Need great candid event photos and glam red carpet moments?
Get you a photographer who can do both, as is the common wisdom.
Sometimes, good things do come from scrolling Instagram. I was so excited to see that the Femtasia Film Festival posted that they were looking for an event photographer in Los Angeles because I'd followed them for years, and I love their mission. Their goal is "to spotlight the works of women, femme, and non-binary creators in experimental and independent cinema." Taking red carpet photos and candid event photos at this very cool and welcoming festival was the highlight of my month!
(By the way, if you're looking for interesting new things to do in LA - it took place at the Philosophical Research Society in Los Feliz. There are all kinds of cool events there, so I would definitely recommend checking it out).
If you're planning an amazing, fun event, of course you want photos that reflect just how fun it was and how stunning everyone looked. So...hire a fun photographer who sees people as the beautiful people that they are. Whether it's to use for future marketing like on your own website or social media, or just to have memories to look back on from a more intimate event like a baby shower, I've got it covered. And if you've got a red carpet event, I'm here to make you feel confident and guide your posing so that you look just as stunning on camera as you do on the day!
How to get that perfect candid shot
There are some shots that truly are candid - that's what I love a long zoom lens for. But it's true that people (myself included) feel awkward when they suddenly realize that a photographer is capturing their big laugh. So, I like to blend the two ideas, and gently guide the guests into doing what they were doing before, but in a way that will look great on camera. I love these playful, collaborative moments. Of course, that doesn't work for everyone - some prefer a respectful distance from a camera, thankyouverymuch - but in my experience, it works famously at events in Los Angeles ;)
Resident tarot card reader, Kaitlyn Furey, caught in the neo-noir lighting of the blinds.
Fashion designer Violet Vargas with model Rose Darling, wearing one of her latex dress pieces.
Phoebe Parsons, director of "Eye, Me, Mine"
Venus Rx works their angles on the red carpet, with another design by Violet Vargas.
"They usually don't tell me anything! Thank you!"
A lot of photographers seem to assume that actors and models (or even other event guests) will know how to pose themselves on the red carpet, but it's a totally different beast than normal shoots. It's quick and can feel awkward - and I feel it's an essential part of my job to find your best light and angles.
As soon as I start playfully giving ideas for poses, people start to relax. That automatically makes for a better time, and a better photo. So many people came up to me afterwards to thank me for helping them pose. I know exactly what it's like to be on the other side of the lens - so of course I'm going to help you out! Whether it's bringing out the joy of the moment or helping you hit your angles and give me something fierce, I'm here to support you, direct you, and generally capture how amazing you are. And when you look back on your event photos, they'll tell a strong and memorable story.
Milica models another look by Violet Vargas/Gutter Gutter Studio. Angles, mood, motion!
