It's holiday party season. Chill the eggnog, steal a bottle of bourbon from the accounting department's file cabinet, and get ready for some awkward dancing. Sure, some parties will hire a professional photographer, and maybe even dress up the IT guy as Santa Claus for some photos. But the real party photos will be the ones you take. Here are a few tips to make sure those photos actually look good enough to get you all the Instagram likes you deserve.
Lighting
If it can be helped, get a photo with lights pointing at your subject. If a bright light is behind your subject, the camera will try to expose to that light and your subject will be end up being under-exposed. If you're having a day party (lame), get between the windows and your subjects. The natural light will be better than your office lighting.
Speaking of office lighting, beware of overhead fluorescent lights. They're horrible for photography and make everyone look like a ghoul. Avoid any portrait-type photographs with this type of lighting unless you want your co-workers to hunt you down after the hangovers subside.
The flash on your smartphone can help with fill. But in dark situations, stand back at least four feet to give the light a chance to disperse before landing on your boss' shiny face.
Focus, Then Shoot
Blurry photos are bad photos. You're not making modern art, you're documenting a party with your co-workers.
On your smartphone, tap the subject's face to set focus and exposure before you shoot. On your point and shoot camera, hold the shutter button halfway down to do the same. Don't start hitting the shutter button like a mad person. Get the focus, then shoot.
Stay on the Move
Don't sit in one spot and expect all the action to come to you. Staged photos of everyone putting their arms on each other's shoulders are nice. But to really get the feel of a party, keep moving and try to get those candid shots. Also, don't be afraid to shoot multiple photos of the same thing. It's better to have too many shots of someone dancing on a desk, than one blurry shot of someone dancing on a desk. Also, introduce desk dancing.
Do NOT Tag People
It's all fun and games until someone loses their job. Use good judgement in what photos you post to various social networks. You're stuck with these people at least eight hours a day, five days a week. You know who feels comfortable with photos of them going up onto Facebook with them lookin' a little tipsy. When in doubt, wait until after the party when they're not inebriated to ask permission.
Even if you know that sales department is all about partying, when you post photos of them twerking, do not tag them. Give them the opportunity to tag themselves. That gives them a a bit of cushion between the time you post the photo and the time their mom sees it.
Still unsure? Email the photo to the subject to get approval. And if someone insists you pull a photo, delete it ASAP. Not everyone wants their entire life online. Especially the boozy parts.
Leave the DSLR at Home
Unless you're being paid to take photos or you would rather be a fly on the wall instead of actually having fun at the party, leave your fancy camera at home. Having a nice camera around your neck means you're going to be stuck taking group photos all night. Plus, when people see someone with a nice camera, they immediately become self-conscious. So now you have a huge gallery of stiff co-workers staring at the camera and you never had a chance to enjoy yourself.
Roberto is a Wired Staff Writer for Gadget Lab covering cord-cutting, e-readers, home technology, and all the gadgets that fit in your backpack. Got a tip? Send him an email at: roberto_baldwin [at] wired.com.
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