For some reason, as a San Diego Event Photographer some months seem busier than others. The fall season brings us Christmas parties; I mean holiday parties and family portraits for Christmas cards. Summertime is usually the time for weddings and family events; but also for National Multiple Sclerosis Society events such as: the MS Bike, MS Walk, and Muck MS.
Last year, I didn’t have the opportunity to make the MS Bike, so I was really excited that this year that I would be able to make it at least one day. Unfortunately, I had a prior shoot scheduled the day before and could not make the entire event, but I did take some lessons learned home, that I wanted to share with you:
Get plenty of the sleep the night before. This way you can arrive early and get those preparation shots. Remember the early bird gets the worm.
Clean and double check your equipment. This included cleaning lenses, charging batteries, and formatting memory cards.
Make sure the vehicle you will be using is clean and fueled the day before.
Keep in mind, more than likely this event will span the entire day, so keep track of your ISO and White Balance settings.
Know the route. Like any walk, run, or biking even there will be a route to follow. I find it easier to know where you will be going then trying to follow the signs on the street.
If you have an assistant have him or her drive while you photograph bicyclist on the road. Don’t try to shoot and drive at the same time.
Rest stops are one of the hotspots for photographing, because sponsors are present and they will more than likely use these photo’s on their social media sites.
Bring your A game. Photographing events isn’t easy. You will need to encourage and organize people for pictures. Make sure you are patient and sensitive to people’s needs.
Photographing the MS Bike was a lot of fun. I had the opportunity to meet some really nice people, hear their life stories, and see some scenic parts of San Diego. Oh and did I mention, there are plenty of snacks and drinks along the way and it’s for a good cause.
I hope I have not bored you too much. I had a lot of fun writing this one like all of my blogs. I trust I have given you some valuable tips to think about, before planning your next shoot. It’s not all bad, just be clear and informative, it will save you a lot of headaches. Remember nothing is set in stone and there is not a perfect formula, so go out and have some fun.
Leave a Reply