what part of your day you want to capture, an event photographer is a perfect option to ensure your special day is remembered forever.

Get High-Quality Event Photos With RayCee the Artist

If you are in the Los Angeles area and seeking an expert event photographer, RayCee the Artist is the right fit for all your needs. RayCee the Artist is a professional portrait and event photographer in Southern California with extensive experience working with clients of all different backgrounds and needs.

RayCee the Artist has a unique artistic vision and a deep understanding of lighting and composition that lends to stunning, authentic photographs of the most critical moments in your life. RayCee the Artist has experience photographing events, including boxing matches, press conferences, women’s conferences, speaking events, sporting events, and many other occasions. Anyone requiring a professional event photographer doesn’t need to look any further than RayCee the Artist’s extensive experience and services.

If you seek an event photographer for your upcoming special events, contact RayCee the Artist and get started on capturing your next journey.

If you would like to learn about great event venues in Los Angeles, event photography pricing, and some great event photography tips, visit the following articles written by RayCee the Artist: "Event Venues in Los Angeles," "Event Photography Pricing," and "Event Photography Tips."

-RayCee the Artist