Why You Need a Conference Photographer for Your Next Event


The time has finally come where the restrictions and limitations from the pandemic related to events have lifted and life is returning back to normal. Many businesses are finding themselves planning conferences and events for the coming year again and building back in some of the experiential marketing from pre-pandemic days. If you find yourself in that situation, you may be looking at budgets and areas to cut or spend money on, and one thing that you may be questioning is hiring a professional event photographer.

Having a professional conference or event photographer on-site to document the details of your event is important and will provide you with images you can use in so many different ways – but there are also a lot of other benefits you might not have considered.

Here are some of the top reasons why hiring a professional conference photographer for your next event is key to its success.

1. It's important to document the details from your events.

Planning in-person conferences and events is a great way to connect with your current and potential clients and engage with them in a real way that is hard to do virtually. Months of planning go into each event and itineraries and details are planned down to the exact minute. Once the big day is finally there, the event is so fast-paced and the day goes by in an instant. Having a professional photographer and/or videographer there to document all the details and moments you put so much time in planning, ensures you won’t miss a thing. Professional photographers can tell the visual stories that simply snapping a few photos yourself cannot – they have the skills and experience necessary to capture the essence of your event. Once it is over you will want to have all the details you worked so hard on documented in a way that showcases the true spirit of the event – from networking, to sessions, to keynote speakers and sponsors. Having a team dedicated to capturing the little details will put your mind at ease and allow you to focus on managing the actual event and watching everything come together.

Event highlight videos are great for showcasing the best moments from an event. Check out this highlight video Mark Campbell Productions created for the Art Institute of Chicago. The MCP team documented their J.A.M. (Jobs at Art Museums) event held for local and national students interested in careers in the arts.

2. Event photos and videos are perfect for future marketing campaigns.

The photos and videos you receive from your event are perfect to use in marketing campaigns down the road. Digital marketing plays a huge role in business today and capturing the right images at your events can provide you with content to last for months after the event is over. If your event has sponsors or keynote speakers, make sure to get some images showcasing their display or presentation at the event. These will be great for thank you correspondence after the event and will provide them with content they will be able to use in their own future marketing, which will also then showcase your brand.

Also, if your company is launching a new product at an event or highlighting new product features, that is a great time to have the product on display and have the conference photographer capture some professional images. These can be used both online and offline and are the kind of quality photographs needed to capture the intricate details. Check out our portfolio of event photography for great examples of product shots Mark Campbell Productions was able to capture at events – click through to see each gallery:

3. Professional conference photography helps you get more from your events.

Planning a conference and event takes months (or sometimes even years) of planning and is very expensive. Hiring a professional event photographer to capture all of the details is essential to making that event investment go further. A professional conference photographer knows how to capture attendees, speakers and sponsors at their best angles, and are skilled at capturing the excitement and best moments of your event. This is not only perfect for helping your event attendees relive the memories, but professional event photos are also perfect for post-event thank you emails, event summaries and in collateral for event marketing for upcoming years. Try considering using event photos for the following:

  • Sponsor prospectus or speaker proposals – in addition to showcasing the event stats (attendance, job titles, etc.), show a representation of the sessions and event highlights to show the true spirit of the event.

  • Event marketing materials – event photos from previous years are perfect in promoting your current event and gives attendees a great idea of what to expect.

  • General marketing collateral – providing snapshots of events you hold throughout the year on your website or in printed brochures can help illustrate the personality of your brand.

Wondering what it might look like to hire a professional photographer for your event? Check out all the details in this event case study.

4. Content captured is great for engaging with your audience on social media.

We all know the importance of social media and engaging with your clients and prospects online. Social media usage has skyrocketed in recent years and shows no signs of slowing down. The content you will receive from your conference photographer is ideal for connecting with your audience on social media. If your event takes place yearly, try using images from the previous year to promote the upcoming event. Posting event pictures or event sizzle videos are also a great way to build excitement and engagement and illustrate the best moments from your event. If your business has a blog, this is also a great way to showcase some of the images to recap all the moments from your event and will also help boost your SEO efforts. Event attendees love looking at pictures of themselves and events they were at to relive the memories and will likely share your posts and images – all helping to increase views and build engagement.

5. Event photographers can provide other experiences you may not have thought of.

It’s a given that your conference photographer is going to provide you with great images and videos of your event, but they can also provide other experiences for your staff and attendees that will add to the overall value of the event. While you have all of your employees at one location and in-person, it is a great opportunity to have corporate headshots taken. Other experiences including slide shows, step + repeats with on-site printing and much more – and all help take your event to the next level and provide a lasting impression with your attendees.

Planning an event or conference is important and a huge undertaking – both in time and resources. If your event is annual, it is crucial to get the images and compelling content you need to market the event in the future. Make sure to hire a professional conference photographer who understands the goals of the event and has the list of moments and emotions you are trying to capture.

Have an event coming up and want to see how a professional conference photographer could help? Mark Campbell Productions is a professional Chicago conference photography team ready to take your event to the next level. We love immersing ourselves in your conferences, trade shows and events. Let us capture candid and compelling images that generate both buzz and excitement. Our team is skilled at catching your attendees, speakers and sponsors at their best moments and documenting the highlights of your event.

We offer several conference packages and can create a customized package based on your event needs. Contact us today for a free custom quote and let us partner with you to be the full-service conference photography partner for your next corporate event.

Previous
Previous

How to Engage Attendees at Your Next Conference Using Experiential Marketing

Next
Next

Top 7 Ways Using Professional Photography Will Help Grow Your Business