Live events are tricky to shoot, especially by oneself. One needs a degree of omniscience, mentally mapping the entire room. After all, you’re only one person, and your job is to cover the entire crowd.
Event photographers can’t be everywhere at once, but they can learn when to be invisible—and when to step inl. Sometimes it helps to shoot the organic moments of laughter and interaction in a party. Other times, you have to take control, direct a group, and make the shot happen. That constant balance—between observing and leading, reacting and anticipating—is what makes live event photography so electric.
From parties to protests, I’ve shot my fair share of events, and the ebb and flow of them has become second nature.