How to photograph a two-day company convention

A two-day company convention isn't a single event — it's many events within one, and the most common mistake is treating them all the same way. Whoever photographs a two-day convention has to move, without losing the thread, from the serious plenary to the team building, from the photocall to the closing DJ party — opposite registers, in the same job. That was the case at Merck Portugal's «Touch the Infinite» gathering at the Montebelo Mosteiro de Alcobaça: two intense days alternating between serious presentations and moments of pure celebration.

The first challenge is stamina and planning. Covering two days means anticipating the agenda in detail — knowing when the plenary starts, when networking happens, when the entertainment comes on — so you miss no key moment and manage batteries, cards and your own working rhythm.

Then there's the variety of registers. In a stage presentation, the photography is more formal: a well-lit speaker, a legible brand, an attentive audience. But in team building, the photocall and the breaks, the approach is loose and candid — that's where you capture reactions and the team's true energy.

Entertainment moments deserve special attention. We had host João Manzarra running a quiz, a stand-up comedy set and the closing DJ party. Shooting a stage with show lighting and movement demands another technique — higher ISO, precise timing and anticipating the gesture before it happens.

And we never forget the venue. A place like the Alcobaça Monastery is part of the story: the aerial drone view and the monastery's vaulted corridor give context and elevate the whole reportage.

In the end, we deliver a selection that tells both days in a balanced way — institutional content for internal communication and press, and the human, festive moments for social media. That complete read is what makes great corporate convention coverage.