Guides
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What does event photography cost?
What two hours, a half day and a full day cost, what moves the price from there, and why the cheapest quote usually isn't.
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How booking works, from first email to gallery
The steps from your first email to the finished gallery, in plain order.
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When do we talk before the event?
The three check-ins that make the day easy: months out, 30 days and a week before.
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How do the photos reach your attendees?
Three ways to get the photos to the people in them, and why I leave the sharing to you.
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What's in a full day of event photography?
How a full day runs, from the shot list the day before to the group photos at the end, and what you have in hand afterward.
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How fast do event photos come back?
When the full gallery arrives, what same-day highlights are, and how to plan for fast photos.
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What if your event runs over?
How overtime works, why a full day has room in it, and how to avoid surprises.
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How many hours of coverage do you need?
How to pick the hours: what you need, what you don't, and why I'll tell you when less is enough.
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What do corporate portraits cost?
Portrait sessions are $2,000 for two hours, $3,400 for a half day and $5,200 for a full day, at about thirty people an hour for a team.
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How many photos should you get from a photographer?
How many photos you'll get from a photographer depends on the event. Here's why I don't quote a number, and what to ask instead.
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When to book a conference photographer
How far ahead to book a conference photographer in Washington, DC and Northern Virginia, what to send with the request, and why to keep one photographer.
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The event planner's photo toolkit
What to put in the photographer's brief, how to mark photo moments in the run of show, and how to share the gallery after.
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Same-day event photos for social media
Why post event photos the same day, which ones make the set, and how to plan the handoff.
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How do you choose an event photographer?
Three things to check before you hire, and when I'm honestly not the right fit.
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What does 'photographer near me' really mean?
The best photographer is often the one nearest you, like the best bagel.
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Northern Virginia photographers I love
Four photographers I'm grateful for, what each is best at, and when I'd send you their way.
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What does retouching mean, and what do you change?
What I edit, what I leave alone, and why I'd rather document than invent.
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Questions to ask before you book an event photographer
Five questions to ask an event photographer before you book, and why the camera isn't one of them.
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Event photos or event video: do you need both?
What photos do best, what video does best, and how the two work together on the day.
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Do you need a second photographer?
When a second photographer earns their place, and when it's overkill.
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What if your event photographer can't make it?
The backup plan behind a booking: duplicate gear, two cards and a network of local photographers.
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Can staff just take the photos on their phones?
Where phone photos work, where they fall short, and how to tell which one your event needs.
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Photo booth or a roaming photographer?
What a photo booth gets you, what a roaming photographer gets you, and when to have both.
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Photo consent at your event
Registration language, signs, opt-out lanyards and slide rules. How planners handle it, not legal advice.
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Annual meeting photography
What to get photographed at your annual meeting: the program, your leadership, and portraits while everyone's in one place.
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Hill Day photos your members will use
What to capture at a Hill Day or fly-in, and how the photos keep working for the cause long after.
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Which DC-area venues photograph well?
A short list of well-known DC-area venues, and what makes a room easy to photograph.
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What should be in an event photography shot list?
What goes on an event photography shot list: the people who must appear, the moments that only happen once, the sponsors, and the empty room.
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What goes wrong at events, and how I plan for it
Two real stories, what they taught, and why being flexible beats having a perfect plan.
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Candid or posed event photos?
How I balance posed group photos against real moments, and when to book an editorial session instead.
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Flash or no flash at your event?
When flash helps, when it gets in the way, and how I work in a dim ballroom.
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Charity gala photos that help next year
Charity gala photography in DC and Northern Virginia: photos that delight your guests, thank your sponsors and help fundraising ask again next year.
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Awards night photography
Photographing an awards night in DC or Northern Virginia: every winner on stage, the entertainment, and the sponsors who made the night happen.
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Photographing a panel discussion
How to get good photos of a panel or a fireside chat: the stage, the chairs, the light, and the shot every speaker wants afterward.
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Photographing a networking event
How to photograph a reception or happy hour so it looks like the room felt: real conversations, the hosts and the people guests came to meet.
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Photographing your trade show booth
What to photograph at your trade show booth: the build before doors, your team with buyers, the demos, and the photos sales will use after.
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Sponsor recap photos
What sponsors need photographed at your conference or gala, and how to plan the list before the day.
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Photographing a ribbon cutting
How to get the photo of the cut, the speakers and the whole group, at a ribbon cutting or a groundbreaking.
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Photographing a product launch
What a launch event needs from its photos: the reveal, the product up close, guests trying it, and pictures ready for the press.
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Photographing a sales kickoff or all-hands
What to tell your photographer before a kickoff or all-hands, and how to get team portraits out of the same day.
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Photographing the company holiday party
What to photograph at a company holiday party so the pictures get used all year: the room, the toast, the groups, and when to book.
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Holiday party venues in Northern Virginia
Company holiday party venues around Tysons and Loudoun, and what to ask the venue so the photos come out.
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Photographing a company retreat
What to photograph at a company retreat or off-site: the sessions, the downtime, the venue and a team photo worth keeping.
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Team-building activities that photograph well
Which team-building activities make good photos for the careers page, which ones don't, and how to plan the day.
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Planning a winery off-site in Loudoun or Fauquier
The light, the timing, the rain plan and when to take the group photo at a winery off-site.
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Corporate event venues in Loudoun County
Resorts, conference centers, wineries and historic estates in Loudoun, and how each kind of room photographs.
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Portraits for the whole office
How a team portrait session runs at your office in DC or Northern Virginia: the spot, the sign-up sheet, and about thirty people an hour.
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What if an employee doesn't want a portrait?
A short answer for HR: let me know ahead of time, and I'll skip them.
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Getting ready for your portrait
How to get ready for a corporate portrait: the week before, the morning of, and what happens in front of the camera.
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What to wear for corporate portraits
What to wear for a corporate portrait session in DC or Northern Virginia: what photographs well, what doesn't, and why comfort beats the perfect outfit.
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Studio or on-site team portraits?
A studio or your office? Time away from desks, a consistent look, and which one fits your team.
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Team page portraits that match
Why a mismatched team page costs trust, how to keep it consistent, and how to add new hires later.
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Outdoor team portraits in Northern Virginia
Where to take team portraits outside in Northern Virginia, the best hours, and the plan for bad weather.
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A LinkedIn photo that looks like you
How to get a LinkedIn profile photo that looks like you: framing, expression, background, and when a phone photo will do.
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AI portraits versus a real session
AI portrait generators are fine for a profile picture you need this afternoon. They fall apart anywhere somebody's deciding about you.
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Brand photos for small businesses
Photos of your business as it really is: your people, your work and your space, and how to build a library you can post from all year.
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Brand photography for real estate agents
Portraits and lifestyle brand photography for real estate agents. What your photo has to do, and why one portrait usually isn't enough.
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Construction photos for builders
Photographing the work while it's happening: the crew, the machines and each stage of the job, for your marketing.
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Photos for the annual report
What the annual report needs, what to shoot in December, and why your own people beat stock.
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Team portraits in Arlington, Alexandria and Fairfax
Portraits for a whole team at your Arlington, Alexandria or Fairfax office: how the day runs and what everyone gets.
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Team portraits in Gaithersburg and Bethesda
Portraits for a whole team at your Gaithersburg, Bethesda or Rockville office: how the day runs and what everyone gets.
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A portrait lounge at your conference
How a portrait lounge works at a conference or trade show: the setup, the line, and what attendees take home.
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What goes in an event photography contract?
The parts of an event photography contract that matter, in plain words.
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Event venues in Annapolis, MD
8 venues in Annapolis, MD that host business events, and what each one is known for.
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Event venues in Alexandria, VA
9 venues in Alexandria, VA that host business events, and what each one is known for.
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Event venues in Arlington, VA
8 venues in Arlington, VA that host business events, and what each one is known for.
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Event venues in Ashburn, VA
6 venues in Ashburn, VA that host business events, and what each one is known for.
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Event venues in Harbor East and Fells Point, MD
6 venues in Harbor East and Fells Point, MD that host business events, and what each one is known for.
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Event venues in Baltimore's Inner Harbor, MD
8 venues in Baltimore's Inner Harbor, MD that host business events, and what each one is known for.
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Event venues in Bethesda, MD
7 venues in Bethesda, MD that host business events, and what each one is known for.
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Event venues in Capitol Hill
6 venues in Capitol Hill that host business events, and what each one is known for.
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Event venues in Charlottesville, VA
8 venues in Charlottesville, VA that host business events, and what each one is known for.
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Event venues in Chantilly, VA
6 venues in Chantilly, VA that host business events, and what each one is known for.
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Event venues in College Park, MD
5 venues in College Park, MD that host business events, and what each one is known for.
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Event venues in Downtown DC
10 venues in Downtown DC that host business events, and what each one is known for.
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Event venues in Dupont Circle and Embassy Row
7 venues in Dupont Circle and Embassy Row that host business events, and what each one is known for.
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Event venues in Fairfax, VA
5 venues in Fairfax, VA that host business events, and what each one is known for.
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Event venues in Frederick, MD
7 venues in Frederick, MD that host business events, and what each one is known for.
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Event venues in Fredericksburg, VA
7 venues in Fredericksburg, VA that host business events, and what each one is known for.
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Event venues in Front Royal, VA
5 venues in Front Royal, VA that host business events, and what each one is known for.
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Event venues in Gaithersburg, MD
6 venues in Gaithersburg, MD that host business events, and what each one is known for.
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Event venues in Georgetown
8 venues in Georgetown that host business events, and what each one is known for.
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Event venues in Gainesville and Haymarket, VA
3 venues in Gainesville and Haymarket, VA that host business events, and what each one is known for.
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Event venues in Leesburg, VA
7 venues in Leesburg, VA that host business events, and what each one is known for.
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Event venues in Manassas, VA
7 venues in Manassas, VA that host business events, and what each one is known for.
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Event venues in Middleburg, VA
8 venues in Middleburg, VA that host business events, and what each one is known for.
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Event venues in National Harbor, MD
7 venues in National Harbor, MD that host business events, and what each one is known for.
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Event venues in Purcellville, VA
6 venues in Purcellville, VA that host business events, and what each one is known for.
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Event venues in Reston, VA
6 venues in Reston, VA that host business events, and what each one is known for.
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Event venues in Richmond, VA
9 venues in Richmond, VA that host business events, and what each one is known for.
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Event venues in Richmond's West End and Short Pump, VA
7 venues in Richmond's West End and Short Pump, VA that host business events, and what each one is known for.
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Event venues in Rockville, MD
5 venues in Rockville, MD that host business events, and what each one is known for.
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Event venues in Silver Spring, MD
5 venues in Silver Spring, MD that host business events, and what each one is known for.
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Event venues in Towson and Hunt Valley, MD
3 venues in Towson and Hunt Valley, MD that host business events, and what each one is known for.
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Event venues in Warrenton, VA
7 venues in Warrenton, VA that host business events, and what each one is known for.
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Event venues in Tysons and McLean, VA
6 venues in Tysons and McLean, VA that host business events, and what each one is known for.
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Event venues in the Wharf and Navy Yard
8 venues in the Wharf and Navy Yard that host business events, and what each one is known for.
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Event venues in Winchester, VA
9 venues in Winchester, VA that host business events, and what each one is known for.
Get in touch
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