The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) have been providing business and financial support for over 50 years. Recently they’ve been running a series of events as part of their 50^th anniversary celebrations, including the “Celebrating Small Business Awards” and a series of Business Bootcamps around the country.

The latest bootcamp was held at the Army Flying Museum near Andover and Salisbury, attracting over 150 businesses from across Wiltshire and Hampshire.

I’ve been a proud FSB member for five years, with access to invaluable financial, tax, and legal advice. I’ve also attended FSB networking events across the south of England and built strong relationships with business owners across the region.

One of those great relationships is with Ruth Lambert, FSB Development Manager for the southwest, and Ruth asked me to photograph the Hampshire Bootcamp, capturing a series of images for the FSB.

The FSB were keen to capture live event photography from the regional business bootcamps to showcase the day, the guest speakers and most importantly the local businesses attending to learn and network.

Photography from the business bootcamp will be used to showcase the event, generating immediate social media engagement. Additionally, the images will be used to promote future events, giving delegates an insight into what can be expected.

FSB’s preferred photography style is reportage, capturing the event as it unfolded, revealing the presenters live on stage, audience interactions and relaxed conversations as the delegates mingled and networked with each other.

Successful business event photography requires careful planning to understand the client brief, the location, lighting, and the running order of the event. Anticipating what’s coming next is crucial to make sure you’re in the right place at the right time.

There are moments when you need to react quickly too. This is the time to draw on your experience and catch the shot before it’s too late!

Often the layout will restrict access to locations suitable for photography. There may be filming taking place, so understanding the line of sight and working with other media professionals is important.

Event spaces are often dark so low light photography techniques are essential. I normally avoid using flash during presentations – the extra light can be helpful but it’s distracting for the speakers and guests. Switching to fast prime lenses optimised for low light allows me to capture the moment without causing a distraction.

Aside from the technical considerations, I’m always looking for interactions, connection, and energy. Live events are all about people coming together, enjoying the buzz, meeting with new people and reconnecting with old friends. You can’t force the connection, but with experience you learn to spot when and where it’s going to happen.