Event Photography

Written by Gregory Cazillo Thursday, June 16, 2011 00:00

Hey need a great way to get your name out?  Try some event photography.  Last weekend I photographed the French Creek Iron Tour with over 1500 riders in attendance.  I shot some video with my thoughts and techniques while I was working.  I hope you enjoy it...stick around for the wrap up at the end.

Statistics:

• 2 Photographers, one at Start/Finish and one roving
• 4664 Photographs taken, all RAW
• 69.2GB in NEF/CR2 format
• 34GB after conversion to DNG - I don't usually convert to DNG but large events like this I do just to save hard drive space.
• Shot Aperture Priority with Exposure Compensation when needed
• 316 Photos removed because of focus, duplicate or bad composition - 7.4% thats good! For events I try and get this number down to 5% but I don't have any complaints when we are under 10%

EDIT 6/16/2011 14:35
I use an open source photo gallery with ecommerce built in, then paypal for payments. I have generic postcards with a great photo on them that direct clients to my website to purchase. The cards have a cute photo of a child and a coupon for a family portrait on them to help promote my other services.  The main sales come from emails and social media to the riders, thats why I only accept gigs which I am the sole photographer.  If there are many photographers at the same event it won't be worth my time.

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0 # Almblad 2011-06-16 07:06

Great to hear/see some tips/talk while you're on the spot and shooting. Hope you got some cash out of it

Here's from an event from last week, Uppcon 2011

http://www.flickr.com/photos/almblad/sets/72157626767047367/with/5803967163/

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0 # Sean 2011-06-16 07:23

Great stuff!

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0 # Luciano 2011-06-16 07:41

Nice job Greg!! Keep on rolling man!!... love your work and teachings!!.... thanks a lot!

Luciano from Argentina - South America

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0 # Candice 2011-06-16 07:55

Loved this presentation. From the actual work to the wrap up with the assorted photos.When you make the prints how do you do them? Do you use a special printer or have them done in various sizes? TY for your innovative and educational site. Jazz

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0 # Gregory Cazillo 2011-06-16 08:17

Quoting Candice:

Loved this presentation. From the actual work to the wrap up with the assorted photos.When you make the prints how do you do them? Do you use a special printer or have them done in various sizes? TY for your innovative and educational site. Jazz

I use Millers Pro Imaging for my prints.

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0 # Ved 2011-06-16 08:26

Nice video...lovely place, great pictures!

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0 # sabrina Takorabet 2011-06-16 09:14

Good job Creg ! It's a very good one with the way you give your camera settings, we usually see other photographers setting it to CH with 3D and panning, but I guess that this gives tones of job on post-production . Thanks a lot for these instructions.
Love your videos. Which you good luck for your business.

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0 # Brent 2011-06-16 09:31

Great video Greg.... would you mind letting us know how you sold the photos... did you give out business cards or a website to go and proof/order prints? Thanks and keep up the great work!

Brent

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0 # edgar 2011-06-16 09:37

Are DNGs smaller than other raw formats? Really?

I guess it uses some kind of compression right? Does it make the computer too slow compared to NEF?

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0 # Gregory Cazillo 2011-06-16 09:41

Quoting edgar:

Are DNGs smaller than other raw formats? Really?

I guess it uses some kind of compression right? Does it make the computer too slow compared to NEF?

Since I already did the initial export for the web I don't have a problem with speed, I only export a 10 or 20 at a time.

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0 # Gregory Cazillo 2011-06-16 09:41

Quoting Brent:

Great video Greg.... would you mind letting us know how you sold the photos... did you give out business cards or a website to go and proof/order prints? Thanks and keep up the great work!

Brent

I added it to the post since I was getting so many questions!

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0 # Peter B 2011-06-16 10:16

Any brand orpecial name for that strap you use, it looks really good. Not satisfied with the one that comes along with the camera.
And great pics and great video.

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+1 # Gregory Cazillo 2011-06-16 10:20

Quoting Peter B:

Any brand orpecial name for that strap you use, it looks really good. Not satisfied with the one that comes along with the camera.
And great pics and great video.

I use a Black Rapid RS-7 with a Bert addon since I'm a big guy.

http://cazillo.com/articles/37-photography/84-black-rapid-r-strap-worth-every-penny.html

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0 # Peter B 2011-06-16 10:55

Thank you for a quick answer. Got mine ordered and they shipped to Sweden =)
Thanks again for all the great vids, keep up the good work =)

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0 # Gregory Cazillo 2011-06-16 10:59

Quoting Peter B:

Thank you for a quick answer. Got mine ordered and they shipped to Sweden =)
Thanks again for all the great vids, keep up the good work =)

Did you order it from my links ;)?

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0 # Peter B 2011-06-16 11:10

Tried but Amazon wouldent ship that to Sweden for some reason, sorry for that. Had to get it from the manufactors site. Still saved me $46 from the price here in Sweden.
Thanks again

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0 # Adrian 2011-06-16 12:09

hey greg, one quick question dude, how do you contact the riders to sell the photos, i know social networks and stuff, but how exactly do you find the actual person, do you have a list with names or something?

thanks man, i love your videos.
Adrian

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0 # Gary Thursby 2011-06-16 19:23

Great video Greg! I like how you are showing a wide range of topics on your videos! One quick question big g. I have seen action pics where the subject is sharp and the background is very blurred like streaks. I believe this is done through panning. Do you ever try and achieve this effect and if so, how the heck do you do it?!

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0 # johndawg 2011-06-16 21:11

Awesome video. I wish I had it in me to make videos. Maybe soon... :) Anyways... I love the 70-200 for almost everything especially shooting races. Here are a few of my samples. I like to slow the shutter speed down a bit... Maybe 1/60 to 1/125 to create a little motion blur in the background. Using a monopod of course! :)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3493/5841654312_131cdaafeb_b.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5222/5841654478_4f6b6173fd_b.jpg
johndawg_73, on Flickr


There are more on my site... Check them out. Good luck... John

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0 # Terho 2011-06-16 22:10

Great work like always! Many thanks that you are making so plenty of these videos.
Do you ever set up your remote flashes on events like this? For example, if you have a perfect spot, but sun is shining from the wrong way, or do you just try to get along with the ambient light?

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+1 # Galen 2011-06-16 23:14

Only 7.4% deleted - that's fantastic! My reatings are just opposite. Usually less than 10% are acceptable :]

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0 # Gregory Cazillo 2011-06-17 02:17

Quoting Terho:

Great work like always! Many thanks that you are making so plenty of these videos.
Do you ever set up your remote flashes on events like this? For example, if you have a perfect spot, but sun is shining from the wrong way, or do you just try to get along with the ambient light?

This event was too large for strobe, depends on the event.

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0 # Andy 2011-06-17 05:15

Thanks for the video Greg. Love these "business" themed videos, keep it up!

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0 # Ryan C 2011-06-20 08:40

Very timely video, brother. I'm shooting a bicycle event tonight and another next weekend for a local bike shop. They're looking to replace all of the imagery in their store and this is my chance to get the commission. Keep up the good work and stay safe!

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0 # ian 2011-06-20 11:05

Great job Greg,must have been a killer editing all those pics when u got home.

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0 # Patrick 2011-06-20 15:28

Greg, just curious how much money you will or plan to make from selling these photos? Do you have any stats on what percentage of people buy the images? Also how do you guarantee that every rider get the link to your site for potential purchases? Finally, do you find that certain events pay better than others either because the images are more rare or the clientele/atten dees have more disposable income?

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0 # Gregory Cazillo 2011-06-21 04:41

Quoting Patrick:

Greg, just curious how much money you will or plan to make from selling these photos? Do you have any stats on what percentage of people buy the images? Also how do you guarantee that every rider get the link to your site for potential purchases? Finally, do you find that certain events pay better than others either because the images are more rare or the clientele/attendees have more disposable income?

The amount of money I make from this event is not something I will disclose. Some events are better than others, yes. As I talk about when the event planner sends out emails it goes to everyone.

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0 # Patrick 2011-06-22 19:36

Are you able to give us a ballpark guess? I think a lot of us are interested in the business side of photography and curious if something like this is worth our time. Can hint...$20 total? $200 total? $>500 total?

Quoting Gregory Cazillo:

Quoting Patrick:

Greg, just curious how much money you will or plan to make from selling these photos? Do you have any stats on what percentage of people buy the images? Also how do you guarantee that every rider get the link to your site for potential purchases? Finally, do you find that certain events pay better than others either because the images are more rare or the clientele/attendees have more disposable income?

The amount of money I make from this event is not something I will disclose. Some events are better than others, yes. As I talk about when the event planner sends out emails it goes to everyone.

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