What is the purpose of an event and/or conference?
It is to get people there and invested in your mission all while connecting with peers, companies, and ideas. Your “mission” is successful if people are excited about it. You want your event to gather interest from attendees and sponsors alike thus your marketing materials need to look professional. Good photography can carry you a long way.
Why Professional Photography?
With a professional photographer, you get the high quality shots you asked for. Photos you can use for marketing during and after your event (social media, print, vendor/sponsor marketing, and online advertising, etc.). An event photographer knows how to shoot events – they base their careers on it. They have the equipment to produce high quality and interesting shots even in strained lighting and tight and fast paced conditions. They come prepared with the list of shots you requested and know a “money” shot when they see it. You can even have your photographer shoot specific shots for social media to highlight a sponsor, your honoree, or your mission. On top of all of that, they are subtle and fade to the back and persuasive and accommodating to guests when needed.
The scenario: You have spent 10 months monitoring every detail of your first fundraiser/gala. You found a space ideal for your event and your guests. You chose a time when people weren’t being nagged by every other organization out there. You are heading off the giving season and beating the rush. The “save the date” cards set the tone. Your social media is being followed and swells with mission focused ideas and support. Your invitations are stunning, yet simple. Your advertising is choicely placed and being noticed by the right people. Sponsors and auction items are rolling in and your headliner is a surprise that will keep people talking for ages. You have thought of everything, or so you think.
The night is here. Your space is so great; it knocks your socks off! The perfect subtle lighting spotlights just the right details – your mission is just so clear! It looks like you missed nothing. You just took a look at the dessert and oh man, your caterer out did themselves – art and flavor. YES!!!!
People are streaming in. Excited. Dressed exquisitely. They are chatting with friends while you are introducing people to new friends. The event goes off without a hitch (that anyone sees anyway). People are bidding on items. Sponsors are jovial and pumping out your mission as if it is their own! This is the night for your organization. You grab your cell phone and take a few shots here and there. Who has time to do more when you are putting on the event? A few selfies with your friends and coordinators, a couple sponsors, etc. You see other people doing the same. Hopefully they are posting them to their favorite social media outlet. You did it! The event was a huge success, hitting your fundraising goal. Your mission touched 500 people and as long as you play it right – will reach hundreds more through those people.
Now it is time to review and start planning for next year. You also need to send out thank-yous and gifts to your sponsors, you think a good framed photo from the event would be nice! You upload your photos from the event and start reviewing them for gifts and marketing for the 2nd Annual Fundraising Gala for The Most Awesome Organization in the World and….. you’ve got nothing, absolutely nothing.
The result: Your cell phone photos are blurry and grainy. Not to mention you only have a total of 10 (blurry & grainy) photos to choose from. How do you build on the success you just had? Without great pictures, how will you excite your sponsors so they want to come back again next year? How do land your next “surprise” headliner?
The solution: If you are on a budget, you need to at least bring a good quality Digital SLR to your events and devote at least one person to shooting photos (talk about the types of shots you are looking for – they may not be ideal, but at least you will have something). Don’t have a digital SLR on hand or someone creative at your fingertips? Dip into the local talent, talk to your local high school or college, and recruit a budding photographer. Ideally, budget a professional photographer, but in doing so, have a clear conversation about the shots needed and what you will be doing with them. It never hurts to ask for part of their services be an “in-kind” donation.
Image Use
for full article visit EventBirdie.com
immediately following an event:
- For use in press coverage in mainstream media, industry media or the social pages.
- For use on the event or company social media channels – Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, etc.
- To project live images during the event for guests to engage.
- For use in post-event correspondence with delegates and guests.
future marketing projects:
- For use in promotional material and proposals for venues, caterers or event suppliers
- For use in promotional material for an Event Organizer’s next conference, exhibition, fundraising dinner or sporting event
- For use on a company website, promoting the company culture, products or its people
- For use in a company’s annual report
- For use in marketing material used to attract university graduates, new employees or for internal company handbooks
- For use in future PR campaigns and media features
- For use in print or online advertisements
- For use in directory listings, such as Event Birdie!
Photography makes your event easier to market
The truth is good photography is not the end all in marketing. It just makes it a lot easier. People relate to people, they see unique images of people they recognize and they want to be a part of that – which in turn is being a part of your mission. It is human nature – pictures have a way of saying what words cannot. In addition, people subconsciously want to see a professional presentation; they want to donate to something that looks legitimate. Your event is “legit” thus your marketing and follow-through needs to be legit too. It is the whole adage; you need spend money to make money. So yeah, budget a photographer – It will be worth it!
About the author:
Kasey B. Wright is a small town, small business kind of girl with nature in her heart. She grew-up working long hours at her parents general store in amazing Joseph, Oregon – Google it, oh wait, here’s a link – visit! Really- Arts, Camping, Resort on Wallowa Lake, Mountains, 52 high lakes, Gorgeous! Enough with the free advertisement, but truly it is amazing – Google it! Now days, if not twiddling away on her iMac, painting, or mentally re-designing pretty much everything, she is outside with her family enjoying all of the adventures that lay beyond her front door (which in Missoula are abundant and basically start within a five-minute radius of her house). Her family, a husband of whom she met as a freshman in college (architect – I know two designers and yes, nothing ever gets done), our dog (neurotic first child wire-haired pointing griffon), cat (shelter cat – maybe the most adjusted member of our family), and toddler twins (girl+boy) in chronological order, keep the adventure alive! Oh yah, fish too (rarely claimed).
