A career as a conference photographer can be very rewarding, especially if you are already a budding photographer. This article will provide an overview of conference photography and the career path of a conference photographer, including:
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- Conference photography job description
- How to become a conference photographer
Conference photography job description
Conference photographers are responsible for capturing conferences from a wide variety of business sectors in a way that tells a story – preserving moments from before, during and after the conference.
As a conference photographer, you will be at the conference way before the event has started to ensure that you capture the set-up of the venue and have enough time to chat with your clients about what they want from your conference photography service.
During the conference, you will likely be taking some posed photos of the conference team, but the nature of the event requires you to be on the ball and capture more candid moments as well. A key part of being a conference photographer is keeping your eyes peeled for good impromptu moments – whether that be a dynamic discussion between attendees or a collective round of applause moment.
Your clients will most likely want to use your conference photographs as a marketing tool for their business, so it is also your job as a conference photographer to represent your clients and their conference in the best possible light. By taking a comprehensive set of photos you can sell your client’s conference to potential attendees of their future events and therefore make your clients satisfied with your conference photography services.
How to become a conference photographer
Ok, so you have found out a little about the job and it appeals to you, what now? Here is a guide on how to become a conference photographer with no prior experience or photography degree.
It is your choice whether you become a freelance conference photographer or an in-house one. The main difference is salary – in-house conference photographers’ salaries are fixed whereas freelancers work on a per-job basis.
Regardless of which route you go down, you must have a serious attitude towards yourself as a professional photographer to succeed. To set yourself up as a business entity you need to create your conference photographer brand. To do this check out our guide on branding for event photographers.
Next, be sure to create a dazzling portfolio. Collate an online portfolio of your best conference photography work and include a bit of information about yourself and your conference photography service to add a personal touch.
Especially if you want to go down the freelance conference photographer route, you will require some decent photography equipment. We recommend a full-frame DSLR with a mid-range zoom. It is also important to invest in an external flash and diffuser because the in-built flash on your camera can project a harsh light on your subject.
Lastly, you need to set your price. In the industry, it is common practice to set your rates low at the beginning of your conference photography career and then increase them over time as you gain experience. That being said, you are still a professional so do not sell yourself short. Ensure that your pay matches the effort and skill that you put into your clients’ conference photos.
We hope you found this overview of a career as a conference photographer insightful.
If you require a conference photographer for your conference, consider booking one through Splento. A Splento conference photographer will make everyone feel like they were in the front row, will produce a wide range of images and have them delivered to you, fully retouched, within 24 hours (or even the same day, if required).
