Bring extra batteries, memory cards, your cables, and chargers
Get out of auto mode.
Be unobtrusive. Casual shots are better.
Pay attention to the background
Try not to use the flash
Pay attention to the lighting
Set the white balance
More is better
Zoom less, walk more
Have fun
(Bonus) It isn’t the camera or the lens, it’s the photographer that counts.
I thought about my experience at this past IL2008 conference and I found that I followed many of these tips. Most of my best photos were less zoom and more "get closer" as with the three in this post.
As for the suggestions to use more manual settings I guess I’ve just got to finally learn what all those other settings on my camera do.
Michael Sauers is the Technology Manager for Do Space in Omaha, NE. After earning his MLS in 1995 from the University at Albany's School of Information Science and Policy Michael spent his first 20 years as a librarian training other librarians in technology along with time as a public library trustee, a bookstore manager for a library friends group, a reference librarian, a technology consultant, and a bookseller. He has written dozens of articles for various journals and magazines and has published 14 books ranging from library technology, blogging, Web design, and an index to a popular horror magazine. In his spare time, he blogs at TravelinLibrarian.info, runs The Collector's Guide to Dean Koontz website at CollectingKoontz.com, takes many, many photos, and typically reads more than 100 books a year.
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3 Replies to “10 Tips for Photographing a Conference”
I’ll add an additional point: “Be comfortable photographing people.”
This is what I struggle with the most when photographing in conference settings. I’m not comfortable photographing people – I feel like I’m intruding. I know this is partially a projection of my own feelings, since I’m not always comfortable about people photographing me. I haven’t reached the complete comfort level yet, but I’m working on it.
How about this Beth, you have my permission to basically follow me around and take photos of me throughout CIL2009. Will that help?
Heh. If I make it out to CIL next year, I may take you up on that.
I’ll add an additional point: “Be comfortable photographing people.”
This is what I struggle with the most when photographing in conference settings. I’m not comfortable photographing people – I feel like I’m intruding. I know this is partially a projection of my own feelings, since I’m not always comfortable about people photographing me. I haven’t reached the complete comfort level yet, but I’m working on it.
How about this Beth, you have my permission to basically follow me around and take photos of me throughout CIL2009. Will that help?
Heh. If I make it out to CIL next year, I may take you up on that.