Event photography is the area of photography that concentrates on covering sporting events and other occasions such as dog shows, fun runs and sponsored events. Some photographers specialise in offering their services only for events like these, as there are usually plenty of opportunities to take photos and make sales to the people involved.

A New Business?

If you think that event photography might appeal as a career, get some practice in before making the leap to starting your own business. Attend some local public events with your camera and see what results you get. This is a good way to gain confidence and see what techniques produce the best pictures.

It’s worth remembering that the term event photography covers a wide range of subjects. It can mean someone’s leaving do at the local hall, a full scale air show to mark the anniversary of the first flight, or a local amateur tennis tournament.

You need to be extremely versatile and ready for anything if you decide to take the plunge into the world of event photography. One camera probably won’t be enough to do the job - you’ll need several different ones, each one loaded with different film. In the case of digital cameras, each one will need to be set up to take a specific type of photo.

Speed Is Of The Essence…

Covering sporting events means you need to be alert and ready to take the photos that matter – and the photos that people will want to buy. Preparation is the key to your success.

Arrive early if you can and walk around the location to find the best spot for taking your photos. A tennis tournament will require you to be at the side of the court, for example. Anywhere else will mean you won’t get the shots you need.

You also need to make sure you have plenty of film or plenty of room on your memory cards. Don’t be afraid to take lots of photos; it’s the only way you’ll get the ones that matter.

Event photography can be a lucrative sideline or a full time career if you approach it in the right way. But as with anything worth doing, it’s advisable to spend a few months gaining experience by attending events with no expectation of selling any photos.

The more experience you can gain in the early stages the better, as it will cement the foundations for a successful career in event photography in the future.