Photographing community events

‘Getting good results requires you to be aware of what’s going on around you’

Most communities, both large and small, conduct special events at intervals throughout the year. Christmas, Easter and public holidays like Anzac Day and Australia Day will often see Australia-wide community celebrations. Local government areas and individual communities within them also run their own functions, sometimes to celebrate a particular sporting event or cultural occasion (like Chinese New Year, agricultural shows or regattas).

All these occasions provide wonderful picture-taking opportunities, particularly for photographers who enjoy street shooting. And, for photographers embarking upon a new career and those who like to supply pictures to community organisations, they provide a chance to become known by potential customers.

While photographing community events provides you with opportunities to hone your shooting skills, it's not always straightforward. Getting good results requires you to be aware of what’s