Shooting an Event

Try to follow these steps to ensure a great outcome for the organiser, the competitors and you:

-if it is your first time shooting something, go to YouTube and find out what settings people typically use for that type of event, and what conditions will be like on the day

-Ensure that you know where to be and what the brief is for the day (eg do you need to shoot the sponsors, club members as well as the competitors, and what equipment you will need to fulfil this brief).

-Carry spare equipment (waterproof cover for your camera, batteries, monopod etc, high viz vest etc) and ideally a spare camera

-Get there early – parking may be hard to find and traffic may be worse than expected – after all it is a large event! Ensure you have time to introduce yourself to the organiser, scope out where the route goes, and where the best place is to shoot from (without interfering with competitors)

-Try to get more than one photo of each competitor. Some people will literally buy every photo you take of them!

-Look for an interesting “human element”. A large group of friends holding hands across the finish line, a 90year old finishing a swim race etc etc

-stay around for the prize giving (these are often indoors so don’t forget a flash)