How to get great live action photos

As a speaker, having photos (and video) of you speaking to live audiences is crucial for any future speaking business.

Meeting planners and event organizers don't want to see headshots of you in a studio or video of you in front of a green screen. They want to see you LIVE in front of an audience because that's what they'll be hiring you for.

... and getting photos and video doesn't have to cost you a dime.

All the pictures below were from FREE photographers during live keynotes I've presented this year.

How did I get them for FREE?

In my speaking proposals, I state I am agreeable to photography and videography.

Also, in my pre-keynote customization call script, one of the questions I ask is whether they will have a photographer and videographer onsite. If the answer is yes, which it is 80% of the time, then I know they will be taking pictures and video of me during my speech.

The remaining 20% of the time, my simple question spurs the idea for them to have a photographer/videographer at their event. They actually thank me for the idea and are appreciative that I'm agreeable to be photographed/taped. (win/win)

Moreover, my speaking contracts include a clause requiring a copy of any photos or video to be provided to me onsite. (Note: I always take a 1 TB hard drive with me for transfer of files onsite. Otherwise, it's a delay and usually we have to track it down which isn't the last memory I want them to have of me or my assistant.)

So next time you are speaking, and if you have a process for customizing and preparing, include photography and videography in your speaking proposal, in your customization script and in your speaking contract.

But of course the only way to get these live action photos and videos of you is to be speaking.

So if you don't have speaking photos and video in front of live audiences, you need to be putting yourself out there to contract pro bono speeches so you can monetize them and get what you need for PAID professional speeches.

You can't get PAID to SPEAK unless you have what meeting planners need to book you.

Click here to read a recent post, "10 Ways to Monetize Any Speech" for more ideas beyond just photos and video.