Make the most of special occasions - tips for great photography

I was recently commissioned to take photographs at a Masquerade Ball in aid of a Charity, the St Kentigern Hospice in North East Wales. If you attend such an event think hard about the best photographs to take of those attending with you, and then offer your pictures to the organizers free of charge for promotional use.

At such an event the key shots to get are of course ball gowns and masks. If you ask permission, especially if there is no official photographer, to take pictures of the speakers and special guests you will get some shots to remember and much thanks from the charities promotional team. The secret here is to not be too 'in the face', if you have a reasonable zoom lens use it, but to keep the quality don't push it to extremes.

Charities are perhaps finding it necessary to work on tight budgets for promotion so a volunteer is always welcome and it is great practice for your portrait skills.

The Ball took place at Chester Racecourse.