Dallas Event Photographer: I'm on a Lift!
I often tell my clients that I enjoy a challenge. For a Dallas event photographer, creating a great photo is often like putting a puzzle together: you have to get all of the pieces in place in just the right way, for something great to appear. I enjoy gathering and placing these pieces to make beautiful images. There really is a thrill to the logistical and production side of photography, and so I am always up for whatever a client is looking for!
For this client, I was set to be the Dallas event photographer at the grand opening of their new space in Frisco, Texas, and was out there to get commercial interior photography for them when my client asked me about doing a group shot of their company. When I heard the words, “We want you on a cherry picker,” my excitement was palpable. I did say that I love a challenge, but I also have always been fascinated with machinery since I was a little boy. So asking me to use a lift for a photograph is like giving me a Christmas morning experience at a shoot.
This particular portrait blended with my work as a Dallas corporate photographer, as it was a supplement to the event coverage of the day. I find it is a pretty consistent part of my Dallas event photographer workflow however, and it makes complete sense. If you are having a large event, gathering etc., and aligning work schedules, travel schedules, etc., you should get the groupings you need of employees, clients and executives in whichever combinations will assist with your marketing later.
That was the case with this particular client. As they were having their entire staff in attendance for the grand opening of their new office building, it was a prime opportunity to get a portrait of the workforce coupled with the new space that they call home.
As you might guess, this was not just something that I could just walk into as a Dallas event photographer and do. No, there were weeks of planning and coordinating. I had to source a company that could get and install a lift, as well as keep a technician on hand to help everything run smoothly. Then there was the matter of lighting over 600 people from about 30 feet in the air. I could have shot it natural light, but then there wouldn’t be the great pop and contrast that fits my style. After all, if you are going to do a shot like this, it has to be done right. So I sourced four very high-powered strobes and mounted them to the beefiest stands I have ever used. Each stand weighs about 50 lbs. apiece and go up over 20 feet high in the air. The lights were then coupled up to very quiet generators. So many logistics for this Dallas event photographer, which meant so much fun!
My assistant and I arrived about 7am on the day of the shoot to get everything set up. The additional challenge was the fact that there was a large event going on before the portrait, so we had to get everything in, setup and tested well before that portion started.
Everything ran smoothly, and we had all the pieces in place for the when the portrait was to happen. On their end, the client made sure that all their employees had to do was turn around and smile when it was time, which was perfect. Things moved so efficiently, I think the longest part of the shoot itself was putting on my safety harness. I had a great time photographing a great client, while getting to use a lift in the process. I could not ask for more. Enjoy!