What to tell your photographer before the event

The best event coverage starts before the day, in a ten minute conversation most people skip. I have produced events, from small parties to arts festivals, so I know what a photographer actually needs from you, and it is less than you think. Send me these five things and the photos take care of themselves.

The run sheet, even a rough one. When do the doors open, when is the speech, when does the cake come out, when does the band start. A photographer who knows the timing is already standing in the right place before the moment, not running toward it after.

Who matters, and who is who. The founder, the guest of honour, the sponsor who paid for the room, the friend who flew in. Point them out or send me a photo beforehand. I will find them in the crowd without pulling you aside every ten minutes.

The shots you cannot go home without. Every event has three or four. The group photo. The handshake. The full room before it empties. Tell me the non negotiables and I will protect them, whatever else is going on.

What you would rather not see photographed. The corner still being set up, the sponsor who pulled out, the table that never filled. An honest brief makes better photos, not fewer.

How you will use the photos. Social the next morning, a print for the office wall, stills to cut into a recap video. It changes how I shoot and what I hand you first. I deliver a preview inside 48 hours, so tell me what you need first and I will lead with it.

None of this needs to be formal. A voice note the week before does the job. If you have an event coming up, send me a message and we will run through it in ten minutes.

See more of my event coverage across the Gold Coast. Related reading: How to choose an event photographer and Photo or video for your event.