How To Shoot Parades

It’s parade season and YouTube photographer Paulie B has done it again with his excellent video “Don’t Photograph Parades”.

As one of the photographers in the video says: Don’t shoot the parade. Shoot the people.”

Paulie arrives more than an hour before the parade and starts looking for “people” images. Basically he’s warming up and getting a feel for what’s happening along the edges of the actual parade. He talks to band members and police officers and other photographers.

Other photographers talk about shooting around the sidestreets and the aftermath of the event where you can close to stuff and not be stuck behind the barrier.

Getting in the parade itself (when possible) puts you in the perfect position to shoot back into the crowd. To do this it helps to look like a professional. Dress in darker clothing and wear really comfortable footware.

Don’t hide the fact you’re shooting images. Interact with the crowd. Let them know where they can pickup their images. I use business cards which I freely hand out.

I’ve been considering getting t-shirts made up with the words “Event Photographer” on the front and “Photo” in big letters across the back. I’ve walked into and talked my way into lots of places where I probably shouldn’t be but nobody stopped me thinking I was the “official photographer”.

I maybe ageing myself out but a big smile and lots of banter usually makes for great photos.