Esports Photography: Pre-Event Checklist
Being prepared for an event is about more than just making sure all your gear is packed. A little extra work before you hit the road can make your time at the event smoother and even improve your photos.
Press: Confirm your credentials
There’s been more than a few times that I get to an event only to find my name isn’t on the press list. Having your credential request approved doesn’t always guarantee that you’ll be on the list at the door, so follow up the week of the event to confirm that you are. Before you get to check-in, pull up the approval email on your phone just in case.
Crew: Confirm call times and working space
Since you’re not part of the broadcast crew, backstage space for you to work can often be an afterthought. Confirm that you’ve got a designated space, preferably close to the stage, with power and internet. Make sure to reach out during or prior to venue setup, in case power or internet drops need to be arranged. Also confirm when & how to pick up your crew badge; they’re not always distributed at public check-in.
Confirm an on-site contact
The person you’ve been emailing with may not be the person who can help you on-site. Get the email and phone of whoever will be your point-person during the event.
For press, that will usually be a PR or media relations person. Confirm with them what kind of access to the venue and the players you have, and whether you need to pre-arrange things like player interviews.
For crew, it can be a variety of people but will often be a content/media manager, or producer. Try to meet with the stage manager and producer before the event, as well. Run through things like stage access, broadcast camera angles, and event flow so you’re not caught off guard. Find out whether there will be any kind of lighting tests, rehearsals, or run-throughs. These make for good behind the scenes shots, as well as an opportunity to note exposure settings for each part of the event.
Research the Event
This can sometimes mean the difference between getting a shot and getting the shot.
Make note of the tournament format: are there round-robin groups, bracket pools, single or double elimination playoffs, etc? You don’t want to miss your last chance to capture a player or match. Other things worth noting:
Keep track of when notable teams or players have matches.
Who’s the defending champion of the last tournament in this series?
Who’s the defending champion of the last major event for this game?
Other storylines such as underdogs, new rosters, etc.
Research photos from prior events; who has strong reactions, or gets emotional? What might the stage look like?
Crew: who are the sponsors of the event? Getting nice shots of sponsor activations goes over well with both the sponsors and the event. It helps both parties better sell sponsorships in the future. This directly benefits esports. It might seem boring, and it probably is. Do it anyway.
Gear Check
Charge your batteries, format your memory cards. Check that your lenses are clean, and take a test shot to confirm everything is working and that your settings are normal. The last thing you want is to go to swap batteries and find out that they’re not charged, or swap memory cards without realizing the card is already full.
More thoughts?
Think something else should be included in this list? Let me know on Twitter!