Pro Studies Report - Summary,So what is the purpose of event photography

Probably for the best if you dont talk to me at the minute - Control - One of mine

Right from the start of this I said it was going to focus on the kind of events that I shoot. Im a strong believer in only doing the kind of work you feel passionate about as you wont get connected the same way as a mere spectator.This should really be taken into consideration as the limitations to my report are that they just cover that kind of event,not weddings,not commercial and certainly not corporate.
 The more events I do and the more people I talk to to it becomes more and more apparent. The connection between the photographer and the subject matter is of paramount importance if an authentic product is to be realised.

The surveys conducted have thrown little extra light on what I already knew about house music event photography,they have merely compounded my view that it is of great importance to document these events as well as possible to help promotion.. and honestly, just for the sake of it,its totally worth it.

Promoters :-

They see the value of good photography at their events and can see the benefits of it as a promotion tool. Which when done well can spread on social media organically. This is much better for them as it seems more natural to their audience. Branding is key and if their event can be identified by more than just the DJ's,music and artwork then its all the better for them shouting about how good their night is on a landscape of general white noise. My kind of events tend to be more interested on the action on the dance floor rather than how many people they have stood outside in the ques waiting to get in. The extra care and control of images from the event photographer doesn't go unnoticed by the promoter,making events look busier,better even than they were is something they prefer focusing on.

DJ's :-

Always keen to market themselves as a brand in their own right,the DJ's have recognised their best chance of doing this is to get good images of themselves playing at the right parties. Most putting their own image before that of the brands they play(and promote) for they too see the benefits of having good images to use as promotion. Those who produce their own music tended to be more interested in press type shots as they do get quite a bit of mickey taking for doing these kind and most just do it for fun rather than as a career. The only use outside of Facebook most use their images is for online mixes,which are given away for free so wouldn't want to spend on anything extra other than good event photos.

Attendees :-

Right at the bottom of the food chain it would appear,like other kinds of photography the end users view on it ranges from the sublime to the ridiculous. They dont care much for how difficult it is or how much of the brands are represented as long as it makes them smile or feel some connection to the vibe of the night. They will unwittingly help promotion by sharing and using the images themselves if they are interesting or a little different. However they are just as likey to ignore your official photos if they have something on their phone that ticks their own boxes just as readily.

Pro Studies Report - Survey 3 - Attendees

The final survey carried out is for the people attending the events. They vary from randoms who had never been to the events in question before to die hard regulars who have been going for years. These were carried out at RiffRaff,Concept,Retro,Rehab and Pitch. I tried to keep this pretty short and to the point as most were quite intoxicated. Still managed to get twenty two completed forms to work with. I usually have a deep resentment of smoking areas in clubs as they killed the dance floor,but for this they were a saving grace.

Pro Studies – Survey 3 – Attendees

In order of Importance please number the following:

1 = most likely to use as a profile pic
6 = least  likely to use as a profile pic

You and your friends posing

You losing it and having a moment

Funny/embarrassing 

Photo bombing

With headline DJ

You in a big crowd shot  Can you get better/same quality images on your phone?

Yes/No
 

Do you leave the event branding on when cropping?
 

Yes/No

The survey once complied into all twenty two looks like this

Pro Studies – Survey 3 – Attendees
 In order of Importance please number the following:
 1 = most likely to use as a profile pic
6 = least  likely to use as a profile pic
  Funny/embarrassing
 You losing it and having a moment
 Photo bombing
 With headline DJ
 You in a big crowd shot
 You and your friends posing

Can you get better/same quality images on your phone?
 Yes
 Do you leave the event branding on when cropping?
 Yes


The overall feeling is that they can do it themselves I think,the emphasis placed by the brands to on the quality and styling of event photos is somewhat lost on the average clubber. They are more likely to use interesting photos rather than just them somewhere with their friends,although they still in their hoards ask for their photo to be taken together, which is maybe more like a natural instinct when your in that environment rather than the end product.

Control - Leeds - Someone losing it in a good way - One of mine

Pro Studies Report - Survey 2 – Resident DJ's

Survey two is for the resident DJ's at events. Back in the day that was exactly what they were,DJ's. Nowadays its as much their job as promoters in their own right that will get them involved with parties, its not enough to be just a DJ(Everybody wants to be a dj right?) So they should look at photography in a similar light as the promoters. Adding that of course their own narcissistic tenancies which are essential to being able to cope being the center of attention in a club,they usually like having their photo taken.

I sent this to twelve resident DJ's and received them back from ten

Pro Studies – Survey 2 – Resident DJ’s

 In order of Importance please number the following:

1 = most important
6 = least important

You in the event like a punter

You mid mix

Funny

Serious

With headline DJ

Press/promo type shots

Can you get better/same quality images on your phone?
 Yes/No
 

Do you use the images as profile pictures on facebook?
 Yes/No

The survey once complied into all ten looks like this

Pro Studies – Survey 2 – Resident DJ’s
 In order of Importance please number the following:
 1 = most important
6 = least important
  You mid mix
 Serious
 Press/promo type shots
 You in the event like a punter
 With headline DJ
 Funny
  Can you get better/same quality images on your phone?
 No
 Do you use the images as profile pictures on facebook?
 Yes


Not entirely surprising that its all about how they are perceived to be actually DJing mostly,that is the point and good to see they all said they use the images as promotion for themselves and the events they played at.

Retro Resident - one of mine

Pro Studies Report - Survey 1 – Promoters

Promoters are very busy people,who mostly have no time to even think beyond their focus on the next event. They mostly spend their time awake on a night and asleep during the day(mostly) So I kept their survey relatively simple and to the point. What is the most important thing about event photography and where do you use the images. I asked eight and received five forms back.

Pro Studies – Survey 1 – Promoters

In order of Importance please number the following:

1 = most important

6 = least important

Crowd Shots

Guest DJ

Resident DJ

Girls

Que

Photographers Artistic Vision/Skill

Where do you use the images mostly

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The survey once complied into all five looks like this

Pro Studies – Survey 1 – Promoters

In order of Importance please number the following:

1 = most important

6 = least important

Guest DJ

Crowd Shots

Resident DJ

Photographers Artistic Vision/Skill

Girls

Que

Where do you use the images mostly

Facebook event pages

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Guest DJ Jacky - Pitch - One of mine with me in it #guestdjselfie

Pro Studies Report - The competition

Of the four groups,not really that surprisingly the least amount of information gathered was from the competition. Its not that they were unwilling to talk about it ..I was just too cynical of an honest reply for the purpose of the report.

And maybe competition is too strong a description,everyone is at different levels along their own path to becoming the photographer they wish to be. Some of those I talked to were quite new like me and others had all but given up quite battle weary and jaded from their experiences in the role. I have changed their names to protect the innocent.

Quentin:
"Its quite important for the club to get a lot of images of the DJ they have booked"

Bob:
"I just do what I do and if people like it they will book me,i don't do anything different,its my style"

Eric:
"I have no idea how to use a camera really,I just play with it until I get the results I need"

Dave:
"It is a pleasure to be able to do something I really enjoy as a job,not many people I know get to do that"

Paula:
"Never do anything for free on the basis it will lead to paid work, In my experience it never ever has"

Chris:
"Just get out there and get among it,If your enjoying it like they are that will come across in your images"

Peter:
"To get the kind of shots I like,I usually give them a boring group one first then have a little dance with them,once they forget to act cool I take a couple more..that's the ones I usually use"

That's about as probing as I got,I never asked any questions regarding their eqipment as I can see what they use in front of me..It varies a lot and is obvious that for this kind of events you need as fast glass as possible. .The only other question I seem to have an OCD about asking is what ISO they use for the dark,the answer is always higher than I seem to be albe to use!

One of mine from Control - Leeds,again pretty much just as the post needs an image and its pretty cool...

Add caption

Pro Studies Report - where I come from

Ive never really been a fan of pubs,karaoke or clubs that play commercial music. I went to a rave before I went to a pub in my teens and have always preferred a night out focusing on some kind of electronic music rather than beer. Like I said in my first post,I hired photographers for many of these kind of events so have seen pretty much every kind of style they each bring.

Doing those kind of events myself now as a photographer I have decided to put that time to extra use and do a report on those kind of events specifically. In terms of style there isnt really much difference between a decent house event photographer and say one who does a commercial night,I was just never going to go to shoot one of those nights so wouldnt be able to compile any first hand research. To survey and interview those involved and get a clear picture of how my role is seen from a few different perspectives within the scene.

I will be asking the questions to :-

Promoters
DJ's,
Other photographers
Attendee's

This should give a quite comprehensive indication of how this promotion tool is perceived and of what it means to each of them.


Here is a screen grab of my Flickr page for no other real reason than this blog post needs an image..

https://www.flickr.com/photos/nebulaphotography/ for a closer look..

Pro Studies Report - How is it done now

So to look at how events in general are covered I thought it best to show two of the biggest and best marketed venues in the region. The Empire in Middlesbrough and Inside out in Darlington. Both are good examples as they run a host of different themed events with varying age groups and music styles. Both are also heavily involved with sister smaller clubs near by. The Empire with the Medicine bar ,Inside out with Seen.

Empire and Med Bar commercial events styles:-

The Que

Event name branding

Going off

Themed

Milk

Entertainment more suitable to a childs birthday party

Girls kissing

Awkward enjoyment

Crowd shot (we're busy)

Attractive person

Inside Out and Seen commercial events :-

Quirky attractive person 

Famous person

More girls kissing

Famous DJ

Attractive person doing a thing

Dj inviting some near by people to come closer

Worse for wear

Dj in a moment

Dj and crowd

Boobs

So to break it down the photos focus on a few different parts of the event. Trying to look as busy as possible with your crowd and ques images. The talent that has been brought in to entertain like DJ's dancers and acts. And finally the customers enjoying themselves..usually a little too much and drunk...Girls kissing or exposing them self to the photographer also seems a popular way to get more likes and shares.

Pro Studies Report - What is the purpose of event photography

At some point or other we have all been asked,as photographers to go along to an event whether its a friends birthday or local bands playing in a pub and "bring your camera with you if you like,to take a few snaps" This even in the age of smart phones is considered normal practice to show happenings in a better light from an apparent pro.

During many years promoting house music events around the north east i have had the pleasure of being able to hire photographers for my events. Before Facebook there was another kind of social media called Dont Stay In.com. It featured forums and group pages for parties  (across the uk and globally) where event photographers would host galleries from events. Attendees of events could then use these photos as their profile pictures and it would help spread the popularity of these events. I saw the benefits first hand, Always watermarked with DSI and later the event branding so when they were used on other platforms like myspace and eventually facebook they continued to help as promotional tools.

Little has changed since those days except it is all about facebook now. No self respecting music event can do without a photographer of some kind to cover their party with the massive catchment available through the sharing and tagging of their photographs.