Corporate awards night photography in Sydney: a red carpet, speeches and dancers at Decode’s end of year party

Name: La Lente Photographer
Address: Epping, NSW, 2121, AU
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A gold star, a red carpet and a capoeira dancer in mid-air. How I photographed Decode's end of year awards night, and the shot list I'd use for yours.

By Paul D’Ambra · April 2020

Home - Business - Corporate awards night photography in Sydney: a red carpet, speeches and dancers at Decode’s end of year party

Shirtless capoeira performer leaps mid-air in front of large neon DECODE letters, with a samba dancer and guests behind.

Wide view of the stage with red curtains, a gold star and neon DECODE letters reflected in the dance floor.

Two men in suits hold a framed certificate on stage in front of red velvet curtains.

A man in a bow tie looks down at his notes at a Decode lectern framed by a large gold star.

Nine guests in suits and evening wear stand in a row in front of a gold star and red curtains.

Belly dancer spreads large gold wings above her head as drummers play on the dance floor.

A taste of the night. More photos are in the full gallery further down the page.

On Sunday 8 December 2019 I photographed Decode Group's end of year Christmas and awards party in Sydney. It was a big night in a large function room, with a Hollywood theme: red velvet curtains, a giant gold star, a red carpet with gold posts and rope, and giant neon DECODE letters. There were speeches, awards, dinner and dancing. Decode needed corporate awards night photography that worked for PR as well as for the people in the room.

The brief: red carpet photos for PR, plus the whole night

Decode had two jobs for the photos. The first was red carpet photos they could use for PR, on their website and in emails to their clients. The second was a record of the night itself: people enjoying the event, the speeches and awards, the senior management team, and plenty of candid photos of guests.

I'd photographed Decode events before, including their Christmas party at Dolton House in Pyrmont. That was a different night at a smaller venue. This one was in a much larger venue, with a host and a full awards segment.

Red carpet event photography that works for PR

Red carpet photos have to look good small, on a website or in an email, as well as large. So I kept them simple: people in front of the star and the curtains, everyone facing the camera, faces clear and well lit. Groups of colleagues work well here. They are easy to use in a client email, and staff are happy to share them.

Five women and a man in a tuxedo pose and smile in front of red velvet stage curtains.

Decode menu card on a black table set with crystal glasses and gold cutlery.

Speeches, awards and the host on stage

An end of year awards dinner moves fast once the speeches start. Speakers came up to a Decode lectern beside the gold star, a host in a white dress ran the night with a microphone, and a framed certificate was handed over on stage. Some of the men on stage wore reindeer antlers, which gave the night its Christmas touch.

For awards, the handover is the photo everyone wants, so I stay in position for the moment the certificate changes hands and the people turn to the room. I also take wider shots that show the stage, the screens beside it and the audience, so the photos tell the story of the night, not just who was on stage.

A host in a white dress speaks into a microphone to men on stage, some wearing reindeer antlers.

Two men at a Decode lectern on stage, one speaking into a microphone, with another man waiting in a tuxedo.

Dancers, drummers and a dark red room

After dinner the dance floor filled up. There was a capoeira performer, a samba dancer in feathers, a belly dancer with gold wings and live drummers playing among the guests. The performers were fast, and the room was dark and very red, with green party lights on the floor. That kind of light can turn skin tones strange and blur anyone who moves. The answer is to work with the light rather than fight it: keep the red mood of the room, make sure faces still look natural, and time the shot to the peak of a jump or a spin.

A dancer in a flowing green skirt spins on the dance floor as a drummer plays beside her.

A guest waves and smiles as a capoeira performer and a samba dancer move across the dance floor.

What Decode said

I've photographed several events for Decode. This is their feedback on the work.

“An absolute amazing photographer! His work his amazing, friendly and very professional. Highly recommended!”
Thao Nguyen, Decode Group (Google review)

A shot list for a corporate awards night with a red carpet

If you're planning an awards night, this is the list I'd start with. Share it with your photographer before the night, along with the run sheet and the names of anyone who must be photographed.

The room before guests arrive: the stage, the table settings, the menu and any branding.
Red carpet arrivals: individuals, couples and teams in front of your backdrop.
The senior management team together, early in the night while everyone looks fresh.
Every speaker at the lectern, plus wider shots showing the audience.
Each award handover, and each winner facing the camera with the award afterwards.
The host and any entertainers in action.
Candid photos of guests at their tables and on the dance floor.
Any planned moments, such as a toast or a surprise, with the time on the run sheet.

Ask for the red carpet photos early in the night, before dinner. That's when people are happiest to stop and pose.