What does it take to make good party pictures? You will need the right equipment, patience and a bit of knowledge about photographic techniques.
The Camera Should with You All the Time
People should feel comfortable in the presence of the camera. This is the only way to get everybody to act naturally. Staged photographs look fake and lack the emotion of an impulsive shot.
Keep on photographing people throughout the night. The more pictures you take, the better. Soon, everyone will feel comfortable and most of the party guests will stop noticing your photographic attempts. This is exactly what you want.
In order to capture the perfect moments, you will have to remain unnoticeable. Blend in. Have fun but remember to keep on shooting.
Use Your Camera’s Zoom
The human face is an entire universe. It can say so much. Use the zoom of the camera in order to produce various portrait photographs. Everyone will be happy with these pictures once the party is over.
Get comfortable with the zoom feature. Experiment. Make a few shots until you get a perfect feel of it. Produce bold and daring close-ups. You do not have to stick the camera in the face of partying people in order to get those shots.
A Few Group Photos are Always Good
Before people scatter around and start having fun in little groups, you should try to capture all of those images.
Group photos should be taken shortly after the party has started. It will be difficult to bring all of the people together later on during the night. A few group shots will be memorable and a great way to capture the beginning of the party.
It is All about Experimentation
One of the most important rules in photography is to forget all the rules. Try to keep perspective, composition and color balance in mind but you should refrain from staging each shot.
Photographic experimentation results in some unusual and truly memorable images. Have fun with it. Try various angles, experiment with the modes of your camera.
Make the pictures dynamic and playful. This is how you will capture the spirit of the party. Spontaneous and emotional photographs are always cherished, even if they fail to meet some of the mentioned requirements.
Try different angles and different perspectives. You can even blur the pictures intentionally. This technique makes the image more dynamic and intriguing. Do what it takes to capture the emotionality on camera.
Photography is a fun hobby and if you feel comfortable and happy with it, you will produce quality pictures. Party photography is even more entertaining. Enjoy the occasion and trust your photographic instincts.