For an in-depth look at the delivered image portfolio, see it here.

Who is the client?  

Sylvie di Giusto is a keynote speaker and personal branding expert who focuses on the power of first impressions in leadership and business. A colleague and friend, Sylvie was the guest presenter at this National Speakers Association NYC Chapter monthly meeting. 

Interestingly, Sylvie is a former chapter president who introduced me to the organization and brought me on as a photography sponsor in 2018. I’ve been a part of the chapter ever since.

This relationship has led to the evolution and growth of my business overall, so selfishly, photographing her is always very special for me.

Why did she need photos?  

As a speaker who regularly presents on large stages, these images from a smaller chapter meeting help add variety to Sylvie’s social media and provide genuine moments of engagement that resonate with her audience. 

Although this particular venue doesn’t represent her typical speaking environments, it was still a valuable exercise to capture her energy and passion.

How did we prepare for the session?

Since I’ve been covering these monthly chapter meetings for over 6 years, there wasn’t a need for a formal strategy session. I’m well-versed in the run of show, and I captured the entire program as per usual.

An interesting wrinkle in this session was that rather than breaking up her presentation into two 45-minute sections, she led one and spent another moderating a fireside chat with a local sales rep from NYC Tourism in place of her usual solo second half, which added a unique layer to the event.

What camera gear did you use?

I used the Nikon Z9, alternating between the 24-70mm for participant networking and wide shots, and 70-200mm for everything else. 

For lighting, I used the Profoto A10 on-camera flash throughout the program, which is familiar to chapter leadership and participants alike, so it didn’t distract from the presentation being triggered over 1200 times during this 2 ½ hour meeting.

Yes, I took that many photos!

What challenges were faced?
How did you overcome them?

The layout of the room was tricky due to the way the chairs were arranged. There was an increase in attendance, so the venue had to set up the room differently than they normally do, which meant I had to adjust my typical approach to capturing the speakers in front of the room.

Additionally, there are large windows along one side of the room (see above photo) that let in harsh daylight, which affected the balance of light in several shots. I adjusted for this in post-production by reducing the highlights and whites to create a more even exposure.

I also had to work around the podium, which obstructed my framing at times, but I managed to get creative with tighter shots and framing it out as much as I could.

how was visual variety achieved?

Sylvie’s portfolio of images showcases a wide range of emotions and expressions, which is a testament to her dynamic stage presence. 

The fireside chat also provided additional variety, as I was able to capture two-shots of her and the NYC Tourism rep, as well as isolated shots of both individuals. The conversational format added depth to the portfolio, showing a different aspect of Sylvie’s communication style. 

Despite the limitations of the space, I found pockets where I could shoot and worked each spot to get multiple wide, medium and closeup variations.

Describe the post-production process.

After the meeting, I returned to my apartment and immediately began culling, cropping, and coloring the images. I stopped about 75% of the way through to get some sleep and finished the remaining edits the next morning. 

The images were delivered in two subfolders: FAVES is a folder of 80 images that I use for a post on Facebook to share the experience with my audience, and OTHER IMAGES are additional photos for chapter leadership and guest speakers to use for their own marketing and promotional purposes. 

In total, the portfolio contains 324 photos, with 4 post-production passes for each.

I really needed the extra pass to really sort out the light coming through that damn window!

At the end of the day…

Sylvie, being a friend and huge supporter of my work, didn’t even need to look at the photos before knowing they were up to her high standards. 

It’s always a pleasure to work with someone like her who appreciates the value of high-quality images, and continuing to contribute to the NYC Chapter is a great way to stay connected to the city that she loves so much.