The Hustle of Conference Photography
Last week, I had the privilege of documenting the AACR (American Association for Cancer Research) Conference at Chicago’s sprawling McCormick Place. For those who’ve shot large-scale events, you know the drill: fast-paced keynote sessions, candid networking moments, and the quiet intensity of researchers sharing breakthroughs—all under the glow of convention-center lighting.
As a photographer, my job was to capture the energy and nuance of the event for AACR’s team. But even in the chaos of back-to-back sessions, I held tight to my personal rule:
"Yes, I’ll shoot that for you… but I’m shooting one for me, too."
Conference photography can be relentless. Between adjusting for mixed lighting and nailing fleeting expressions, it’s easy to become a machine—clicking for the client, but not for the craft. That’s why I always sneak in frames for myself: a sliver of sunlight through the exhibit hall, an attendee’s unnoticed smile, or the abstract geometry of the venue itself.
This time, my Leica D-Lux 7 was my sidekick for these personal snaps. Its compact size let me stay agile, and that iconic Leica rendering turned even mundane details into keepers.