Five portfolio-ready event photos to capture every time!
Your event photos shouldn’t just be proof of an amazing party; they should help your business thrive.
They should be compelling images ready for sharing on social media, your website, and at client meetings for an easy show-and-tell.
When building your portfolio, here are the top five shots that will tell the story of your event and help you book more clients. Make sure your event photographer is capturing these photos each and every time!
Photo #1 – The Room Shot
The Room Shot is the foundational photo for your portfolio! Capture the essential story of your event by showing the 5 W’s – who, what, when, where, and why in this wide (preferably horizontal) shot of the entire room in all its glory.
This photo immediately communicates a sense of place, time, scale, aesthetic, vibe, and the essence of the event.
You can take two approaches to this photo—show off your pristine décor pre-event or show your event in full swing, jam-packed with guests enjoying the incredible space you’ve created.
Either way, if you show these room shots to your potential clients, you’ll tell a compelling story about the events you create. That’s why The Room Shot tops our list.
Photo #2 – The Highlight Shot
This photo is all about highlighting the cause for celebration!
For this shot, you’re not trying to get a photo that says, “Here! I made this pretty thing!” Instead, you’re trying to say, “How cool is it that these guests got to celebrate their big moment?
It should capture expressive emotion—arms outstretched, faces electrified. We’re talking about the big epic moment, the keynote presentation, the grand entrance, the final award, the first kiss, the big toast, or the balloon drop.
This photo centers your clients and their win so you can tell the story of how you helped them pull it off.
And your event photographer should be busting their buns to be in the right place at the right time to get this one magical photo for you!
Photo #3 - The Design Shot
Show off your design skills and amazing vendor partnerships with one simple photo: a picture of your tablescapes!
Just think how many people come together to create this artistic masterpiece. From chairs, linens, tableware, stationary, floral, and lighting, it’s a vendor smorgasbord!
For this shot, you want to bring one table in its full glory, top to bottom, into focus! Just be sure you photograph a table standing on the outside with all of the other tables behind it to create depth and show the scale of your event.
Bonus: when posted on social media, this photo is a prime opportunity to tag all the people that came together to create that display! Tagging vendor partners helps reach wider audiences and encourages followers on your own profile.
Photo #4 - The Itty Bitty Details Shot
Your clients have high expectations. Show them you can deliver with your amazing attention to detail.
From the intricate centerpieces to decadent hors d’oeuvres, you’ve made sure that nothing has been overlooked! Make sure your photos reflect this by getting close-ups of key elements like florals, lighting, and any food or drink displays.
Your event photographer should be arriving early (well before guests arrive) to capture these critical photos for your portfolio.
Photo #5 - The Behind-the-Scenes Shot
Share the behind-the-scenes magic.
Capture the team in action - from bartenders and caterers to entertainment, you want to show what your guests saw!
These dynamic photos can really help tell the story of your event and present another opportunity to showcase your collaborations with other vendors.
Don’t want to babysit your event photographer or have to share this shot list in order to get portfolio-worthy photos?
Our professional team makes planning stress-free and ensures your entire event is captured and that the photos tell a cohesive story.