To make a photo essay: 12 tips

8 Jun 2022 | photography

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Some events are particularly photogenic. Of course, you want to capture those in a cool way. Preferably even as a photographic story. But how do you actually get started on this? This article will give you answers to the search term “photo essay” using some examples.

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As a resident of the European Quarter in Brussels, I come across quite a few events every week that are particularly interesting to photograph: demonstrations, parties, strikes, cultural happenings… Often these are massive events where you have hundreds to tens of thousands of people in the streets and parks. Quite a challenge to make an interesting report of this!

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Good preparation is half the battle

For me, a photo essay starts before the event has even begun. The following things are very important to me:

1. Gathering information

Suppose there is a climate demonstration, how many people are expected that day, what is the route, where are additional actions taking place and what are interesting places for me to stand as a photographer? I often go a little ahead of time to discover the interesting spots.

2. Getting camera equipment in order

Providing two full batteries, packing two empty SD cards, putting an extra camera in the bag in case the other one fails… I already take everything into account.

3. Check weather forecast

Very handy in case of an outdoor event. Although my full frame camera can withstand torrential rain, my reportage flash is not exactly waterproof. In that case, I can bring an extra protective cover.

4. Requesting permission

Important at an event on private property. If I am hired as a photographer, I often have permission anyway. If I go there for my own work, sometimes it pays to find out. No you have, yes you can get. Sometimes websites already explicitly state whether photography is allowed or not.

5. Security check

This can come into play at demonstrations and strikes, especially when there are thousands of people present who do not agree with something and who have made that known in an aggressive way in the past. Then I know I have to be careful as a photographer: I don’t want to be in the crosshairs of people throwing objects.

6. Choosing an approach

There are often other photographers at events. I try to distinguish myself as a photographer by bringing my own approach to a reportage. For example, at a dance event I once focused on movements, at a union demonstration I once focused on the color red and at a cultural event I focused on the interaction between a giant puppet and the participants.

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Photographing during the event

Every event is different, but you’re going to be able to use these tips everywhere.

7. Expose from different perspectives

When photographing an indoor dance event, I was once somewhat limited in terms of movement space due to audience members. No problem, I went around the audience and photographed the dancers from different angles. At an outdoor event, this is a little easier: as a photographer, you can just move among the people. For carnival processions and demonstrations, I use the following method: I try to capture the beginning, middle and end of the procession anyway. The longer the procession, the more miles you walk. Often produces interesting material!

To get the best possible results, it is best to set your camera manually. See how to set up your camera like a pro here!

8. Varying in views

Photographing only from eye level I personally find a bit boring. Therefore, I often go through the knees to make people look taller. Or, on the contrary, I photograph from an elevation: then you get an overview of the event. In my final selection, I try to take that into account.

9. Before and after

Equally interesting can see the build-up and breakdown of an event. At the Leuven carnival, I once photographed men tinkering with a tractor before they even started. And at the end of a demonstration, I was once able to photograph dancing participants. How photogenic! Some photographers go a lot further: they even try to take pictures behind the scenes or in the dressing rooms. I don’t usually do that because I give people their privacy. Unless people ask for it themselves.

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Selecting, developing and editing

Once home, I often find myself with countless images. Because I chose a particular approach in advance, there are only a few hundred of them instead of thousands. I’ll give you some more tips.

10. Strict selection

In this I am quite easy these days: only the most telling images make it into my final selection. In doing so, I don’t lose my original point of view. Is my insertion photographing pancartes? Then in my end series, you’ll see mostly signs with slogans (because that’s what pancartes are). As for the final series, sometimes it is only 3 photos and sometimes 50. Depends on what the assignment is or what I want to tell myself.

11. Similar development

As a photographer, I shoot in RAW. That means I still need to develop my images in Lightroom. Do you photograph in JPEG? Then the same applies to you: after all, you want your images to be finished in a similar way. Maybe you decide to put everything in black and white, or maybe you want to lighten the colors to make the whole look less heavy.

12. Possibly: similar editing

The line between developing and editing is razor thin. For me, editing is adding another touch to the images. You might want to put a slight vignetting on it? Vignetting means providing your photo with darker or lighter edges. Or maybe you want to finish your image more granularly? You can do the same in Lightroom. Or you might want to make them cleaner: you might want to retouch away those distracting white papers on the street. You can try in Lightroom, but you might run into the limitations of the software and have to continue in Photoshop!

Are you allowed to photograph everyone on the street? Find out what you can and cannot do as a street and event photographer.

See, at the end you have a cool set of photos! I wish you much pleasure on reportage.

And what do you think is important during a photo essay?

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