Use your skills to give back: working for a charity

 

Opening Ceremony for the Best Buddies Leadership Conference, the theme,"Wickedly Inclusive"

Covering the big event for your charity.

One inspirational conference where over 2500 people come together to learn and celebrate inclusion for people with Intellectual Disabilities.  Best Buddies serves individuals with IDD and their families. The IDD community includes, but is not limited to, people with Down syndrome, autism, Fragile X, Williams syndrome, and other undiagnosed disabilities.

Students from the United States and around the world descend upon Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana.  They are leaders in their school chapters who come to learn how to support and grow the mission.   

At one time I was the only photographer covering this conference.  Now we have two additional photographers and a team of videographers delivering content to social media. It takes a coordinated effort to cover the various activities and personalities.  There are workshops, speakers, training, activities, celebrations and motivational entertainment.

I continue my 34 years photographing events for Best Buddies because of the Buddies.  

Find a charity that you care about

1.        Your talents are needed and what you do helps the charity’s mission.

2.        Not only do you build your skills, but you also expand your network.

3.        You are making a difference

Ask me anything, larrylevin@verizon.net  See my website. www.LLLevin.com

More Photos

Best Buddies Founder Anthony Shriver with Kid Autistic

Recognition of fund raising

Job Training

Speech Training

Talking to parents

Bonding

Capturing Award Presentations: What You Need to Know

 

Best Buddies Leadership Conference, photographed 60 groups in less than 90 minutes.

Capturing an award presentation or the delivery of a check moment is the basic hero shot an event photographer makes.  These shots are vital for the organization, the recipient of the award or the person or group making the large donation.  These are set up situations, this photo needs to be perfect.

These moments can happen at a live event, where the audience is watching or they can be done after the show.  During a live event, time is of the essence.  Here are the top tips in getting a wonderful shot.

1.        Be prepared, know the staging of the presentation.  Put a piece of tape on the stage for where the group should stand.

2.        This “position” provides the best composition.  Include all the branding elements if there is signage or other elements that should be in the frame.  (Or elements that should not be in the frame.)

3.        MOST IMPORTANT, make sure the award or check or whatever the group is holding, is held at an angle to the camera.  We don’t want to have the award bouncing light back in the camera.  If there is a highlight on the award, nothing can be done to correct it.

4.        Take multiple shots, nothing is worse than when someone’s eyes are closed. Also, slightly change the angle for each shot.  That change might make the difference to improve the shot.

5.        Timing is everything.  If it’s a live show, be quick.  People hate to wait.

6.        All of the staging is discussed beforehand with the MC/award presenter.  They are your friend in getting this shot done efficiently.

7.        Be ready and capture the hero shot and any other moment you can.

Doing award presentation is a lasting memory for the recipient as well as for instant social media play for the organization. Technical skills, preparation, timing and awareness of the situation are important factors for the photographer.

Ask me anything larrylevin@verizon.net View my website www.LLLevin.com

Photography for the Best Buddies Leadership Conference

Friendship Walks are an integral part of each chapter's activities 

One inspirational conference where over 2500 people come together to learn and celebrate inclusion for people with Intellectual Disabilities.  Best Buddies serves individuals with IDD and their families. The IDD community includes, but is not limited to, people with Down syndrome, autism, Fragile X, Williams syndrome, and other undiagnosed disabilities.

Students from the United States and around the world descend upon Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana.  They are leaders in their school chapters who come to learn how to support and grow the mission.   

At one time I was the only photographer covering this conference.  Now we have two additional photographers and a team of videographers delivering content to social media. It takes a coordinated effort to cover the various activities and personalities.  

There are workshops, speakers, training, activities, celebrations and motivational entertainment.  I continue my 34 years photographing events for Best Buddies because of the Buddies.  

Ask me anything, larrylevin@verizon.net  See my website. www.LLLevin.com

More Photos:

State Ambassador

International Students

Job Training

Global Ambassadors 

Tanner Smith from (Love on the Spectrum) and his mother Nicci Smith

Miss America 2025 Abbie Stockard and her Buddy Grace Davis

Rice Stephens and Echo Picone sing from the Broadway Show Wicked.  This year's conference theme was "Wickedly Inclusive"

Branding Your Event with a Step & Repeat. Good Strategy

 

Stand & Repeat Background at a Holiday Party

Branding your Event

Your “brand” is a combination of many elements that help to achieve a positive response in people’s perception.  In photographing an event, it is great to have recognizable elements in the frame that identify your event and your organization.  Your logo, tag line, the typography you use are key components in your symbols that help to instill your brand.  

One of the better forms of branding is a step and repeat.  This banner with your message can be used behind speakers, or on the red carpet or as a backdrop.  Key features of a good step and repeat are:

1.        Non reflective, usually a matte surface so shiny spots don’t reflect into the camera.

2.        Wide enough so that when shot from different angles, the banner fits within the composition.  And it should be high enough to fit the tallest people.

3.        Simple design, subtle, not to overpower the person or people in front of it.  

4.        Keep colors muted but consistent with your company’s color scheme

5.        Make sure it is durable; you will be using this for many events.  As well as, it should be easy to assemble and pack up when finished. 

One of the best Stand and Repeat was from a company called Revolution.  Check out their website www.eventrevolution.com  (fyi I get no fee for this endorsement!) 

Best Buddies, simple design, with Logo and Typography.

Correction Leaders Association, Strong branding, muted color that enhances the speaker.

Ask me anything larrylevin@verizon.net.  See my website  www.LLLevin.com

Top Tips for Photographing Diplomats

Ambassador Sabri Boukadoum, Algeria, Ambassador Shigeo Yamada, Japan, Ambassador Matilda Mukantabana, Rwanda

Working for and with people who are professional and fun and have become friends, is the best part of freelancing.   The Potomac Exchange is a private lunch group consisting of selected executives of global firms.  At each lunch a foreign country ambassador is invited to share and discuss issues, initiate business relationships and network. 

I am grateful for the trust the Potomac Exchange has granted to me as their Official Photographer.  Each luncheon meeting, I am tasked to photograph the activities of the luncheon. In the room, I must be stealth in maneuvering around the table to capture spontaneous and interesting expressions during the discussions, all while food is served and eaten.  It takes patience and understanding when to take photos as well as finding creative composition as people eat. It is a challenge to find those special moments between participants, too. In the hour and a half meeting, it all gets done. 

 
Top Suggestions while photographing a lunch:

1.        Stay out of the server’s way!
2.        Watch the composition, avoid taking a photo when someone in the frame is eating or   drinking.
3.        Look for angles, trying to find something different than all the other luncheons.
4.        Be stealth and as inconspicuous as possible.  Vital that the camera is in silent mode. 
5.        Be patient, look for interesting gestures, facial expression, and eye contact with speaker and participant.
6.        In formal set up photos, make sure clothes are in place.  Jacket buttoned, tie straight.

Ask me anything larrylevin@verizon.net, visit my website www.LLLevin.com

More Photos

Ambassador Catalina Crespo Sancho, Costa Rica

Ambassador Laurent Bili, France

Ambassador Jovita Neliupsiene, European Union

Ambassador Dr. Elsie Kanza, Tanzania

Ambassador Anniken Huitfeldt, Norway

Ambassador Jesper Molleer Sorensen, Denmark

Photographer's Life

Annika

The Life of a Photographer........June 6-7, 2025. One of the most inspiring weekends of my life was in Treviso Italy at a Special Olympics Unified Basketball Tournament. I was one of the 27 basketball referees invited to officiate the two-day event. Accompanying me were three friends, Sandy, Annika & Keith, who have worked with me at other Special Olympic Games. So in between my games, I was able to make pictures of them during their games. Each one got several impactful photos. Nice images they can cherish and share. Through the years, all I asked was that someone would take a photo of me during a game. A nice photo with athletes or me in a game situation. And this is the one that I got…..see the last photo. Shot made by David Thompson on his phone from the stands.

Keith

Keith,  (He has so many other wonderful images from the years of World Games we have worked.)

Sandy

Sandy

Annika

Me

Photographing Groups

The Potomac Exchange with the Ambassador of Japan.  Set up, two rows and three lights

Photographing Groups

As an event photographer, photographing groups is an important function I do.  It’s a fun challenge to figure out where, and how to organize the group.  Half the time it’s a spur of the moment to do the shot.  Other times, there is some planning of where to stage it.  And the most important aspect is lighting.  If it is a big group, it is preferable to have additional lights, 2 or 3 is optimal.  You want to make sure shadows don’t hit on anyone.  And more importantly, the extra light allows more depth, so everyone is in focus.  

Strategies for getting exceptional Group Shots

1.      Composition.  Whether you are using rows, steps, or the sitting, kneeling, standing spontaneous group, make certain no one’s face is blocked.  People need to be in between shoulders of people in front of them.  Before I shoot, I look from my camera perspective to see everyone’s face.   

2.      Light.  Natural light is best, if possible, with fill flash.  Bounced light or flash with a diffuser helps to eliminate harsh shadows and contrast.  

3.      Interacting with the group, helps to keep people’s attention so they aren’t distracted or are not looking away.  

4.      Eye Level is fine, but using a ladder or some elevation helps when there is a large group.

5.      Posing tips: try to have everyone look natural and relaxed.  Men is the front row should button their jackets.  If the front row is seated, hand placement should look natural in lap. Grabbing people around the shoulders makes that person look wider and sometimes makes their  clothes look awkward. 

6.      ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS shoot more than one frame.  That avoids having a frame with someone with closed eyes.  

It takes patience, ability to manage people, being pleasant, keeping people engaged with small talk and get it done quickly and efficiently.  

Ask me anything: larrylevin@verizon.net  Visit my website www.LLLevin.com

A few more images: Click on the images to see larger size.  

Chance group of top scientists, luckily they knew me and were happy to be in this highly esteemed group photo. One light bounced. 

Family in backyard, all natural light.  It was fun to keep everyone's attention. 

On a tour of a hotel, "Let's take a group shot"  Fun, natural, and not your usual situation. 

VP Pence with students.  Students were standing by so the VP just on in place. 

Consular Corp Gala shot from the balcony, one light.