What is a bad day like as a Celebrity Event Photographer?

 

Amanda Seyfried

What is a bad day like as a Celebrity Event Photographer? or The Dream of being a Celebrity Event Photographer v The Reality. Could write a book on this...lets just say It's not all big paychecks and laughing yourself to sleep at night. The first five posts on this blog feature technically great, glamorous, full on eye contact and attention from the star and the sort of shots where everything has gone to plan. Everybody thinks well this looks an easy and glamorous job. BUT what happens when things don't go to plan and you are having one of those nights or worst still days and everything that can go wrong has gone wrong. For every 10/10 shot there are a number of not so great or photo disasters. Some days every female star seems to be eating out of the palm of your hand...others it's just not happening and you are scratching your head wondering why?

Featured photo above Amanda Seyfried close up at a Film Premier. She is there, she is smiling BUT the killer is EYES DOWN! Photo Status=FAIL

In this rather tongue in cheek article we will delve into the world of red carpet photography disasters, photographer errors, photographic mistakes, stars ignoring you and not posing, fans and crowds getting in the way, the photobombing by a security or pr, under exposed overexposed shots, those annoying just a fraction out of focus shots, missing the moment, getting zero rapport with a celebrity and other minor or major disasters.

The Dream of being a Celebrity Event Photographer v The Reality

So what can go wrong for a Celebrity Photographer photographing the stars at such events.

1. You can't get into the celebrity event and photographers pen in the first place. You are an accredited photographer with the relevant photographers pass but increasingly the events also require what is called an event pass to gain access to the photographers area. even if you are listed as accredited and have the pass with you, you are denied access as you do not have the event pass for that specific event. Result go home or shoot from the crowd/fan pen. Disaster No1 before you have even started.

Above Photo: Gizzie Erskine at the Glamour Women of the Year Awards, Mayfair, London. Flash didn't fire, awful background, no eye contact, flash bracket at foot so feet cut off, camera to bottom right, the dreaded bollards, half a security guard, sign sticking out of the back of her head and a smiling photo bomber in the background Photo Status = FAIL. if the flash did fire, she would be popping out of an under exposed less distracting background. A vastly different photo. I tried everything but she never did look in the end!

2. Forgot to charge your camera battery. Spare is as flat as a pancake or even worse they are both still in the charger at home 20 miles away! You have your press pass, you have the event pass but you forgot to recharge all your batteries from the previous day. Result take just 20 photos on 5% battery and hope for the best. Go home and call it a day. OR ask another photographer if they have a spare or try to find a plug outlet at the event to do a quick charge before the event starts. (normally arrive about an hour or so before the stars arrive) Either way, doesn't look too professional .Motto of the story always, check and double check your equipment.

3. Left the memory card at home or it's in another pair of trousers? or it's corrupted or producing error messages You've got the camera, right lens attached, flash and batteries fully charged, plenty of spares, camera batteries full charged....just one problem? No memory cards? Again relying on one or even two memory cards is not ideal, always carry spares and again check before you leave home that a) you actually have them and b) they are actually working in the first place. In this situation normally another photographer will have a spare and you return the favour at a future event. Despite what everybody thinks, other event photographers are competitors but everybody helps everybody else in such situations.

4. The event starts at 6pm and it starts absolutely chucking it down at 6pm on the nose Been their done it and literally got the wet T Shirt. A lot of the photographers areas are outside, normally uncovered and are exposed to the elements. Sometimes they do cancel the event but most of the time "the show must go on" is the attitude. Cameras billed as waterproof are surprisingly not so when push comes to shove. Motto; always carry a spare in such situations, check the weather and pack good water proofs and zip lock bags don't look great but they do work in keeping the worst of your camera gear. i have a number of shots of stars walking up the red carpet either being escorted with an umbrella or carrying one themselves.

5. Very windy weather causing all sorts of bad hair days and embarrassing moments with dresses? Your camera is working, you have an army of memory cards, batteries fully charged, you have your press pass AND the event pass, you have a superb spot in the event photographers pen BUT we have 50mph winds on the red carpet causing those £500 hair do's to go seriously amiss and skirts and dresses are blowing in all sorts of strange directions. Makes for superb candid celebrity moment photography but will not be doing the stars any favours and not something they want to see published anywhere!

Laura Whitmore arrives at an Awards Event but its EYES DOWN for me, distracting elements in background, foot cut off, leg positioning off. Photo Status = FAIL

6. The stars are just not playing ball, not posing up, not looking in your direction just getting blanked all night. This is the nightmare situation sometimes it can be the result of being in a bad spot in the pen maybe in the corners. Maybe just your usual charm and allure and techniques are just not working on that night. Maybe you have a spot where every time they pose they have a lamp post or something similar sticking out their back of their head.

Amanda Seyfried at a film premier in Leicester Square. All smiles but Eyes down..... arrows say the rest. Photo Status = FAIL

7. The photobombing security, fan or entourage taking over the shot Most of the photos taken at celebrity events are nano second moments and cannot be repeated. Photo bombing is either done intentionally or accidentally. Fans may appear in the background pulling faces which completely ruins the shot. The thing is you don't really see until afterwards but then it's too late. Security guards, sometimes the same one, usually the newer ones constantly sticking themselves in the frame and smiling. What can you do? Entourage are sometimes with the stars but they refuse to get out of the way blocking the shot. Sometimes I used to shoot from the crowds to get more original or candid shots but again that brings in a whole new set of problems of bits of paper, hands, pens, photographs for signing suddenly appearing in the frame at the wrong moment. The list goes on and on!

8. Shooting live and tethered direct to a photo agency and the Wi-Fi/internet connection is bad or keeps dropping out? I've shot next to people doing this normally for the major agencies such as Getty. It's stressful enough trying to get perfect shots in camera that are going live up to agency and checked then going directly for sale seconds afterwards. A bad connection can cause all sorts of problems and turn a dream job into an absolute nightmare.

9. Shots consistently under or over exposed? Again this is a technical issue, sometimes a camera that has been set up, the mode dial gets knocked and you end up with completely different settings. Chimping they say is the sign of an amateur photographer but in this game you are constantly checking the screen on back of the camera in between waiting for the next star. There is no margin for error, the shots have to be technically spot on or at worst only requiring very minor adjustment. This was back in the DSLR OVF days but now with decent mirrorless you are seeing the end result before you have hit the shutter button so this mistake is less common.

Emma Willis arriving at an Awards Event, Park Lane, London. Background in Focus. She is not. Too much background distraction. Photo Status = FAIL

10. Shots consistently being just slightly out of focus or the point of focus is too far forward or back Focus point issues can be common with say the tip of the stars nose just being fractionally out of focus but the eyes are crystal clear or the reverse. Back of heads especially hair from the front slightly out of focus. All photos that would not be accepted anywhere due to technical issues even if they are smiling and looking at your camera. Some of this is camera related it just couldn't pick up focus when things are fast moving or the depth of field was too shallow as in shooting at f2.8 fairly close will produce that effect. I always shot at the widest of F5.6. Nice semi dreamy backgrounds but focusing issues virtually eliminated. Sometimes I used pre set manual focus to avoid this problem. speeds up the camera as well.

Lorraine Kelly Glamour Women of the Year Awards, Mayfair London Out of focus. Strange thing going on with the eyes. Adjusting dress as getting out of car, shot taken too early. She did stop and did get a much better photo than this.... a second later full eye contact..

11. High speed nano second moments producing poor framing and composition errors In the fast paced world of event photography things like framing can be tricky when stars are darting in and out of view weaving their way through the crowds, leaving you with shots of the back of heads or even heads or feet cut off. Not the desired result and no amount of Photoshop will salvage such a photo especially with cut off heads partial or full.

12 Missing Key Moments
For a celebrity event photographer, capturing that perfect moment is what its s all about A celebrity’s laugh, a hug, or an unforgettable move or gesture can come and go in the blink of an eye. The trick is tuning in to the energy of the event and knowing when to be at the ready. Sometimes you might be checking a previous shot on the back of your camera completely unaware that the best moments of night with a major A Lister are happening just a few feet away. This one I would is say is one of the worst things to happen.

Nicole Scherzinger. The Cosmo Awards V&A Kensington, London. Eyes right. Foot cut off. Photog in fan pan distracting but otherwise not a fail and Technicals OK could be useable at a pinch if cropped to a portrait.

Summary There are other things that can happen such as your foot stool or step ladder collapsing at the event (been there), some obscure white balance you were using throughout the event but again chimping is your friend in this game. The ultimate one would be a No13 and that's you got some amazing shots and suddenly card error appears and all the shots are gone AFTER THE EVENT. That has to be the worst. Most Celebrity Event Photographers will shoot with cameras with dual memory card slots to avoid that problem.

In summary from my experience the following tips help to avoid all these problems

Tips for Survival: Navigating the Challenges of Celebrity Event Photography

Preparation and Planning Essentials
Preparation is key to avoiding disaster. Research the event, know who’s attending, and scout the location if possible. This way, you’ll not only be ready for the moments but also know where the best lighting is—because no one wants a celebrity bathed in harsh fluorescent light which is then competing with your flash as well.

Building Relationships with Event Coordinators and Security
Event coordinators are like the backstage passes to achieving success in photography. Building rapport with them as it is often the same people over and over again at different events can mean getting the best access points and insider tips what is going on behind the scenes.

Staying Calm Under Pressure
Staying calm allows you to make better decisions and capture those fleeting moments with clarity. A steady hand is a happy hand, and when that celebrity strikes a pose in your direction you want to be ready and looking professional in the process.

Conclusion In conclusion, while the world of celebrity event photography is filled with excitement and the potential for unforgettable moments, it is not without its challenges. By understanding the common pitfalls and learning from past mistakes, photographers can better navigate the complexities of this demanding field. With preparation, adaptability, and a keen eye for the unexpected, they can continue to capture the magic of celebrity events and create stunning images that tell compelling stories for years to come. But no matter how many years you have been in this role the mother of all disaster nights is potentially just a click of a shutter away. It's just the nature of the game!

FAQ

What are the most common challenges faced by celebrity event photographers?
Celebrity event photographers often encounter issues such as unpredictable weather, technical equipment failures, and the high-pressure environment of the red carpet, which can lead to missed opportunities and mistakes and maybe even the star not co-operating in the creation of a photo.

How can photographers improve their skills in celebrity photography?
Photographers can enhance their skills by practising in similar environments, studying past events they have attended , learning from mistakes, and keeping up with the latest photography techniques and equipment and also learning from other photographers who may have been in this game for a couple of decades.

What should photographers do when a celebrity ignores them during an event?
Photographers should stay professional, remain composed, and look for alternative ways to engage with the subject, such as capturing candid moments or focusing on other aspects of the event.If they don't pose for you then there may well be other better opportunities even with the same star just around the corner.

How important is preparation for a celebrity event?
Preparation is crucial for a successful shoot. This includes understanding the event's layout, familiarizing oneself with the guest list, and testing equipment and testing again to ensure everything is in working order before the event begins.Backups are also important in the key areas.

This article originally appeared on Frank John London 

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