
Corporate Event Photography
Corporate Event Photography does not have to be lots of cheesy images of people, holding drinks, and turning to pose for the camera. Images that frankly could be taken on an iPhone. Replace that bland approach with candid reportage. Not getting people to pose but using fast prime lenses to capture the event’s narrative, capturing the atmosphere. Bad lighting, flow with it, use it for effect. Let the photography capture the event, rather than impose upon it. I feel it leads to more interesting images for a variety of marketing uses.
Here are a series of images taken at the Christmas Parties hosted by Adam Phones. The Telecommunications company, an independent mobile and fixed-line communications service provider was started by Adam Toop back in the late 1980s. They describe themselves so, ‘For over thirty years we have been creating bespoke, high-performance mobile and fixed-line connectivity solutions for some of the most demanding businesses in the world. Our multi-award-winning service is trusted by organisations that include FTSE 100 and Fortune 500 companies, and organisations representing multinational financial services, government, broadcasting, aerospace, hospitality, legal, HNWIs and many others.‘
It was Adam who contacted me about photographing these corporate events. To be honest, I wasn’t sure, the whole ‘line people up and photograph them as they look into the camera lens’ isn’t really my style. But he assured me he wanted me to shoot it in the same reportage style that I had captured his wedding day, some years previously. Fast lenses, no flash and a discreet manner. A candid photography approach that pairs well with a relaxed event at the Four Seasons Hotel in Park Lane, London. Reception drinks in the foyer (pretty dark…), dinner and some amazing cabaret acts, like The Regurgitator!
Corporate Event on a boat
Henley Regatta and Adam’s love of boats combined with hosting a Corporate party for clients on the River Thames. In terms of capturing, not a lot of space in which to operate. It was all about seeking out different angles, along with capturing the moments, as the boat coasted towards the world-famous Regatta at Henley-on-Thames. Creating a small narrative of the event.
(Adam Phones was acquired by Radius Payment Solutions in 2019, as Adam retired. But in his own words, “After two years of retirement, much of it locked down in a house with marauding twins and a rampaging puppy, I decided it wasn’t for me.” He started up a new company, Code Technology, a new entrant in the telecommunications industry, established to meet the demands of the alternative investment sector, governments and family offices.)