In the example below, I scoped out the stage in advance and the room lights were on full power, but there was no stage lighting. When I returned later, the room lights were turned down making the stage really dark. Trust me, it was far darker than what the images below make it appear.

Take a look at a few tips that may help you do a better job photographing a poorly lit stage:

1) Know the ISO range or your camera
I don’t mean know that it goes from 100 to 25,600 or higher but know when the noise (grain) kicks in to an unacceptable level. Although I prefer lower ISO’s, I feel like my Canon 5D Mark III is pretty solid at 1600 ISO and even acceptable at 3200ISO. However, I wouldn’t want to enlarge an image to poster size which is usually not what corporate event clients do. Oh, I can tell you that images at this ISO range look fine on a large screen because this client projected my images during the conference.

2) Use a tripod or monopod
It’s rare that I shoot stage shots like you see in this post without using either a tripod or monopod. It’s not uncommon for me to shoot a 1/30th of a second with my 70-200mm lens which is not ideal for handheld shooting. A monopod is easier to maneuver than a tripod but unless you have super steady hands, it’s possible that it will rock a little. That’s a key reason why I love using my MeFOTO RoadTrip Travel Tripod. It’s not as large as my Manfrotto 055 Tripod and is easy to use around the perimeter of the audience.

3) Use a wired or wireless trigger
To avoid extra movement from my finger pressing the shutter release button, I often use a wired shutter release trigger that helps me avoid camera shake.

I get it. You may be having a lot of thoughts right now about ISO and it being too high or that a tripod is too much trouble or that a 1/30th of a second that you’ll get motion blur if the subject moves. I completely understand which is why you have to gain experience to make all this work.

I zeroed in on the primary subject with a single focus point, had the camera on a tripod, used a wired shutter release and took numerous frames. However, I can honestly say that there was minimal focus and blur issues.

You will have to go out and test this for yourself and determine what’s right for you. For me, I have a system that I like and that works.

The post How To Shoot A Poorly Lit Stage At A Corporate Event? first appeared on .

Corporate Event Photography is the most physically demanding photography that I do. Although I often have at least one assistant for commercial location shoots, I am usually covering an event solo with two bags of gear along with me. When I fly to an event, it’s even more demanding. 

Real Event Example #1 

Quebec City Canada – Corporate Event Photography Short Overview

1) On a Saturday, I flew with two equipment cases from Raleigh to Quebec City .
2) Landed in Quebec City, Checked in the Hotel, Grabbed Gear, Started shooting event.
3) Sunday, Monday and Tuesday were roughly 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. back to back with minimal downtime. Downtime when traveling and shooting is often spent downloading files, checking batteries and double checking gear.
4) Wednesday Morning: shot event AM session, left hotel, flew back to Raleigh with two cases of gear and luggage. Brenda picked me up at the airport around 11:30 p.m.

Real Event Example #2

Raleigh NC – Corporate Event Photography Short Overview|

1) Wednesday – Shot Lunch Session with hundreds in attendance and several speakers
2) Afternoon Break – Downloaded Files to Brenda to start editing
3) Returned to Shoot Evening Session – Brenda texted me that Lunch edits were done
4) Downloaded Files to Brenda to edit that night – Uploaded all Wednesday edits to client via Dropbox around 1 a.m. – Got to bed at 2:30 a.m.
5) Thursday Evening – Shot for the same client – Donloaded files for Brenda to edit that night – Uploaded Edits around 1:30 a.m. – Got to bed at 2:30 a.m.

The corporate events that I have shot usually run a pretty tight schedule that actually stays on schedule. When dealing with executives, meals, keynote speakers, etc., there is often no choice but to stay on time and keep things moving. It’s usually non-stop for me from the time I pull my cameras out of the bag until it’s time for me to stop shooting. 

Image Copyright David Williams

My experience with companies inquiring about my services is that they are often looking for a photographer that has corporate event experience. They are usually not interested in using a wedding photographer for their corporate event. Some photographers do both and should have a strong portfolio on both sides to be able to consistently close business in both weddings and corporate events. For me, it’s all corporate events when it comes to event photography. I love specializing in corporate events for the event side of my photography. I love providing my corporate clients with a service that I am truly experienced in.

There is nothing wrong with shooting a wedding. It is one of the most important days in that couples life. I say one because being a father of two girls now in their 20’s, the birth of our two daughters is a sharp as our wedding day in my memory. But I said that to say, there is a difference in photographing corporate executives, business professionals, keynote speakers on stage, special guests like top government officials and more that go along with corporate event photography.

If are a photographer considering corporate events, you should get started by practicing on some Chamber of Commerce Events, Larger Business Networking Events and the like. Just because you can photograph a wedding, doesn’t mean that you can dive right into corporate events. The same can be said for the reverse of that which in my case, I have ZERO desire to photograph a wedding.

If you are a company looking to hire an experienced corporate event photography and have read this post to this point, please be sure to look at my corporate event page and see my client list which is a combination of corporate events and commercial shoots.

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Law Firm Commercial Photoshoot In Durham NC

One of my favorite types of photography is shooting images in office environments around the Raleigh-Durham area. The image above was shot at a law firm in Durham. You can see lots more of my around the office images that were shot in and around the Raleigh area on the around the office page.

It’s true that stock images are cheap and professional looking, but there are two core problems with stock images: 1) They often look too canned and polished in my opinion. 2) They are NOT the actual people working in the office that clients will meet.

When someone visits the law firm that the attorney above works for, the individual can actually meet the person that they may have seen when looking at the website. Many of the commercial office images that I take are not just traditional headshots but are of real staff doing something in their office like the shot above. The overall brand is reinforced better when using the actual team vs. buying stock images. Stock images should really only be place holders on a website until the company can hire a professional commercial photographer to get shots like the one above done along with some traditional headshots that the staff members can use on their LinkedIn Profile, Company Website, etc.

Don’t cut corners by trying to use a consumer camera to do office shots and headshots in house or even worse, a cellphone. The shot above was taken with Canon Pro Camera using shallow depth of field and a studio strobe for lighting. An experienced commercial photographer is worth the investment (not expense) when it comes to your brand.

The post Commercial Office Photography In The Raleigh-Durham Area Beats Stock Photos first appeared on .

The image above was taken in the Raleigh area; however, I have covered a corporate golf outing in Pinehurst.

Corporate event photography is a core part of my/our business (David & Brenda). Corporate golf outings like the one above is just one of the many types of corporate events that I cover. I don’t do any consumer event photography and love being exclusive to the corporate event side of photography which my/our corporate event clients appreciate.

You’ll notice that I am lying on the ground to get the two shots that follow. I will lay on the floor, on the ground, stand on something, use a monopod, move around, go left, go right or whatever it takes to get the shot that I am after which in the end provides much better final images. It’s a style that I have developed to well: It may surprise you to know that clients don’t say I’m in the way but often comment that I am everywhere. I’m a photojournalistic ninja when it comes to covering a corporate event.

Not all photographers will get the same results from the same event. A true professional will bring his or her unique style to the event. That’s why you have to do your homework on the photographer you are considering for your corporate event. In my case, I have lots of corporate event references and will provide contact details upon request.

In closing, weddings are a different type of event with a different style. Everyone knows the STAR (the-Bride) and the supporting minor star (the-Groom). There are several things about weddings that are very predictable. That’s not to say a wedding photographer cannot do a corporate event nor does it mean weddings are easy to shoot, but at the end of the day, what does the photographer shoot the most of Weddings or Corporate Events? I’m not trying to say anything bad about wedding photographers. It’s just that when you are looking for a corporate event photographer, do you really want a photographer that shoots mostly weddings? In my cases, I am exclusively  (100%) corporate events and love shooting them. I am truly passionate about them like a friend of mine that’s truly passionate about wedding photography.

Before you go, please be sure to check out some corporate event images below and call me at 919.723.8453 or fill out the form on the contact page.

The post Corporate Golf Event Photographer Raleigh – Being A Photojournalistic Ninja first appeared on .

The three people pictured are the three that work in the firm. As you know, you can buy stock images online, BUT when your potential customers / clients walk through your door and recognize the people from the website that does make a difference for your brand. Big brands like Ralph Lauren hire models to wear the clothing, but you DO NOT have to have a Ralph Lauren budget to get quality commercial photography that will do your brand justice.

Hiring a professional commercial photographer is a good business move in order to have images that really represent your brand online and in print. Depending on the photographer you hire, the rates could be more affordable than you think and you shouldn’t cut corners by using a friend or family member with a “nice” camera unless you have virtually no budget and have no other options.

The image to the left was shot for an oncology company at RTP. It was part of a series of inside shots which included most of the images taken in the lab. The company included this group shot of the team in lab coats as well as several key people were photographed outside for headshots. In this case, the company not only needed the images for their website but for their company brochure as well. This was a tight shot using a 28mm lens and two strobe lights that were not positioned in a typical fashion. In addition this shot needed some additional editing because one of the male subjects had his eyes closed. This was their favorite shot out of many, so we added open eyes back to the shot with post production editing.

Hiring a professional commercial photographer that can shoot both inside and outside will make a difference with your brand if you need both settings plus post production editing often plays a critical role in the final image. Not all people with a “nice” camera can do a good job when it comes to inside shots. It is a little easier, most of the time, to get the outside shots to work out. However, even the outside shot in the upper right had fill flash used to help with the shadows. Make sure you ask the commercial photographer that you are considering how comfortable he or she feels with inside photography. If you get a response like “I am a natural light photographer,” you might want to keep looking. If you need inside shots, you need to make sure they will represent your brand effectively by being quality images that will work both online and offline.

You can view more of David’s work below. Call David at 919.723.8453 if you need Commercial Photography.

The post Commercial Photography Images In Raleigh & RTP: Inside and Outside first appeared on .

The image that you see to the right was shot in Pinehurst, North Carolina at a 5 day corporate event that I covered. It’s not the full crowd, but gives you a general idea of the size. This shot was taken from up above as you can see. There was a brick area that I could stand on securely and shoot down on the crowd.

These 7 tips are in no particular order:

Tip 1 – Use a Flash – Inside and Out – There will be times at an event that you cannot use a flash for various reasons like maybe a keynote speaker on stage or the wedding vows being exchanged at a wedding. However, I recommend using flash whenever possible both inside and outside.  If you don’t know how to use a flash, you should get a TTL Flash for your camera and start. Existing light doesn’t always work. Check out the 3 hour video guide to flash photography.

Tip 2 – Batteries – Make sure your camera battery is fully charged and have backup batteries.  It’s plural because I suggest having more than one back up battery for your camera.  As for flash batteries, have plenty or an external power pack (recommended) that recycles faster. You can get something like this that holds 8 AA batteries that will give you better recycle time and last a lot longer than the 4 batteries in your flash.

Tip 3 – Have a backup camera body and a backup flash – I realize that this is an extra expense that you may not have in your budget as far as purchasing backup equipment.  However, with numerous rental sites like Borrow Lenses or your local camera store (in my case Southeastern Camera), you have no excuse not to have backup equipment and you can even add it to your pricing if needed. You know what you want to charge and the rental is $100. That’s easy! Quote $100 over your rate to cover your cost of rental. Although I do corporate event photography, I am not showing up to a 5 day event like the one I shot in Pinehurst with one camera body and one flash. If you shoot weddings, you BETTER have backups with you. I would not hire a wedding photographer that said he/she doesn’t have backup equipment. RENT!!!

Tip 4 – Always be ready – Whether you are shooting a corporate event or a consumer event, there is always something going on when you have numerous people gathered together. For the shot that you see on the left taken in front of the golf course, I was ready with camera and flash to grab the shot of these people cutting up and laughing.  In this case, they had asked me to take a picture of the three of them. Instead of photographing them near a bunch of other people, I asked them to step about 50 feet away to have the golf course behind them. They started cutting up and laughing and this is one of several shots that I got of them beyond the shot they wanted.

Tip 5 – Stay out of the way, but don’t stand in one spot – When photographing events, try to stay out of the way while not simply standing in one spot. This one will take some practice if you are not used to it. Be sure to move around at events but also try to be invisible so you will not annoy people. I have gotten very good at doing this.  I like staying on the move which helps me get better shots. One reason that I got hired for the Pinehurst event is because the previous photographer would not move around and primarily stood in one spot to get the shots which as you can imagine are not the same as a photographer that actually moves around.

Tip 6 – The Venue – Don’t forget to get some shots of the venue without people in the shots. The table setups, the facility, the food, etc. This will add to your final delivery of images by having some venue shots in the mix.  The shot on the right has no people in it but shows the venue setup nicely.

Tip 7 – Angle – Don’t just shoot standing in one position at eye level. Squat down and shoot up (like the image to the right) or stand on something stable (WARNING – I’m not responsible for your falls.) to shoot down. Although it’s not pictured here, the venue of the shot that you see on the right had a balcony. I asked a staff member how to get up there and shot several images from the balcony to create a different angle and perspective.

I could continue on with tips, but I’ll stop with these 7. Happy Shooting!!!

About Me: I’m located in Raleigh, North Carolina but shoot internationally. My specialty is corporate event photography, corporate headshots and people related commercial photography (not products). Please feel free to contact me … David [@] dwppc [.] com. If you are interested in hiring me for your corporate event, please call me direct at 919.723.8453 or use the online contact form.

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I recently covered a corporate event in Charlotte, North Carolina and wanted to share a few images in this post as well as provide a few additional details that may help you in your search for a corporate focused professional photographer covering the Charlotte area.

Although I am based in Raleigh, NC, I do shoot around the country and internationally. My Charlotte number is 704.918.1522 if you’d like to discuss your upcoming event. My rates are the same within a 3 hour radius of Raleigh for corporate events and on location corporate headshots for 10 or more people. In addition, I do have a friend who is a Charlotte based Professional Photographer should he be a better fit for you. Either way, I can help you get your corporate event covered and provide you with the information you need as it relates to photography coverage.

Corporate event photography is a core part of my business. I don’t do consumer events like weddings. If you are looking for a professional photographer that truly specializes in corporate photography including headshots, commercial, events and more, please include me in your RFP process. You can call my Charlotte number in the previous paragraph or click to visit my online form.

Below you will see several images from the Corporate Event that I covered inside the Marriott City Center Charlotte. If you would like to see more of my portfolio, you may visit my corporate events page.

The post Charlotte NC Corporate Event Photography Samples – By Photographer David Williams first appeared on .

Hosting a special corporate party event? Planning a huge community fundraiser?  You should consider hiring a professional event photographer to assist you!  Capturing these special moments at your big event will allow you and your guests to remember your big event for years to come.  These images will also be a wonderful keepsake for you to share, as well as display!  Fun and creative event photos can be used to decorate your office, update your website, as well as share through all of your professional social media pages.

The creative possibilities are truly endless when it comes to event photography.  Making the investment to hire a professional event photographer can open up new opportunities and ideas for marketing, as well as social media content.  Your event images can be used in a variety of ways to help improve and grow your business!  At David Williams Photography, we specialize in corporate event and charity event photography.  Feel free to take a look at our galleries to see examples of our professional photography work!  We love being involved with our community and assisting with all types of special events throughout North Carolina.

David Williams is a skilled photographer with years of professional event photography experience and knowledge!  David loves photography and has a passion for what he does.  Looking for a personable photographer that has a creative eye and offers variety?  That would be us!  If you have any questions or concerns about your upcoming corporate event or charity event, feel free to give us a call.  We would be more than happy to discuss your professional event and walk you through everything that we can offer you as a professional photography business.  We look forward to capturing all of your special moments and helping you build memories that will last forever! Call 919.723.8453!

The post Corporate Event Photography in Raleigh NC – Choosing The Right Photographer first appeared on .

When composing a photo, a leading line is any straight edge or surface that creates a visual pathway. For example, take a look at this photo that I shot for Children’s Flight of Hope (CFOH) below. CFOH is a local charity in Raleigh that provides air transportation to children who need specialized medical care. There are two points of focus in this photo: the sign in the background and the airplane in the foreground. But in particular, if you look at the wing on the plane, you will notice that the edge of the wing creates a natural visual path, almost like an arrow pointing back toward the center of the photo. The wing forms a leading line.

When you’re shooting a photo, look for opportunities to use leading lines to your advantage. Here are a few common places to find them in background scenes:

• Walls or edges of buildings
• Doorways and window frames
• Pictures hanging on walls
• Tables and other furniture
• Power lines
• Train tracks

When you use the effect of leading lines correctly, you can even sometimes create the illusion of motion. To find the best way to use leading lines, try shooting from different angles and see how the effect changes. When you look at your photos, notice the first thing your eye is drawn to look at—and notice where your eye ends up. Pay attention to the visual path that you follow when looking at the image. As you play around with this, you’ll start to notice more leading lines that may give you better ideas for places to use as background scenes.

The post Leading Lines in Photography – Study the Subject to Create Something Different first appeared on .

Contemporary Style Headshot Sample

Professional corporate photography and professional headshots are climbing rapidly in popularity. The quality of a professional photograph is far more impressive and sophisticated than just any ordinary profile picture. You would not want to use a “selfie” you take with your personal iPhone to represent yourself as a business oriented professional. Unpolished and unprofessional photos can actually hurt your business goals. Taking the time and money to invest in yourself to have a professional business headshot taken will prove to be highly beneficial in the long run. We only get one chance to make a lasting impression so you want your future customers and business contacts to see you at your very best.

What do you want your Linkedin professional profile to say about you? Take this question to heart and seriously consider getting a professional headshot taken. If you are already familiar with this type of photography service, schedule yourself to get a professional headshot session done at least once per year. Make sure your photo is as up to date as possible.

At David Williams Photography, we are established, professional photographers with years of experience under our belts. We are well known in the area for our focus on corporate and business photography for individual entrepreneurs to Fortune 500 business men and women.

Let us assist you in capturing the perfect headshot for your business or corporate needs! Feel free to contact us for additional information by clicking this link: https://www.rtpphotoandvideo.com/contact-david-williams-photographer-cinematographer/

Traditional Style Headshots…

Go Beyond the Headshot with something different...

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