Good event photos are critical to the continuous marketing and promotion of any major fundraising event. As every fundraiser is aware, the key to a successful event is having the biggest names line up behind yours, ideally with a big cheque in hand. Montreal has a raft of big blue chip companies whose names show up at many social and fundraising events. All of these major donors will send representatives to the event and it’s a missed opportunity if you don’t take a series of great photographs of them that they can use as well in their internal reports and on their company sponsorships and donations communications materials.
Many fundraisers incorporate a Stop & Smile set up near the entrance to capture the glittering couples as they arrive in their black tie and ball gowns. Demand for immediate onsite prints from these events never goes out of style and it is an easy way to give something back to your supporters, and with the inclusion of your logo and the date of the event on the print, a constant reminder of your presence.
Calendars are another time-tested method for staying visible throughout the year, often showing photos of the good work your organization is involved in and the people being helped by supporter’s donations.
I’ve covered gala balls, silent auctions, symphonic concerts, golf tournaments, art auctions, casinos and more 5-à-7’s than I can remember in support of various causes I believe in which primarily focus on children’s health and cancer research. My support for causes and charities invariably includes a heavily discounted or pro-bono rate, as well as ongoing support throughout the event calendar year preparing images for media distribution, editing and retouching images as requested and providing extended reach and visibility for causes through my blog, portfolio website and Facebook page. I can’t say yes to every event planner with a causes worth supporting (though I wish I could) but those I do get behind often result in relationships that last for years, as has my long time involvement with the Institut du Cancer de Montreal, the Miriam Foundation, Centre Gold, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and others.