10 Tips to get the Most out of Photography as a KEYNOTE SPEAKER | Event Photography by Kelli Price
Top 10 Tips to get the Most out of Photography as a Guest Speaker
Congratulations on the opportunity of speaking in front of an audience about a subject you are passionate about! This blog post is not your excuse to act like a diva and request green M&Ms. ;) Your primary focus should definitely be about creating quality content for your presentation and not falling on stage #speakergoals. But once you have that nailed down, you can focus on marketing yourself and getting quality photos of you on stage. I’ve photographed so many keynote speakers, panels and general sessions over the past few years and I’ve struggled capturing some of the speakers. This is my list of “If they just did this I could get a decent photo”…….
Update your headshot prior to the event! Assuming the headshot will be used to introduce your and on the event app, you want to make sure the attendees can match you with your photo.
Get comfortable on stage. Don’t look down while speaking or your photos will look like you are sleeping. Don’t pace too much which can result in all of your photos vs. facing & engaged with audience.
If you see the photographer, try to pause and smile at them and hopefully they will get that shot! Capturing speakers mid-speak, mouth open, or eyes closed is very common….help the photographer with some nicely timed pauses and natural smiles.
Will you be part of a panel that is sitting on stage? Ask if you will be sitting in a chair or a stool. If you are on a stool, don’t wear a short skirt/dress. Nothing looks more uncomfortable than a woman in a short dress on a stool! If you are in a chair, don’t sit on the way back or you may get a little double chin … nobody likes that! Instead, sit on the edge which is a more flattering posture, it also makes you look more engaged with the audience.
Inquire about the stage backdrop….and make sure you don’t match it. Ha! You will stand out more in the photos if you don’t blend into the stage.
Don’t chew gum on stage. I swear….I’ve seen it and its distracting and doesn’t make a good photo.
Be aware of your body movements. Try not to scratch yourself, put your hand up your sweater sleeve (seen it!) Even if you are on a panel and not speaking, you will be in the photos.
If you are using a slide presentation while on stage, consider your template color and font size of your presentation. Use simple & eye catching graphics, bold slides can add impact to photos of you on stage. And please, don’t use neon colors or text as they will not photograph well (and is difficult for the audience to read).
If you have flexibility with the microphone, don’t get stuck behind the podium, especially if you are short :) The photographers are ground level, so if you are hidden behind anything we can’t get a decent angle of you.
Create a moment in your presentation for audience engagement such as raising hands, asking a portion of the audience to stand or Q&A. This can create a great photo op for you!
BONUS - If you have the opportunity, make sure to connect with the photographer! Ask them for their business card so that YOU can email them and request access to the photos. You may even want to offer to buy the photos which is greatly appreciated! Typically the event planners are great about sharing photos with the speakers, but connecting with the photographer is another step to guarantee that you get some photos AND the photographer may connect with you on social media. And of course, if you post an image on social media please make sure to give them photo credit. For example: Photo credit to the amazingly, talented photographer @KelliPricePhotography. Something like that :)
Guess what?! If you read all of this blog I’m assuming you are a speaker and may be on the hunt for an event photographer. Well, I just happen to be an event photographer that can do all of the above! SCORE! Connect with me for a custom proposal for your event.
Read my other blogs from this series:
Consider your colors & font size of your presentation