Photographing the Manchester Board Game Festival
Event Photography
Board games might seem like a quiet subject for event photography, but spend some time at a board game festival and there is no shortage of moments to capture.
From intense concentration around a game table to laughter, celebrations, reactions and conversations between players, a board game event is full of people completely immersed in the experience.
I recently photographed the Manchester Board Game Festival, capturing the people, atmosphere and details that made the event more than just a collection of games.
Event Photography Beyond the Main Activity
At a board game festival, the games are naturally at the centre of the event. Tables are covered with boards, cards, tokens and other components, while groups of people concentrate on what is happening in front of them.
But the photographs don’t have to focus solely on the games. The people around the tables are often what make the photographs interesting.
- A reaction to an unexpected move.
- Friends laughing together.
- Someone concentrating on their next decision.
- Players celebrating a win.
- People meeting for the first time and getting involved in a game.
Capturing People Immersed in the Experience
A large part of my approach to event photography is looking for genuine moments rather than asking people to pose for every photograph.
Board game festivals provide plenty of opportunities for this. Players become absorbed in what they are doing. Their expressions change as the game develops, and conversations and reactions happen naturally around the table.
Photographing the Atmosphere of a Board Game Festival
A good event photography gallery should also show what it felt like to be there.
The Manchester Board Game Festival brings together a wide range of tabletop gaming activities, with a large library of games alongside sessions, tournaments, demonstrations, traders and other experiences.
That variety creates plenty of different photographic opportunities.
A wide photograph can show the scale of the event, while a closer image can focus on the details of a particular table.
I like having both.
The wider photographs provide context, while the closer photographs allow someone looking at the gallery to see the expressions, interactions and details that might otherwise be missed.
Photographing Board Games and Details
The games themselves provide interesting subjects too. Colourful boards, cards, dice, miniature pieces and carefully arranged game components can all make useful detail photographs. These images help break up a gallery of people and action while also showing the variety of games available.
Details can also provide useful photographs for event organisers and exhibitors who want to showcase their activities online.
Looking for the Moments Between the Action
Some of my favourite event photographs aren’t necessarily the biggest moments. They can be the small interactions happening between them:
– Someone explaining the rules to another player.
– A group laughing after something unexpected happens.
– Players discussing their next move.
– A new game being demonstrated.
– Someone watching another table.
These moments might only last a few seconds, which makes anticipation important. Rather than simply photographing whatever is directly in front of me, I try to watch what is happening around me and look for moments that are about to develop.
Photographing a Busy Event
Busy events can be challenging for a photographer.
There may be people moving between tables, limited space around gaming areas and lots happening at the same time.
This makes positioning particularly important.
Rather than trying to photograph everything, I look for good opportunities and wait for the right moment. Changing my position can also completely change an image. Moving slightly to one side might remove a distracting background, improve the composition or provide a clearer view of someone’s expression. At a busy event, being aware of the surroundings is just as important as being ready with the camera.
Creating a Story Through Photography
When I photograph an event, I like to think about the final collection of photographs rather than individual images.
A strong event gallery might include:
The venue
Showing where the event is taking place.
The people
Attendees, organisers, exhibitors and volunteers.
The activity
The games, demonstrations and other experiences taking place.
The details
Games, equipment, displays and small moments.
The reactions
Laughter, concentration, excitement and surprise.
The atmosphere
Images that show the overall feeling of the event.
Together, these photographs create a visual story. Someone who wasn’t there should be able to look through the photographs and get a sense of what the event was like.
Photos From The Day
A few photos of mine that document the event through a mixture of: people, activities, atmosphere, details and important moments. The aim is to create a visual record that tells the story of the event.
Event Photography in Manchester and West Yorkshire
I provide event photography for businesses, community organisations, sports clubs, charities and events across Manchester, Huddersfield and West Yorkshire.
My approach focuses on capturing natural moments, people, atmosphere and the details that help tell the story of an event.
Whether you’re organising a board game event, community festival, business event, charity fundraiser or sporting event, professional event photography can provide a collection of images that continues to be useful long after the event itself has finished.