The Brewery London - Insights and tips
Photographing Awards Events at The Brewery in London
The Brewery in London is a sought-after venue that combines historic charm with modern functionality, making it an exceptional setting for awards events. From glittering ceremonies to heartfelt speeches, photographing awards events here offers countless opportunities to capture unforgettable moments. Having photographed numerous awards events at The Brewery I’ve experienced first hand what makes this venue both a photographer’s delight and a rewarding challenge.
This blog is purely my experience and not funded in any way.
Key Spaces for Awards Events
This vast space, with one of Europe’s largest unobstructed floors, is perfect for grand setups. Its high ceilings and historic beams provide a dramatic backdrop for wide shots, capturing the audience and stage in their full glory.
King George III Room: Ideal for pre-event networking or smaller, exclusive ceremonies, this room’s classic decor adds a touch of sophistication to portraits.
Smeaton Vaults: With its brick archways and atmospheric lighting, this space is excellent for moody, candid shots during post-ceremony celebrations.
The Courtyard: A charming outdoor space that’s perfect for group photos or red-carpet entrances, especially during the golden hour.
The Joys of Capturing Awards Moments
One event I particularly enjoy is the KBBFocus Awards, an incredible afternoon that celebrated excellence in the kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom industry. The energy in the room is electric, with everyone dressed to impress, creating an atmosphere of elegance and celebration. The entertainment never fails to impress at the KBBFocus Awards
Capturing winners’ triumphant moments on stage and the joyful interactions among attendees feels incredibly rewarding. I also love shooting the celebratory moments that are part of an awards presentation. Whether it’s a group embracing in excitement or a recipient holding their trophy aloft, these moments encapsulate the essence of achievement.
Overcoming Lighting Challenges
Managing Dark Rooms and Bright Follow Spots
Adobe Lightroom Classic
I use a mix of Lightroom and Photoshop for my editing. An Awards Event, like many events is a two part process. Taking the picture then processing it to look it's very beat.
The new Develop module in Lightroom is a massive improvement, especially the de-noise. It means you can shoot very high iso which would normally give incredibly grainy pictures. Now lightroom's de-noise can make shooting in near darkness possible. It important to shoot at the correct exposure. Underexpose a tiny bit to to capture the highlights as the noise is in the shadows and not the highlights.
Strategies for Photographing Awards Events
Awards events are filled with key moments, such as:
Award presentations and speeches
Guest celebrities and entertainers
Group shots of winners
Audience reactions
Networking
Positioning yourself strategically and anticipating these moments ensures that none are missed. It is important to coordinate with event organizers to understand the flow of the ceremony and plan accordingly.
Memorable Experiences at The Brewery
One awards event that I particularly enjoy is the KBBFocus Awards. From the start, the event was buzzing with excitement. Guests arrive with the Brewery’s facade beautifully illuminated. As people entered, there is an air of anticipation that is incredibly inspiring to photograph.
During the presentations, I capture the genuine emotions of winners as they step onto the stage, with the dramatic lighting of the Porter Tun Room accentuating their expressions. The bright follow spots contrast beautifully with the soft, ambient light, creating dramatic compositions. Later, candid shots of attendees laughing, networking, and celebrating fill my memory card, each image telling a story of success and connection. The KBBFocus Awards are a much anticipated event within the KBB (Kitchen, Bathrooms and Bedrooms) world as as Christmas draws close. As much a party for the Industry as an Awards event. The drinks are flowing and the laughter loud. Especially when the A lister comedians are on stage. I love the event for the quality of the production, the talent on stage, and the warmth from the guests.
Delivering the Final Gallery.
The number one priority is to capture every winner accepting their award. I recommend arriving early to make sure you know where the awards will be presented. This is your opportunity to make recommendations as to the best place for the presentation. If possible ask the lighting crew to show you what lighting will be used for the presentations. Make sure there are no roaming spotlights that can come across the stage when you are taking the pictures. This can ruin the picture or at best mean long pauses while the roaming light moves out of the frame. The rest is easy just make sure you capture the following pictures.
People networking and having fun
Enhance the vibrancy of the ambient lighting
Take pictures of the detail, trophies, certificates, decor anything that can be useful for the clients promotion the following year.
Highlight a broad demographic of people.
Conclusion
Photographing awards events at The Brewery in London is a gift to a photographer. The venue’s rich history, versatile spaces, and dynamic lighting provide a rewarding ambience for the pictures. Overcoming challenges like mixed lighting conditions and tight schedules only adds to the sense of accomplishment. For any photographer, capturing these milestones is both a technical achievement and a creative privilege. Events like the KBBFocus Awards showcase not just the venue’s grandeur but the vibrancy and joy of awards ceremonies. Being part of these celebrations, camera in hand, is truly unforgettable.