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John DeMato Blog

Welcome to the Deliver Magic blog, where experts who speak, coach, train, consult, and write books will find actionable insights to elevate their personal brands through visual storytelling. From strategy tips and branding photography to live event coverage and storytelling techniques, discover step-by-step guides designed to help you align what you say with how you show up in photos. Get ready to unlock the magic behind creating a cohesive visual identity that drives engagement, builds credibility, and inspires your audience. #DeliverMagic

Don't sleep on the emotional impact

 

Composition affects the emotional sentiment of your keynote photos.

 
 

As a result, wide shots aren’t enough.

 

For many speakers, being on a big stage, in a beautifully staged room, in front of a gigantic audience, is where they do their best work. 

Having photos taken during these magical moments helps to create even more value from these experiences.

In most cases, the first thing a speaker will request from photographers are wide shots that showcase this packed house and beautiful space.

As they should. 

The bigger the room, the bigger the awe factor. 

These all-encompassing images are a wonderful addition to any professional speaker’s image content portfolio, as they can be used in a wide variety of ways across their online presence. 

And, they are an impressive to event professionals who look to hire experts like you for their next meeting, conference or summit. 

But, wide shots like this aren’t not enough. 

For all of the grandeur that wide shots provide, the issue with them is that the star of the photo - you - is barely seen in these photos, at all. 

You’re a tiny lil’ peanut amidst all of this other stuff going on - which is still a fine photo to use in moderation.

But, it’s important to balance your image portfolio with stage photos that have tighter compositions - ones that highlight YOU doing your thing, and not the scope of the room in which you speak. 

Show off your body language and facial expressions through tighter, close up images as you move people through your presentation. 

Why is that important?

The tighter the photo, the more emotional impact they provide.

Think about when you watch a film. 

When it’s time for a pivotal moment in a scene involving a conversation between two people, what happens? 

The composition tightens up. 

The viewer is closer to the action, and therefore, becomes more engaged in the moment. 

They also get a close-up and personal look into the passion and purpose that you display throughout your presentation. 

These types of photos also impact the perception you create for the event professionals viewing them. 

Additionally, they offer your marketing team a wealth of opportunity to create some really cool and diverse visual assets that can be used in a variety of ways, acoss your website, speaker one sheet, online content, newsletters, and other marketing purposes.

The next time you book a photographer for a keynote, be sure to instruct them to capture an array of image content - wide, medium and close-up shots - from a multitude of vantage points in the space. 

Especially the close-ups. 

These images will go a long way to helping you connect more deeply more quickly with those who are thinking about hiring you to be on their stage.