Parades are not among newspaper photographers favorite assignments.
Like kids playing in sprinklers on a hot day and fireworks on the Fourth of July, parades fall into the seen-one-seen-them-all category. And based on my personal experience I tend to agree; I’ve taken very few photographs of parades that I really love.
On the other hand, when people you love are featured in the parade photographs—whether they’re marching in the band or running out into the street to pick up Hershey kisses and bubble gum—you have pictures that capture a special time in someone’s life and a piece of our country’s texture.
So for better or for worse, here are some things I’ve learned about photographing parades—in no particular order:
- Pray for a cloudy day. Virtually all outdoor events that happen in the middle of the day are going to look better if the light is soft and flattering. Midday sun is an uphill battle for all photographers. Join the club.
- Get to the parade early and find a spot with a simple background. Good photography is made of simple building blocks and a great place to start is with a simple background. The early bird gets the simple backgrounds. If you find that spot in the shade you have found the Holy Grail of parade photography.
- Use a telephoto lens if you have one. It’s helpful in so many ways; it puts backgrounds out of focus, it helps you zoom in on parade details, and faces of people you love marching in the parade will be bigger in your pictures.
- Photograph the people you love from directly across the street. I’m all about crossing and jumping out into the street to get the photographs I need. Depending on the parade, no one seems to care as long as you don’t block someone’s view for very long.
- Dress the kids in solid colors. This is my wife’s department and she does a great job of finding the red, white, and blue t-shirts and hats for the patriotic parades. It makes a huge difference.
- Join the parade for a while. If you see something you like in the parade, put a smile on your face and go for a walk. Honestly, if you have a camera and a camera bag you look like you’re a member of the media and just about everyone is going to leave you alone. Safety first.
- Parades are moving which means you only have one chance as they pass by. It’s a little like my standard recommendation for sports photography: shoot a little bit wide and be prepared to crop out extraneous stuff later.
- Bring a chair, water, and sunscreen. It’s the little things that make a BIG difference.
- Wear a hat. Especially if you’re bald—actually even if you’re NOT bald.
- Photograph the veterans at the patriotic parades and share your pictures of them. (see my personal thoughts on Memorial Day) There are so few adequate ways to thank these men and women for what they’ve done but putting some pictures on your favorite social media and writing a few thoughtful words is a step in the right direction.
- Don’t forget to enjoy the parade, too. I honestly believe that one of the reasons so many people have paid such a high price for our freedom is so we can enjoy our families and love our country in peace. Enjoying a simple patriotic parade is one way to say thank you.
