A few things that are incredibly helpful:

→ Give us the lay of the land.
Where are the important spaces? What's off-limits? Which entrance actually gets us where we need to go?

→ Tell us what the schedule doesn't.
A run of show might say “reception,” but you know the CEO always stops by for the first 20 minutes, or that the award recipients gather somewhere after leaving the stage.

→ Make VIPs easy to spot.
One of my favorites: a printed page with names and full-color photos of your VIPs. Hand it to your photographer at the beginning of the day and we can find the right people in a crowd without constantly asking, “Is that them?”

→ Flag the logistical quirks.
Restricted access, surprise announcements, room changes, security requirements, tight transitions - tell us before they become surprises for us, too.

→ Point out the “you wouldn't know unless you work here” stuff.
If there's something important that an outsider would never recognize, give us the inside scoop.
Ten minutes of context at the beginning can save a lot of questions later—and lets your photographer spend more time doing what you brought us there to do.

Do you have an upcoming event and you've been meaning to book a photographer?

​How else can we support you through your photography experiences? Comment below if you have questions or would like to make a request for our October blog post.

See you next month!
Autumn

Before your next event, try asking one question:

"Six months from now, what photos will we wish we had?"

The answer is often different from the event schedule.

Those images might end up in your annual report, a grant proposal, your careers page, next year's event promotion, or a press release. Thinking beyond the event itself helps create an image library that keeps working long after everyone has gone home.

​Here are a few ways to think about it when planning your photography:

• Annual reports & impact storytelling: Choose moments that show outcomes, not just activity - people engaged, results in action, and real-world impact.
• Recruitment & careers pages: Capture authentic team interactions, workplace culture, and candid moments that reflect what it’s actually like to work with you.
• Fundraising & grant applications: Document both the need and the response - before/after context, community involvement, and measurable change.
• Marketing & campaigns: Look for versatile images that can be reused across multiple channels (social, web, email) rather than one-off visuals.
• Press & media use: Prioritize clean, well-composed images with clear subjects that can stand alone in editorial contexts.
• Long-term value mindset: Ask during the shoot, “Where else could this image be used in 6-12 months?” to maximize return on the session.

Planning something this fall?

See you next month,
​Autumn

This video is for people who are new to photography and feel like it takes an overwhelming amount of time to edit photos. Or maybe it's for people who aren't newbies, but feel like they want to know how to reduce post-processing time.

Don't forget to check out my video about how I edit in Lightroom!

Happy Friday!
​Autumn

An image is blurry. But you were trying to hold the camera so still. Why? WHYYYYYYY? Let me help!

​Happy Friday!
Autumn

Here are three reasons to consider whether to hire a professional or amateur:

1. You may have to schedule a re-do (either with the amateur, or with a professional).
2. Amateurs may not yet have good communication or organization skills, therefore lengthening the process.
3. More creative direction might be needed by amateurs

The lesson: hiring an amateur costs you not only money, but time. Two very important commodities in life are time and money - which one do you want to save?

Happy Friday!
​Autumn