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by Richard Bradley

When you hear the phrase “Event Photography” you might think of black tie corporate events, weddings, proms and equestrian events, however event photography can also include, trade shows, local football tournaments, surf meets, fundraisers, the possibilities are literally endless. All you need is a gathering of people, the equipment and the right attitude.

What makes a good event photographer?

A successful event photographer will need to have a real can-do attitude; enthusiasm and flexibility will get you the gigs and a good reputation with organizers. It is often said the best event photographers are from IT, customer services or sales and marketing backgrounds. They get the job done quickly and efficiently and usually have good customer relation and entrepreneurial skills, whereas people from a photographic background are often too tied up in details to get the job done. Event photography should be seen very much as a service industry.

The fine line

Quick Figures

Once you have covered the initial cost of your equipment (which can be achieved at your first few events), your main out-goings will be the frames or mounts to hold the photos and the media kits containing your paper and ink ribbons, the cost per print for both of these is usually around £1. The standard prices for the event industry are £10-£15 for a 7 x 5” print in a frame or mount. This gives you a £9-£14 profit per print!

Mike Weeks giving a talk at the Eventrepreneur Show, Cardiff

The Earnings

An established, self-employed event photographer typically makes between £40,000 and £60,000 per annum, some even make hundreds of thousands. This level of income is by no means guaranteed and like many careers, the first few years are the hardest. A new event photographer should expect to make no more than a few thousand pounds in the first year, but it is possible to make a sustainable living out of it by the second year. This is why event photography is typically taken up by people in their forties; they will have the finances needed to make the initial investment and the experience to run their own business.

How Stable is it?

In the right hands, event photography is a recession-proof business. The industry has continued to flourish even in these difficult times because people still want to organize and go to events. With the right business mind, a smart photographer can see the best ways to market themselves in these circumstances. For example, at a charity event, offer a percentage of your earnings to the charity; this will increase your chances of a sale and improve your relationship with the organizers.

The Lifestyle

A typical month for event photographers will mainly involve researching events, they work all hours of the day, do a lot of driving and canvas events around the country. An established event photographer will usually only have three or four events each month (as most are weekend based). Some events, such as tournaments, can stretch over a whole week, these take a lot of planning as supplies, accommodation and meals need to be taken into account. At long events the pace is relentless as time spent resting can be seen as money wasted, this can be very stressful but the rewards can be huge.