Getting Great Photos To Promote Your Event

Photos can communicate buckets of information to your potential attendees.  Plus, crisp, bright, engaging photos will appeal to your guests and help them imagine themselves attending your event.  So how do you get these incredible photos?

  1. Hire (or barter for) a professional.  A professional photographer will have the equipment and knowledge needed to get you the best shots.  Potential attendees generally want to see photos of: the main event hall, the facility, people attending and an approximation of the accommodations.  Ask the photographer to give you a list of shots they’ll be trying for and add anything you particularly desire. If you’re hosting an event that will include more than a handful of people, consider reaching out to those already enrolled to see if someone would like a free ticket in return for photography services.
  2. Enlist the crowd.  I recently attended a wedding where the bride and groom posted signs that said “mark your photos with #custerweddingbells.”  Browsing Instagram later that evening I typed “custerweddingbells” into the search bar, and up came all the photos that had been so marked.  The wedding from the perspective of many guests!  What if you harnessed your attendees’ photos?  You’ll need to create a unique hashtag and advertise it.  You could even have a feed set up onto several screens that showed those photos during your event.  Fun!
  3. Take ‘em yourself.  Honestly, this is the least desirable option. You have a zillion things to do.  But, sometimes it happens.  Find or purchase a very small, high quality pocket camera.  Take some photos, and don’t be afraid to stage a few shots of laughing/smiling attendees if you need to. (You may not have time to wait for the perfect shot). Some photos taken by you are much better than no photos at all.

Great photos are worth the trouble!  They’ll be an important part of your marketing next year, so err on the side of “too many” incredible shots.  You won’t be sorry you have them.  Find a professional, enlist the crowd and have a small camera available for the shots you spot- I recommend doing all three!

Your Thoughts?