Monash Business School's Night of Nights
There's something magical about photographing awards nights. The anticipation in the air, the proud smiles, the heartfelt speeches - and the Monash Business School Dean's Gala Dinner had it all. They sought our expertise to document their Dean's Gala Dinner at Metropolis Events. The evening brought together key figures from the business school community to celebrate alumni achievements and foster connections.
Our brief covered several key elements: documenting six major alumni awards, creating portraits of speakers and recipients, and capturing the overall atmosphere of the evening. The venue, Metropolis Events, provided a striking backdrop with its city views and modern interior.
We arrived early to photograph the empty venue and set-up, giving us time to plan our approach for the evening ahead. This preparation proved valuable as the night moved swiftly between formal proceedings, award presentations, and networking periods.
Social entrepreneur Ian Carson AM
A significant part of our role involved coordinating with the Monash team to ensure we captured each award recipient both on stage and against the media wall. Their detailed running sheet helped us anticipate each moment and be ready for quick transitions between formal and casual shots.
The evening included several key sessions that required different photographic approaches:
Pre-event venue and detail shots
Arrival and registration period
Formal award ceremonies
Keynote conversation with Ian Carson AM
Networking and casual interactions
Professor Michelle Welsh presents Laura Parr with the Professional Achievement Award against Melbourne's stunning city backdrop at Metropolis Events
The Monash team requested same-night edits of key moments for their immediate social media use, which we delivered during the event. This quick turnaround helped them maintain engagement with their wider community while the excitement was fresh.
These images now serve multiple purposes across Monash Business School's communications channels, from their website to marketing materials, helping them showcase their community's achievements and maintain connections with their alumni network.
Party time
This kind of authentic documentation, focusing on both the formal moments and natural interactions, helps institutions like Monash Business School build their visual story archive while providing valuable content for their ongoing communications needs.
Party’s over
