When Brand Photography Happens in Real Life
For many years, my world was event photography. Mostly equestrian events. Early starts, long days, unpredictable weather, fast-moving horses and the occasional moment where you realise you’ve been standing in exactly the wrong place at exactly the right time…
It taught me to watch.
To anticipate.
And, perhaps most importantly, to be ready for things to happen before they actually happen.
Although my work moved more towards commercial and brand photography around ten years ago, event photography has never really left me.
In fact, I think it’s something that has become increasingly useful in the way I photograph businesses today.
Photo by Matt Sweeting Photography
Natural Habitats
At the end of July, for example, I spent time at The Game Fair, photographing for Countrywoman’s Guide and Hiho Silver Jewellery.
Now, The Game Fair is not exactly a quiet little gathering in a village hall.
There are people everywhere. Things happening in every direction. Products being sold, conversations being had, demonstrations taking place and approximately one million photographic opportunities disappearing within three seconds if you’re not paying attention. And I absolutely love it. Because this is where photography can become about so much more than simply taking a nice picture of someone’s product.
It’s about capturing a brand in its natural habitat.
The people behind it.
The customers engaging with it.
The details that might otherwise go unnoticed.
The atmosphere.
The personality.
The slightly chaotic bits.
And those moments that you simply couldn’t recreate in a studio if you tried.
For a business, an event can provide an incredible opportunity to create a whole bank of imagery in a relatively short space of time.
Not Every Brand Shoot Starts With a Shot List
And here’s the thing: that doesn’t have to mean a huge public event like The Game Fair.
Some of the best opportunities for this type of photography can come from things you’re already doing.
A chef running a cookery demonstration.
A coach working with a group.
A mentor hosting a workshop.
A business owner speaking at an event.
A team getting together.
A retreat.
A launch.
A demonstration.
A training day.
Any occasion where your business is actually in action.
Because sometimes, instead of trying to manufacture a brand shoot, the best thing we can do is simply photograph you doing the thing you do best.
Doing Things Naturally
Of course, that doesn’t mean abandoning all planning and hoping for the best. I am still very much a fan of a conversation beforehand, a rough idea of what you need and, ideally, knowing whether there’s a particular moment involving confetti, a horse or a flying frying pan that I should probably be prepared for.
But event-style photography can offer something wonderfully natural.
You aren’t having to stand in front of a camera wondering what on earth to do with your hands.
You’re busy.
You’re focused.
You’re talking to people, working, teaching, creating or sharing your expertise.
And I’m simply there to tell that story.
So, if you’ve got something coming up where your business will be out in the world doing its thing, don’t automatically think, “That’s an event, so I probably don’t need brand photography.” It might just be the perfect opportunity for it.
And if you need someone who is quite happy spending the day on her feet, watching for the moments everyone else has missed and occasionally positioning herself somewhere slightly ridiculous in pursuit of a photograph…
Well.
You know where I am.
Featuring @weave.wood.interiors
Thank you for reading – and naturally, I hope you picked up on those links to those who feature in this article 😉
Wishing you all a wonderful day and week ahead.
Rachel x
