Shooting a Photo Essay: Documenting an Event

Course details

Whether you're photographing your kid's birthday party, a company event, or a political rally, the right gear and approach can help you capture personalities and special moments. In this course, follow Paul Taggart as he shares techniques for shooting a photo story about an event—in this case, a youth ice sculpting competition in the snowy wilderness of Fairbanks, Alaska. Paul shows how to document the early stages of an event, photograph people and moments at an event in full swing, and wrap up your shoot by capturing the last moments of an event. To wrap up, watch Paul photograph a bonus event—the changing colors of the Aurora Borealis.

Learning objectives
Documenting the early stages of an event
Interviewing an event employee for access and info
Photographing people and moments at an event
Photo gear tips for a cold weather event
Adding final finishing photos for an event story

Concepts

0. Introduction

01 - Welcome

1. Documenting the Early Stages of an Event

02 - Documenting the start of the ice sculpting event
03 - Documenting the end of day one at the ice sculpting event
04 - Getting some early shots as the event begins

2. Photographing People and Moments at an Event

05 - Photographing progress in the ice sculpting event
06 - Photographing moments surrounding the event
07 - Photo gear tips for a cold weather event

3. Final Finishing Photos for an Event Story

08 - Wrapping up the shoot with the last event moments
09 - Final essay

4. Bonus Event - Photographing the Aurora Borealis

10 - Beginning the Aurora Borealis photo shoot
11 - Photographing the Aurora as it continually changes - Part 1
12 - Photographing the Aurora as it continually changes - Part 2
13 - Post shoot edits on Aurora photographs