SBS 2024 Upfronts Roadshow | Brisbane Event Photography

21 June

Every so often, an event comes along that is pure perfection to photograph. I recently worked with the delightful team at SBS on the Brisbane stop of their 2024 Upfronts series. Held at The Refinery, a gorgeous industrial-style venue in Newstead, this one was a photographer’s dream.

Selective focus of a smiling man in conversation at a seated lunch event

The Brief

The SBS 2024 Upfronts Brisbane event was part of a national roadshow, showcasing the broadcasting network’s digital successes of 2023 and plans for the coming year. My job was to capture creative images of the event space, styling, table settings and details; media wall; guests arriving; candid mingling photos; atmosphere; formalities and presentations. My client had gone to an immense amount of effort with their styling and it was vital that this be reflected in the images.

The Challenges

Every event presents a unique set of challenges when it comes to photography. On this occasion I was lucky as there weren’t many! The main challenge was navigating a tight space while capturing candid networking shots and during the sit-down lunch. This was achieved by working with two cameras with different focal lengths - a 24-105mm for the wider shots and a 70-200mm which allowed me to stand back, out of the way, to take great images of the guests having a great time. Having the two cameras while working discreetly and staying out of the way allowed me to capture a wide variety of images that reflected this exquisite afternoon.