The story behind the photo: Bomb dogs and location, location, location
What does it take to document a meeting between Europe's most powerful leaders? The answer is not just two well-placed flash lamps, but a great deal of preparation and the ability to get the right shot when the pressure is high.
When you walk into the Confederation of Danish Industry building for an event with heads of state and top figures from the business world, your working day doesn't start by turning on your camera. It starts with security checks and bomb dogs. And in fact, it starts much earlier with preparations for a day that is almost certain not to go entirely according to plan.
Here is a brief account of how a photo of Mette Frederiksen and Emmanuel Macron from a press conference at the Confederation of Danish Industry came about. And how that photo helped convey the story of one of the important days during the Danish EU Presidency.
An exceptionally photogenic police dog ensures security at the Confederation of Danish Industry in Copenhagen.
Location, location, location: The most important discipline for press photographers
As a big fan of the home improvement show "Location, Location, Location," I know that you can change everything about a house except its location. The same applies to press photography. If you're standing in the wrong place when Mette Frederiksen and Emmanuel Macron are exchanging important words, it's a problem, you could say.
The story behind the photo below is the perfect example of the battle for position. I was in an intense exchange (and battle for position) with a TV photographer. We were both slightly irritated by each other's "location" as we fought for the same few centimeters of floor space.
To document my position to the TV cameraman, I asked Bjarke Ørsted, who was my colleague that day, to take a quick picture of me. The result was this behind-the-scenes shot: I am standing in full concentration, towering over the crowd to maintain my angle, while Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and French President Macron begin the press conference.
Photo by Bjarke Ørsted
Technical precision under pressure: Lighting for state visits
In the picture above, you can see that I have a large device on top of my camera. It's a wireless transmitter that can trigger flash units placed elsewhere in the room. I had it attached because I wasn't sure how the lighting would turn out. On the day, it was overcast, so the light coming in from the skylights and any potential TV lights in the room would be the most dominant light sources. Light usually plays a huge role in a photograph, so it's crucial to have a plan A and a plan B for what happens if the lighting changes. That's why I had set up additional lighting in the form of two flash units. There were only about 10-20 seconds to take the picture, so there was very little time to work with. Therefore, I took half of the photos with flash and half without. This way, I could later choose what looked best. I had pre-programmed a custom setting on the camera, allowing me to switch between the two settings in just a second.
How my experience in influential settings can benefit your next project
In environments involving bomb-sniffing dogs, international heads of state, and rigorous protocols, maintaining calm is absolutely crucial. This calm approach is a constant in all my assignments, whether I'm capturing a precisely crafted executive portrait or documenting a complex business conference. If you have a high-profile event, please get in touch. I am ready to assist, with a steady hand on the shutter. You can view photos from the day below. You can also see more reportage and press photos from political events here.
FAQ: Professional photography for state visits and business events
How do you handle logistics and security at high-profile events? At events such as EU summits, I coordinate with the police and internal security teams. My experience ensures that everything from bomb dog checks to strict protocol is handled without disrupting the flow of the event.
How quickly can you deliver images from a press conference? In the world of journalism, speed is everything. I am equipped for "live editing" and lightning-fast delivery, so your message reaches the media and social platforms while the news is still hot. In certain cases, images can be delivered within minutes if required.
Can you control the lighting in challenging venues such as the House of Industry? Yes. As described in the case with Mette Frederiksen and Macron, I always bring my own wireless flash system. This ensures Plan A and Plan B, regardless of whether we are battling cloudy weather or changing TV lighting.
Do you also cover smaller business events and portrait assignments? Absolutely. I bring the technical precision and calmness I have developed at international summits to all my assignments—whether it's a portrait of a board of directors or a conference for 500 guests.