10 ways to make the most of your Gravity Photographer
Your school ball or formal is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, for some it is a highlight of their time at High School. A ball committee, head student or High School Staff will put a lot of thought and effort into this one night wonder. From picking the venue, the theme, the entertainment to picking out the dress, the suit, the shoes and the corsages, you want to make sure your evening is captured excellently! Choosing your school ball photographer is a big decision and one that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Here at Gravity Events, we have over 6 years of experience when it comes to capturing your high school formal so we have a few tips and tricks up our sleeve that will help to ensure you get the most out of your photographer. We have broken down each aspect of your night with details and things to think about - this will answer questions that you didn’t even realise you had! Check out the best ways to make the most of your Gravity Photographer at your high school ball…
it’s in the details
Whether you are embracing the DIY element of your formal by creating bespoke table decor that aligns with your theme, or you are embracing a simple minimalistic look with a few key features like an LED Tree and a fairy light roof, or you are going for the whole shabam, we understand that there is a lot of effort that goes into the details of your formal and that deserves to be captured! We recommend allowing time and space in your photographer's timeline to come in a little bit earlier than your guests to grab a few snaps of your venue and decor untouched. This means you can get some beautiful snaps of your hard work without any coats or bags being left on chairs and tables.
2. Make an entrance
The start of your formal is the best time to ensure you have captured a pic of every single person. Having photos scheduled in as your guests make an entrance is the best time to get an image by yourself, with your date or with the group of friends you came to the formal with. Gravity Photographers have years of experience when it comes to grabbing these entrance photos so it is a speedy experience. We will work through your cue of guests fast, while also making sure the photos are excellent as these are probably the most crucial photos you will get at your ball. Here are a few ways you could capture your guests at your formal on entrance:
Outside by their car or choice of transportation to the ball. This is a great option if your guests put a lot of effort into this and are super creative in the way they show up to the party. We have captured many forms of transport - from fancy old cars, a party bus, a fire truck, scooters and even those who have arrived by horse and carriage!
At the entrance. You may have put together a beautiful entryway to wow your guests right at the front door so this is an awesome opportunity to grab these snaps while also capturing the look and feel of your theme.…
PRO TIP: Ask Gravity about their Battery Uplights and how these can be used to really enhance your efforts on your entranceway
A DIY Backdrop. If your ball committee thrives off styling and you are wanting to put together a photo area that really embodies your theme then creating a DIY backdrop is an awesome way to capture those Entrance photos. If this is more your style, let our Gravity team know and we will make sure to add in extra lighting gear to ensure these photos are excellently captured. It is also good to consider hiring an extra photographer to be located at this backdrop so your guests have a variety of options when it comes to getting snaps!
Send them to the Gravity Backdrop. A simple solution that is stress-free and worry-free is when your guests arrive sending them straight to our Gravity backdrop. A great solution that has great results and helps you to ensure you are keeping all the parents happy by producing a professional image of each guest.
3. BACKDROP PHOTOS
Clean, crisp backdrop photos are timeless. When you are looking for photos that hold their value and are premium, then you really can’t go past Backdrop photos - they are a staple when it comes to school formals. Gravity offers varied options when it comes to your backdrop photography, including colour and style so that you can compliment your theme and people’s outfits. When it comes to planning your backdrop photos here are a few things you will need to consider…
Where to place your backdrop… If your venue allows, try not to place your backdrop next to your DJ or music entertainment as you will struggle to hear instructions from your photographer. Also, think about lighting - a Gravity Photographer will bring professional lighting equipment with them however they will need enough light to see, focus and even make sure you can get a nice cheeky phone snap for you.
Space and height… We want to make sure that each photo produced makes everyone look good and we understand the struggle for those with glasses. You will want to make sure your Photo Backdrop is positioned in a space where we can get our lighting equipment high to stop flares coming through on your guests with glasses. You will also want to make sure you have your photo backdrop in a space that will go wide enough to fit big groups of people. Our backdrops are 5m wide x 2.5-3m high so require a comfortable amount of space for this. Chat to our team to see how we can work with your space.
Managing your guests… Think about how your guest cues will flow in the evening, how they will enter and leave the backdrop. We recommend using bollards if there is only one door for entry and exit to help with the flow. Also, discuss with your teacher in charge about positioning a staff member from your school close by to help make sure one person doesn’t hog the backdrop the whole night!
PRO TIP: Consider having a small table or chair available for people to put their phones/wallets/handbags/purses on while they are getting their photos to ensure you get the best photos with minimal distractions.
4. GROUP PHOTOS
Thinking of getting year group photos? Sports or cultural teams? A teacher group photo? Our advice PLAN THESE IN ADVANCE! Plan a time that you want to grab these snaps and announce them over the mic to make sure no one misses out. We also recommend allocating one person to be in charge of making sure who needs to be there, is there - our Gravity photographers are good but they won’t know every single person who needs to be in the photo. Our Gravity photographers will do their bit to make sure everyone is positioned well on the backdrop to get the best photo! Some suggestions on what group photos you could plan to take:
Year 12
Year 13
Prefects
Teacher and Staff
Sports teams or Club Teams
Favourite classes with your favourite teacher.
5. and the award goes to…
Awards are becoming more and more of a popular trend with balls and formals. Usually delivered in the middle of the night, this is a fun way to engage your guests and increase morale at your event. This is also a fun thing for your photographer to capture. Here are a few things to think about and consider if you are looking to give out awards at your ball…
When you will give out the awards? Make sure you put this in the timeline so your photographer knows when they will be needed OR make sure you give them plenty of warning so they can prep the gear needed to capture this moment.
Where you will give out the awards? Think about what will be in the background of these photos. If you are looking to do this on a stage, make sure you have uplights and other forms of lighting to give a dynamic background. If there isn’t much you can do about your background consider sending your award winners to the Gravity Photo backdrop with their certificate to grab a fun but professional snap!
6. roaming photos
Roaming photos are something to consider if you are looking to capture the feel and action of the evening. Whether you are receiving an award, breaking it down on the dance floor or having a conversation with friends, a Gravity Photographer doing roaming will be there to capture it. If you want to capture the action of the night forever, then roaming photography is the way to go. Here are a few tips and tricks to making the most of your roaming photographer.
Consider splitting your timeline with your Gravity Photographer to also include an hour or two hours of roaming photography. We recommend doing this near the end of your timeline with your photographer and having an official close time of the backdrop to ensure everyone is on the dancefloor or in that area.
PRO TIP: Depending on the timeline and size of your event, you may find that you will want a backdrop photographer AND a roaming photographer at your ball so you don’t miss a beat! Chat to our team about your options today!
Uplights and dance floor lighting. We cannot recommend our uplights more highly when it comes to getting the most out of your roaming photos. You are able to change these to a variety of colours to suit any theme or colour scheme. Uplights will help to add dimension to your photos and stop your guests from getting lost in the background. Also consider what you will use for dance floor lighting - this can also help to create a great vibe in your photos.
Consider a few feature options. This could be something you and your social committee have made, like a photo point or themed areas or this could be as simple as a Gravity LED Tree or multiple LED Trees. These provide great backgrounds and photo points for your roaming photographer.
7. Formal dance photos
Thinking of adding a Snowball waltz, Circle Dance, Grand Parade or Bumping Butts Dance to your formal? Putting in hours of practice during school lunch time? We know that for some school’s having formal dances like this is a long time tradition and that deserves to be captured. Let our Gravity team know early to make sure this is snapped!
8. timelines
Needing a bit of help with a timeline to make sure you make the most out of your photographer? Check out what you will need to know...
Set up: To set up a Gravity Photo backdrop we usually allow 45min-1 hour to set these up (Keep in mind, more time is required by the Gravity Crew if you are using other services from us)
The Event: There are multiple ways to work the timeline of your event and will depend on what your ball will include and exclude - remember every formal is different and you may have selected a specific formal package for your event.
EXAMPLE TIMELINE:
-6:00 - 6:20pm Detail Photos
-6:20 - 7:00pm Entrance Photos
-7:00 - 9:00pm Backdrop
-9:00 - 10:00pm Roaming Photos
Pack down: Again we usually allow a maximum of an hour for packing down our photography gear (Keep in mind this time changes slightly depending on other services you may be using from Gravity)
9. after the ball
No this isn’t like the story of Cinderella where we all turn back into pumpkins - one could say that after your ball or formal is where the work really starts for our Gravity Photographers! After your formal our team will put in the hours to only include the good sides and make sure your images are beautifully edited. Photos will be delivered within 5-7 days of your event and put online. We will put them on our Gravity Photography Facebook Page where there will be a link with an online gallery on the cover photo. From the online photo gallery, you will be able to download High Res images (perfect for printing) as well as Low Res images (perfect for social media or websites).
10. make the memories last forever
In a digital world where everything is “insta-this”, “tiktok that” or where an image is only relevant for a fleeting 24 hours, we believe one of the best ways to enjoy your ball photography is in print. Whether it is prints tucked away in an album, on your parent’s fridge or out on display with beautiful framing, or you are looking to make a photo wall in your room at your hall when you go to uni - some may say it’s old fashioned, but we say it’s a timeless classic. We encourage you to pick your favourites, the ones that make you laugh, your favourite ones with your besties or your classmates, and turn them into some prints. We have made this super simple by providing this option with our online gallery - you can order your prints with a click of a button and get them delivered right to your door!
Ready to make your school formal or ball a night you won’t forget? Make sure you use these tips to get the most out of your Gravity Photographer and chat with our team about the best options for you. Thinking of other options Gravity has to offer for your formal? Check out what we can do here and talk to us about our premium all-in-one packages - saving you the stress and the hassle and the best decision your ball committee will ever make.