After two days of watching photographers present their work, I was inspired and frustrated. Some presentations were outstanding—thoughtful, well-prepared, and engaging. Others, unfortunately, missed the mark.
For more than twenty years, I’ve helped organize and evaluate photo conferences. Our team often discusses which speakers we’ll invite back. At this recent event, a few of us were in the audience taking notes, not just to learn but to scout. As always, the same issues came up.
Here are some tips I’d give any photographer who’s preparing to speak publicly:
1. Prepare Your Presentation
Don’t wing it. Set aside time to plan what and how you’ll say it carefully.
In the old days, I watched photographers show up with loose slides minutes before presenting. Today, the digital version of that is dumping a folder of images on your desktop and clicking through them with no structure. Organize, edit, and rehearse. Respect your audience’s time.
2. Know Your Goal
What’s the one takeaway you want your audience to leave with?
If you don’t know your core message, your audience won’t either. Boil it down to something that can be shared clearly in your time. Don’t try to cover your entire career—focus on one story, lesson, or insight that genuinely matters.
3. Tell a Story, Not a Resume
Avoid talking too much about yourself or what you plan to do next. Instead, share a real project and what you learned from it.
Maybe it’s the moment you discovered a key storytelling technique, or a mistake you’ll never repeat. Give your audience something authentic and valuable.
4. Give the Audience Something They Don’t Already Know
You were invited to speak because people have already seen your work.
So don’t just replay what’s on your website or portfolio. Add value:
- How did you find the story?
- What obstacles did you face—legal, emotional, or logistical?
- What gear, apps, or workflow choices made the project possible?
- What happened after the story ran?
As Chris Matthews says on his Sunday show, “Tell me something I don’t know.” That’s what keeps people engaged.
5. Use Multimedia Wisely
You’re a visual communicator—so let visuals do the talking.
Show a 2–5 minute edited multimedia piece with audio and narration. Let it tell the story first, then use your speaking time to explain how it came together. Short, well-produced examples are far more effective than a long, unedited slideshow.
6. Don’t Depend on the Internet
Never assume the Wi-Fi will work. Streamed videos that stutter or fail will derail your presentation fast.
Bring everything on your computer, ready to run locally. Better yet, have a backup plan—a jump drive, an external hard drive, or a second computer.
7. Respect the Clock
Going long doesn’t make you essential; it makes you inconsiderate.
If you have 30 minutes, plan for 25 and leave 5 for questions. Running over your time hurts the conference schedule and your reputation. Demonstrating professionalism means finishing strong and on time.
(For conference organizers: don’t hesitate to cut off a speaker who goes over—trust me, the audience will silently thank you.)
8. Plan for Questions
Audience questions are a gift. They clarify your message and show where your content hit home.
Leave at least 5 minutes for this. Often, the best connections happen in that exchange.
9. Know Your Audience
Adjust your talk to who’s in the room. Students, pros, and editors all need different takeaways. The same presentation doesn’t fit every crowd.
10. Practice, Don’t Memorize
Run through your talk several times—out loud. Practice transitions between slides and make sure your visuals align with your points. Don’t memorize word for word; aim to sound conversational and natural.
11. Manage Your Nerves
Even seasoned speakers get nervous. Arrive early, test your setup, and breathe. Once you start, focus on connecting with your audience, not performing for them.
12. Always Have a Backup
Digital gremlins love to appear at showtime.
Keep a full copy of your presentation backed up on:
- A USB flash drive
- An external hard drive
- A cloud folder you can access offline
Final Thought
The best presenters leave their audience wanting more, not wishing it had ended sooner.
Like good storytelling, good speaking is about clarity, connection, and care for your audience. If you apply the same thought and preparation to your talk that you do to your photography, your presentation will shine.