One of the things I really enjoy about being an event photographer is that no two jobs are ever the same. One day I’m knee deep in confetti at a wedding, the next I’m photographing theatre productions, and then I’m swapping all of that for a room full of black ties, awards, casino tables and rugby players.
I’ve been working with Torquay Rugby Club for a while now, photographing everything from promotional portraits to team photos and previous club events. It’s always a pleasure being asked back, and it’s nice to know that the club trusts me to continue documenting such important occasions.
This year’s black tie awards evening was held at The Arena, Torquay, the first time the club had chosen the venue. As always, I arrived early to have a look around before guests started arriving. Walking into the room, my first thought was…
“Blimey, it’s dark!”
And I don’t mean the sort of dark where your camera has to work a little harder. I mean the sort of dark where even photographers start questioning their life choices.
Fortunately, challenging lighting is something I’ve become very familiar with over the years.
When Fast Lenses Become Essential
People often ask what camera settings I use, and the honest answer is, it completely depends on the venue.
This evening was one of those occasions where absolutely nothing slower than an f1.4 lens was going to cut it. Even shooting wide open, with professional lighting positioned around the room, I was still regularly photographing at ISO 6,500.
For anyone who isn’t into photography, that number is remarkably high.
Modern cameras are incredible, but asking them to photograph a room this dark while still freezing people laughing, dancing and collecting awards is a real challenge.
Thankfully, that’s exactly why I invest in professional equipment.
Building Light Without Ruining the Atmosphere
The temptation in a dark venue is simply to blast everything with flash. I don’t. The atmosphere is there for a reason, and my job is to preserve it, not turn it into something that looks like it was photographed in broad daylight.
Instead, I used carefully positioned lighting to gently lift the room while keeping all of the atmosphere the organisers had worked so hard to create. The end result is photographs that still feel like the evening guests experienced, just with everyone looking their best instead of disappearing into the shadows.
The best lighting is often the lighting nobody notices.
Black Tie Means One Thing…
Spotting the guests.
Normally, photographing arrivals means looking for people filtering in from every direction. At a black tie event, it’s wonderfully straightforward… Just look for the people looking far smarter than anyone else around them.
I spent the first part of the evening outside, photographing guests as they made their way towards the venue. There is something quite special about arrivals. Everyone is looking forward to the evening ahead, greeting friends they haven’t seen for a while and generally enjoying the excuse to get dressed up.
Those first interactions often produce some of my favourite candid photographs of the night.
Capturing the Story
My brief for the evening covered quite a lot;
Plenty of candid photographs.
Formal portraits for anyone who wanted one.
The awards presentation.
Venue details.
Entertainment.
Table decorations.
And generally anything else that helped tell the story of the evening.
This is always how I approach event photography. Anyone can photograph someone receiving an award. The story comes from everything around it. The conversations. The laughter. The applause. The reactions from friends sitting at neighbouring tables.
Those little moments often become the photographs people enjoy the most.
A Casino Without Losing Any Money
Entertainment for the evening came courtesy of Casino Select, who provided professional roulette and blackjack tables throughout the night.
These proved incredibly popular.
Thankfully, nobody was gambling real money, which probably kept a few spouses happy. The casino tables created brilliant opportunities for natural photography.
Concentration.
Celebration.
Mock disappointment.
Questionable poker faces.
There was plenty going on wherever you looked, and they helped keep the atmosphere buzzing throughout the evening.
Awards, Applause and Plenty of Smiles
As the evening moved on, attention turned towards the awards ceremony. These moments are always enjoyable to photograph because every winner has a different reaction.
Some confidently stride onto the stage. Some look completely shocked. Others spend the first few seconds wondering whether they’ve heard their name correctly.
Capturing those genuine reactions is always the aim.
There were plenty of laughs, lots of applause and a genuine sense of pride throughout the room as teammates celebrated each other’s achievements.
It’s easy to see why these evenings are so important for sports clubs.
They’re a chance to recognise all the hard work that goes on throughout the season while giving everyone an excuse to celebrate together.
Time to Hit the Dance Floor
Once the formalities were over, the music started and the dance floor quickly filled.
This is where I get to have a little fun with the camera.
Anyone who has followed my work for a while will know that I love using shutter dragging during evening events.
It creates those energetic photographs where the lights streak around the room while the subject remains perfectly sharp thanks to a carefully timed burst of flash.
It’s one of my favourite techniques because it captures something a standard photograph simply can’t.
Movement. Energy. Excitement. Of course, I also captured plenty of more traditional dance floor photographs alongside these. Having a mixture of styles helps tell the complete story of the evening.
One Last Important Detail…
The food. Yes, I always mention the food. It would be rude not to.
The buffet was excellent.
Corn on the cob, Potato wedges, Crispy chicken wings and plenty more besides.
It certainly kept everyone fuelled for the rest of the evening, especially once the dancing got underway.
I always think a good event is remembered for three things.
The people.
The atmosphere.
And the food.
This one certainly ticked all three boxes.
Another Fantastic Evening with Torquay Rugby Club
Every time I work with Torquay Rugby Club, I’m reminded what a welcoming club it is.
Whether I’m photographing promotional material, team portraits or black tie celebrations, everyone is always friendly, relaxed and more than happy to have a camera following them around.
The Arena proved to be a fantastic venue for the evening, despite trying its hardest to hide everyone in near darkness!
It was another thoroughly enjoyable event to photograph, and I’m already looking forward to seeing what the club has planned next.
Equipment Used on the Day
2x Sony A7IV
Sony 24mm f1.4
Sony 85mm f1.4
Godox V1 speedlights on both cameras, each controlling the other lights
Godox AD200 strobes positioned on each side of the room
