Nonprofit Event Photography and Videography

A few months ago, we partnered with Taproot Foundation to document their two-day nonprofit summit, IGNITE 2025, through photography and video.

Taproot connects social causes with skilled volunteers, strengthening organizations and expanding their impact—a mission that strongly aligns with our own.

The event brought together an inspiring mix of nonprofit leaders, corporate partners, academics, creatives, philanthropists, and government officials at the ServiceNow offices at 50 Hudson Yards in New York City. The space offered beautiful natural light and sweeping views of Midtown Manhattan, creating an ideal setting for capturing the energy, connection, and cross-sector collaboration of the event.

Taproot CEO Cat Ward introduces panel members at IGNITE2025, Taproot’s two-day nonprofit summit in New York City. © 2025 Marko Kokic/Focus on Good

Given Taproot’s 20+ year history of serving the nonprofit sector, we were happy to offer our services at a significant discount, and in return, Taproot provided Focus on Good with generous recognition of our contributions to their mission.

Our Deliverables

The two-day event featured a dynamic mix of presentations, panel discussions, and collaborative group exercises designed to spark new ideas and partnerships.

Our deliverables included still photography and video coverage that captured the energy, purpose, and human connection at the heart of the summit.

The details of the engagement were memorialized in a Photography and Videography Services Agreement, a sample of which is available below.

Photography Services Agreement

Our standard agreement defines the scope of work, payment terms, cancellation policies, and image usage rights (copyright) between Focus on Good and our clients. You can download a sample agreement here.

In addition to outlining deliverables and timelines, the agreement addressed contingencies such as last-minute requests for expanded coverage. Just prior to the event, for instance, event organizers asked us to conduct a half-dozen video interviews that had not been previously planned.

We were happy to accommodate, however, and recorded and produced video interviews with senior leaders from three major nonprofits, two financial institutions, and a senior professor from Harvard Business School.

Video interview in progress. © 2025 Marko Kokic/Focus on Good

While these interviews required additional on-site effort and significant post-production editing, we recognized the long-term value of capturing these perspectives. The conversations provided Taproot with compelling, high-impact content and gave us the opportunity to connect with inspiring leaders across sectors we were interested in working with.

Photography and Videography Coverage

We covered the event with a two-person team, allowing us to work efficiently while remaining unobtrusive. One photographer focused on still imagery while the other captured video, documenting key moments for the purpose of creating a highlight reel of the event.

For still photography, my partner, veteran humanitarian photographer Marko Kokic, used a dual-camera setup: two Canon bodies—one paired with a 24–70mm f/2.8 lens and the other with a 70–200mm f/2.8. This combination is a standard approach for large events and enabled us to capture both wide environmental shots and close-ups from across the room without disrupting conversations or presentations.

To capture the “energy, connection, and cross-sector collaboration” envisioned by the event organizers for the video, I used a small, lightweight and unobtrusive rig: an Apple iPhone 15 Pro with a small Røde microphone, recording 4K log footage to an external SSD and stabilized on a DJI RS 4 Mini gimbal.

This flexible rig allowed me to move seamlessly between breakout groups and table discussions, capturing authentic, close-up interactions while maintaining a low profile. The result was a more immersive visual story that highlighted the collaborative spirit of the event.

The Results

Still Photography

Video Production

Best Practices for Nonprofit Event Photography and Videography

Here is a quick checklist to use when hiring professional photographers:

Research photographers and study their portfolios. Look for experience with nonprofit, corporate, or live event settings similar to your own.
Request a signed Photography or Videography Services Agreement. This should clearly outline scope, timelines, usage rights, and contingencies to avoid misunderstandings.
Provide a detailed shot list at least one week before the event. This allows the team to plan coverage, prioritize key moments, and prepare the right equipment.
Clarify how you plan to use the content. Let your creative team know whether the photos and videos are intended for your website, social media, donor communications, or future campaigns, and whether you need vertical, horizontal or both formats.
Identify priority participants. If specific speakers, partners, or donors should be featured, provide names along with reference photos in advance. This helps ensure those individuals are captured.
Inform participants during registration and post clear signage at entrances explaining that by attending the event, they consent to be photographed, filmed and recorded, and that by entering the area, they grant your organization permission to use the images and recordings for promotional purposes. For more on this point, see our article here: What Nonprofits Need to Know About Photo Releases

Nonprofit Event Photography and Videography

Supporting Nonprofits Through Skilled Volunteerism

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