Dear Reader,
Hello there! It's me again, your favorite strategic corporate event photographer!
Last time, we chatted about the transformational power photography has to achieve your goals.
Photography can completely make or break your attendees' and client's perception of your event. It can build bridges to new clients, or collect dust on your hard drive.
I don't know about you, but I'm a skeptic until proven otherwise...so let me provide some proof!
(TRUE)Story Time!
(*names have been changed for privacy):
On the morning of July 11th 2023, corporate planner, Natalie* excitedly got ready for her big event. She had traveled to LA from the East Coast to host a product launch for her client's major athletic brand, and had hired local media to cover the event. She had also hired me to photograph the event. It was going to be HUGE.
As she slipped on her brand-new Chanel suit that she had splurged on for this very occasion, she thought about how big this opportunity was for her business. She smiled, buttoning her jacket and looking in the mirror. Soon, she'd have a closet full of these suits.
It was go-time. Natalie ubered to the event, and waited. She was surprised to see only a short line forming outside the door, but didn't panic. After all, the event was running on California time, right?
Natalie waited. And waited... and waited.
4 hours and a fraction of expected attendees later, Natalie (who had taken off her suit jacket) and I sat on a bench outside the venue. "What did I do wrong?" she asked, in an uncharacteristic moment of vulnerability. I looked her in the eye. "Honestly..."
What did Natalie do/not do: How to increase attendance and engagement
So, what did Natalie do wrong? Well, nothing. Not exactly. She had a targeted strategy, a media plan, and the event itself was catered with delicious food and beverages. Heck, she even had a celebrity in attendance. It didn't come down to the event itself.
Natalie inadvertently failed to understand 3 things:
- People are VISUAL CREATURES
- Tik Tok and IG create an intense FOMO amongst her target demo
- You have to prove to people WHY your event is worthy of their time.
After the event, I worked with Natalie to create a targeted marketing strategy to get the images we captured in front of the right people within the right time frame. And guess what:
Attendance in 2024 more than TRIPLED.
In order to make event photography an asset and not an expense item, you have to know how to leverage your photos to tell the story of your event.
Can I help you? (The answer is probably YES!)
Look through your last image gallery. If you weren't there in person:
- What would your event gallery communicate about the experience of being at the event?
- What would a viewer learn about your organization, client, or product/service?
- Would YOU feel motivated to go, knowing nothing but what you could glean from the photos?
It's 2024 and if your photos are not:
- reaching the right people AND
- putting money in your pocket
then why are you paying for them in the first place?
Let's do this together, and let's do it right. As a reminder, I specialize in corporate events and multi-day conferences with a goal-driven approach. Simply put:
My photos + strategy = more money in your pocket
LET ME CHANGE THE WAY YOU WORK.
Let me show you that finding a photographer doesn't just have to be a to-do on your checklist.
Let’s connect over an in-person or virtual coffee (my treat) and explore how we can utilize your event photos for maximum benefit.
Just click the link below to schedule a time that works for you. I'll take it from there.
Cheers!
Daria
I got bros in different area codes: August Happenings
And speaking of events, I'd love to share monthly events that might be happening near you. I got bros in all the area codes, so I picked my main regions to share! I'm ALWAYS looking to grow and expand, so if you don't see your region's events (but want to) get in touch and I'll add 'em to my monthly list!
LA
- LA River Fest: (Aug 11) LA River Fest celebrates the Los Angeles River with activities like art installations, performances, and educational programs for all ages.
- Echo Park Rising: (Aug 17) A free music and arts festival held in the Echo Park neighborhood, featuring live performances across multiple stages, local vendors, and activities.
- Taste of the Farmers Market: (every Thurs night through Aug) An event where visitors can sample food from various vendors at the historic Farmers Market at Third and Fairfax.
Chi-town
- Lollapalooza: (Aug 1-4) One of the largest music festivals in the country, Lolla in Grant Park, featuring a diverse lineup of artists across multiple stages.
- Chicago Air and Water Show: (Aug 10-11) A spectacular event showcasing aerobatic performances and water stunts along the lakefront at North Avenue Beach.
- Chicago Jazz Festival: (Aug 29-Sept 1) Held at Millennium Park and the Chicago Cultural Center over Labor Day weekend, this festival features renowned jazz musicians from around the world.
Vegas, baby
- MAGIC Vegas: (Aug 19-21) A major event in the fashion industry, MAGIC showcases the latest in apparel, footwear, and accessories at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
- Def Con: (Aug 12-13) One of the world's largest and most notable hacker conventions focusing on cybersecurity and hacking culture.
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ASD Market Week: (Aug 4-7) The most comprehensive trade show for consumer merchandise in the United States, explore general merchandise and consumer products in one efficient four day shopping experience.
Daria Taylor Photography
Los Angeles and Destination
hello@dariataylor.com
P.S: I’ll be popping up in your inbox from time to time to show you how we partner with event organizers around the world to exceed their event goals. But if you'd rather miss out on all of my fun, that's cool I guess. You can unsubscribe below.
Words of Affirmation from our Event Partners
"From the moment I met Daria, she was a joy! She is extremely hard working and she makes the processes seamless from early-stage conversations through the delivery of photos." -Kathryn, Mansueto Ventures (parent company of INC.).
"Daria was professional, thorough, and extremely personable with our group. The pictures are among the best I've seen of any such conference, and really captured the spirit of the event. I am grateful to Daria!" - Josh Jacobs, MIT
"I really enjoyed learning about her business and past work with nonprofits and equity building. Her team did an amazing job at capturing our diverse audience experiencing joy and community. I definitely recommend her services and will be crossing my fingers that another opportunity comes up for us to work together again." - Olivia Farley, Convening Toward Liberation
