At the very end of January, I had the privilege of photographing the inaugural Political Podcast Awards, hosted by iNHouse Communications at Westminster’s stunning Sinfonia Smith Square. It was a fantastic evening celebrating the ever-growing influence of political podcasts and the brilliant presenters and producers who bring them to thousands of listeners worldwide.
The night was hosted by the incomparable Gyles Brandreth, whose quick wit, sharp observations, and endless anecdotes kept the room entertained from start to finish. Capturing his infectious energy and signature smile on stage was a true highlight!
The event brought together high-profile figures from across the political spectrum, including George Osborne, Ed Balls, James Cleverly MP, Ruth Davidson, and top journalists like Beth Rigby, Chris Mason, and Sam Coates. My role for the evening was to document everything – from guests mingling and socialising to the exciting awards handovers and the proud winners celebrating their achievements on stage. The atmosphere was electric, and the night was a resounding success!
From a photographic perspective, this shoot required a careful balance of planning and adaptability. I needed to be nimble enough to capture spontaneous moments – laughter, reactions, and movement – while managing challenging lighting conditions.
One major challenge was the 2.5-meter-high LED screen spanning the stage, which created intense backlighting. To compensate, I used a manual on-camera flash, ensuring it was bright enough to balance the scene but subtle enough not to distract those on stage.
The mingling and socialising shots presented their own hurdles. The bar area was lit with strong spotlights and roving multi-coloured gels, making it tricky to capture natural interactions. To remain unobtrusive while preserving the ambiance, I used a medium telephoto lens with a carefully controlled on-camera flash.
This setup allowed me to move freely, stay discreet, and consistently capture well-exposed shots in-camera – making for a seamless and dynamic shoot.