Crowd on yoga mats before a giant graffiti-mural projection at a POPSUGAR wellness activation — Los Angeles — POPSUGAR POPSUGAR “Body Garage” wellness activation.

Los Angeles event photographer for brands, agencies & private clients

I'm Kyle Espeleta. I shoot events — sixteen years of it, Wall Street to Hollywood.

Clean photos mean clear intent: the scale, the moment, or the point of view.

Get an event quote → · Call or text (917) 612-4937

16+Years in the field

48hrStandard delivery

COI✓$1M liability · available on request

2–4+ videoScalable crew & videographers

Selected frames

See the range →

Cast of The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent — Nicolas Cage, Pedro Pascal, Tiffany Haddish, and Ike Barinholtz — on the blue carpet at the Lionsgate premiere — **Premiere** — Nicolas Cage, “Massive Talent”

Margot Robbie photographed at the ELLE Women in Hollywood event — **Red carpet** — Margot Robbie, ELLE Women in Hollywood

A rare pale-blue Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic on a display platform at The Peninsula Classics Best of the Best Award, a guest admiring it on a concours lawn — **The Peninsula Classics** — Bugatti Atlantic, Best of the Best

Crowd among classic cars at a Monterey car event — **Monterey Car Week** — Crowd on the concours lawn

Gavin Newsom laughing on stage during a Politico Playbook Elections panel with AARP branding — **Political** — Gavin Newsom, Politico

Performers spinning illuminated hoops on the arena floor under purple stage lighting at a corporate live show — **Live show** — Arena hoop performance

Two speakers in conversation on stools under white light beams on stage at the Fisker auto reveal — **Auto reveal** — Fisker, on stage

almay activation portrait — **Beauty** — Almay activation

Keynote session at a Havas Media conference in Century City — **Keynote** — Havas Media, Century City

Two DJs posing together under pink light at a record release party — **Record release** — The DJs

Halle Berry on the carpet at the Moonfall premiere backdrop, with a giant moon sphere and a Lexus display, outside the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood — **Premiere** — Moonfall, TCL Chinese Theatre

A speaker with arms raised leading a packed ballroom of attendees on their feet at a Los Angeles wellness summit — **Conference** — Wellness summit, ballroom session

Guests mingling inside Walt Disney Concert Hall at an LA Philharmonic gala reception — **Walt Disney Concert Hall** — LA Phil gala

Former Secretary of State John Kerry speaking at a podium with seated panelists and a U.S. flag on stage at the Pacific Council on International Policy — **Political** — John Kerry, Pacific Council

Black-and-white wide view of guests mingling in the plaza beside the Instagram Illuminate signage at LACMA, an evening of light, photography and art in Los Angeles — **Activation** — Instagram × LACMA

Influencer Ashlee Keating in a yellow dress on the yellow carpet against the SNAPPYS backdrop at Snapchat’s creator awards in Santa Monica — **Yellow carpet** — Ashlee Keating, The Snappys

Corporate event on the field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for U.S. Travel — **Landmark** — U.S. Travel, LA Coliseum

Crowds riding the escalator beneath the Anime Expo Los Angeles banner inside the Los Angeles Convention Center — **Convention** — Anime Expo, LA Convention Center

New Porsche staged at an auto reveal — **Automotive** — Porsche reveal

Two couples kissing at midnight under marquee lights at a private New Year’s Eve party — **Private party** — New Year’s Eve, midnight

What I shoot

A creator posing beside a Sephora director’s chair at the Sephora Squad activation backdrop

Event photographyActivations, premieres, galas, fundraisers, product launches, and beauty and influencer events — plus the stuff that doesn't fit a category. The gallery should make the point clear: the scale, the people, the moment, and what your client built.Celebrity events · Red carpets · Branded pop-ups · Launches · Galas 02

A presenter on stage before a large screen at a Salesforce keynote with a seated audience

Corporate conferencesKeynotes, breakouts, executive panels, sponsor activations, awards, and the small things that make the gallery useful afterward. I work from the schedule, know what the comms team needs, and send selects while they still matter.Keynotes · Panels · Trade shows · Expos 03

Private partiesBirthdays, estates, holiday parties, after-parties, and private celebrations. Cover it without turning the night into a photo shoot.Birthdays · Estates · Holiday parties · After-parties

The work

Coverage for PR, marketing, production, and comms teams

I'm Kyle Espeleta, a Los Angeles event photographer. I've worked in executive conferences, premieres, political rooms, and smaller dinners where they still just need it done right. The events are all over the map, but the job barely changes: get the room, the people, the branding, and the proof that it happened without bugging the people there to work, speak, raise money, launch something, or enjoy themselves.

Most of my work is documentary: stay out of the way and catch what's happening. That can mean the scale of the room, a real moment, or a detail that shows the design. Then suddenly you need two hundred people looking at the camera, or a CEO, a sponsor wall, and a keynote handled in about ninety seconds. That's the job in a nutshell.

I learned in rooms that weren't very casual: Wall Street investor conferences, political summits, film premieres, and NDA tech events. That shaped how I work in Los Angeles now. The photos should be good, useful, and arrive while the event still matters. More about how I got here →

Actress Maude Apatow in a black gown on the red carpet at a Clarins event, against a red CLARINS step-and-repeat — LOS ANGELES — CLARINSClarins red-carpet event — Maude Apatow.

Coverage published in

The New York Times Forbes WIRED Variety The Hollywood Reporter

Former Getty Images contributor — red carpets and press events for the FilmMagic entertainment wire.

All press & editorial ↗

Los Angeles — BELLA+CANVAS

Client record

Kyle has been our go-to photographer for over five years. He’s professional, responsive, and down to earth — a winning combination for us and our high-profile speakers: Secretaries of State, Presidents, foreign leaders.

Alexandre Moore — Pacific Council · 5.0 on Google, 46 reviews

Selected Work

Gita O’Neill, James Zenner, Molly Rysman, Alex Visotzky and Prophet Walker on stage for the California at the Crossroads housing justice panel at the JCOD Summit in Inglewood — INGLEWOOD — JCOD SUMMITThe “California at the Crossroads” housing justice panel at the JCOD Summit — Gita O’Neill, James Zenner, Molly Rysman, Alex Visotzky and Prophet Walker.

A presenter on stage gesturing beside the silver Fisker Ronin on a rotating platform against a red screen reading Ronin — LOS ANGELES — FISKERThe Fisker Ronin reveal.

2U co-founder Chip Paucek in a light-blue blazer on stage against the SOUL company-meeting backdrop — 2U — SOUL COMPANY MEETINGChip Paucek at the 2U SOUL company meeting.

A speaker on stage before a full auditorium under blue stage light at a corporate general-session keynote — LOS ANGELES — GENERAL SESSIONA packed general-session keynote.

Fireside chat on stage at a 5th Wall investor summit — LOS ANGELES — 5TH WALLFireside chat, 5th Wall summit.

Three guests posing on the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce and Bank of America step-and-repeat at a corporate event in Los Angeles — LOS ANGELES — L.A. AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCEOn the step-and-repeat at an L.A. Area Chamber of Commerce event.

Range Rover unveiled before an audience at an auto event in Hollywood — HOLLYWOOD — RANGE ROVERA Range Rover reveal before the audience.

LOS ANGELES — SEPHORASephora Squad, on the table.

LOS ANGELES — ALMAYJordyn Woods at the Almay Cosmic Collection.

Richard Branson in a leather jacket on the red carpet in front of a Virgin Atlantic step-and-repeat — LOS ANGELES — VIRGINSir Richard Branson on the Virgin red carpet.

A guest in the driver’s seat exploring the Range Rover infotainment display at a Range Rover event in Hollywood — HOLLYWOOD — RANGE ROVERA guest explores the cabin tech.

LOS ANGELES — VR ACTIVATIONA guest in the headset at a VR activation.

Snap CTO Bobby Murphy speaking on stage at the Augmented World Expo in Long Beach — LONG BEACH — AUGMENTED WORLD EXPOBobby Murphy at Augmented World Expo.

Jennifer Lawrence on the red carpet at the ELLE Women in Hollywood event — HOLLYWOOD — ELLE WOMEN IN HOLLYWOODELLE Women in Hollywood — Jennifer Lawrence.

LOS ANGELES — UN WOMENNicole Kidman at a UN Women event.

Jackie Chan at a Hong Kong Airlines route launch event, holding a Vancouver–Hong Kong sign — LOS ANGELES — HONG KONG AIRLINESJackie Chan, Hong Kong Airlines launch.

Demi Moore photographed at a Vanity Fair event, beside her magazine cover — BEVERLY HILLS — VANITY FAIRDemi Moore at a Vanity Fair event.

Football honoree Nick Singleton waving on stage in front of a curved LED wall showing his portrait at the Gatorade Athlete of the Year awards in Los Angeles — LOS ANGELES — GATORADE AOYNick Singleton at Gatorade Athlete of the Year.

Justina Blakeney, Gwyneth Paltrow and Emma Grede posing together at the In goop Health Summit in Carlsbad, California — CARLSBAD — IN GOOP HEALTHJustina Blakeney, Gwyneth Paltrow & Emma Grede at In goop Health.

Guests mingling at a rooftop reception overlooking the Downtown Los Angeles skyline at golden hour — DOWNTOWN LA — ROOFTOP RECEPTIONGolden hour over a Downtown LA rooftop reception.

Chrissy Teigen at the EEEEEATSCON food festival — LOS ANGELES — EEEEEATSCONEEEEEATSCON — Chrissy Teigen.

Mia Goth photographed at a Vanity Fair red carpet event in Hollywood — HOLLYWOOD — VANITY FAIRVanity Fair event — Mia Goth.

Guests at a golden-hour rooftop reception for the 700 Broadway grand opening in Santa Monica — SANTA MONICA — 700 BROADWAYGolden-hour rooftop reception at the 700 Broadway opening.

Long outdoor dining tables lined with yellow flowers on the lawn at Park Hyatt Aviara for In goop Health 2024 — CARLSBAD — IN GOOP HEALTHIn goop Health at Park Hyatt Aviara.

Comedian Matt Friend on stage in a tuxedo in front of a giant gold SNAPPYS screen at Snapchat’s creator awards in Santa Monica — SANTA MONICA — THE SNAPPYSMatt Friend on stage at The Snappys.

The team from Aristotle Capital Management, a Los Angeles investment firm, waving together on the field at SoFi Stadium with the stadium name and Rams branding behind them — INGLEWOOD — ARISTOTLE CAPITAL MANAGEMENTThe Aristotle Capital Management team on the field at SoFi Stadium.

Former U.S. President George W. Bush seated on stage in conversation at a Pacific Council event in Downtown Los Angeles — DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELESFormer President George W. Bush in conversation at a Pacific Council event.

Gov. Gavin Newsom speaking at a political summit, photographed for Politico — CALIFORNIA — POLITICOPolitical summit coverage for Politico.

LOS ANGELES — VIRGINVirgin event — Richard Branson.

Attendees at demo stations on the Salesforce Einstein Analytics trade show floor — CORPORATE — TRADE SHOWDemo stations on the Salesforce expo floor.

A speaker on a large main stage before a giant screen reading “Our Responsibility, Our Value, And All Of You” at the 2U conference in Las Vegas — LAS VEGAS — 2U CONFERENCEMain-stage keynote, 2U conference.

Taylor Hill and Michael Stephen Shank at a Ralph Lauren influencer event in West Hollywood — WEST HOLLYWOOD — RALPH LAURENTaylor Hill and Michael Stephen Shank at the Ralph Lauren influencer event, West Hollywood.

Influencer Taylor Hill in a hat posing beside the Ralph Lauren Romance Valentine’s shop signage and fragrance window at Ovation Hollywood — HOLLYWOOD — RALPH LAUREN ROMANCETaylor Hill at Ralph Lauren Romance.

A softly lit modern lounge set with red accent lighting for a premiere after-party in Downtown Los Angeles

Midday desert sun, DTLA sunset rooftops, tricky LED walls, grand ballrooms — clients ask if I’m okay shooting their lighting. Always yes — sixteen years in, whatever a room does with light, I’ve dealt with it before.

More work

See the full galleries.

Everything above is a selection. Each gallery goes deep on one kind of room — tap through.

Reese Witherspoon in a black lace dress against a silver Art Deco backdrop at the ELLE Women in Hollywood event

Activations · Galas · Red carpetsEvent Photography →

A corporate awards ceremony in a glass-walled venue in downtown Los Angeles

Keynotes · Panels · Multi-day conventionsCorporate Conferences →

Estate pool with floating lotus lanterns at a private party in the Hollywood Hills at night

Birthdays · Estates · After-partiesPrivate Parties →

Why me

So why hire me?

There are a lot of good photographers with nice portfolios. Some work in one lane. Mine has taken me through just about every kind of event environment.

That includes trade show floors, political rooms, low-light gaming events, large brand activations, high-end events at private estates and The Quail, and small backyard parties. The scale changes, but the job doesn't: understand the room, get the people and details, and make photographs the client can actually use.

That breadth is what I bring to a booking. Sixteen years across very different rooms means I can walk into most environments knowing what matters and how to work in them. The range is here on the site.

Los Angeles event photographer Kyle Espeleta shooting a red carpet arrival at night

What you're hiring

One less thing to manage.

This is usually the real value. I'm reliable, I come prepared, and I know what the team needs. Events are chaos — schedules move, VIPs arrive early, and somebody suddenly needs a photo right now. I show up early. I dress for the room. I read the schedule and the shot list. I ask the few questions I have — usually through the logistics lead — then I get out of the way. You're already managing vendors, talent, executives, and the venue. Don't add me to the list.

Reading the room is part of the job, especially in high-end spaces. I know not to eat from the guest buffet. I know not to interrupt a speaker. I know when a “quick photo” is not quick for the person being pulled into it. And I don't complain about one client to another — whoever badmouths the last client to you will do the same about you to the next. None of that is about the camera — it's just having done this a long time without injecting myself into the event.

What clients say

From people who hired me.

5.0 on Google · 46 reviews · read them on Google →

The photos were fantastic — all taken in low or colored light, which is very difficult to do — and a link to the full gallery was in our hands within 48 hours.

Jeremy TalbotOrganization holiday event

We’ve worked with other “professional” photographers who felt intrusive, like our guests were there for them. Kyle was anything but — he made everyone feel comfortable.

Kris AvedisianPrivate event

Kyle arrived early and did a fantastic job keeping to our schedule and planned shot list. The end results were fantastic!

Mina VazirianEvent coverage

We worked with Kyle for a grand opening and he was great to work with. On time, delivered everything quickly, and was very professional. We would hire him again for event photography!

Hannah BestGrand opening

The Team

The Photography Team

Kyle Espeleta, lead event photographer in Los Angeles

Kyle EspeletaLead Photographer

Event photography — Wall Street conferences to Hollywood premieres

Since 2010 (time flies) I’ve worked with PR teams, marketing teams, production companies, agencies, nonprofits, corporate clients, and private clients. My background started in New York finance, photographing investor conferences and political rooms where discretion wasn’t really an option. After moving to Los Angeles, the work expanded into entertainment, brand activations, tech summits, galas, premieres, and private events.

Portrait of a young man with dark hair, wearing glasses and a navy blue polka-dot shirt against a white background

Franz MahrAssociate Photographer

Full-range event coverage · same low-profile approach

Franz is an experienced event photographer with his own work. He covers the same range I do, stays out of the way, and can troubleshoot without needing me to step in.

A woman with wavy hair and bangs, wearing a jacket over a T-shirt, standing outdoors near leafy bushes

Sarah SebringAssociate Photographer

Full-range event coverage · same low-profile approach

Sarah is an experienced event photographer with her own work. She covers the same range I do, stays low-key, and handles problems on her own without bringing extra attention into the room.

Multi-day conferences

Four days, twelve breakouts, one gallery.

Multi-day conferences are the biggest thing I do. The hard part isn't taking any single photo. It's covering everything that's happening at once.

Exterior of the Anaheim Convention Center with a large IPC APEX EXPO welcome banner — ANAHEIM — IPC APEX EXPOAnaheim Convention Center, IPC APEX EXPO.

What four days actually looks like

The hardest part is diving in and out of rooms with maybe seven minutes in each one. In those seven minutes I need the scale, the individuals, the branding, and the vibe. Then I might have to walk halfway across a hotel or convention center and do it again in the next room — sometimes twelve rooms before the sessions end.

That's where experience matters. You need to know what you're looking for before you walk in, get it without interrupting the session, and leave before the photographer becomes the thing everyone notices.

When I bring a second photographer

You need two photographers when two things have to be covered at the same time. That usually means multiple floors, a dedicated step-and-repeat while someone else roams, or an awards presentation where one photographer stays up front on the awards and speakers while the other gets the room, the audience, and the scale. Some programs also need an on-site editor, headshots, live printing, or video through Lake Effect Films. Plenty don't, and I'll say so.

What comes back

Selects go out day-of, every day, so your team has something to post and send while the event is still happening. The full edited set follows — 48 hours on a normal job, 5 to 7 days on a big multi-day, because a few thousand frames a day across several halls takes that long to cull and color honestly. Figure 60–200 edited images per hour of coverage, delivered as a Dropbox link to high-res JPGs with full usage rights for press, social, sponsor decks, and internal use.

Video partner

Need video too? Lake Effect Films.

Photography is what I do. When an event needs video, I work with Lake Effect Films. They're supremely chill and professional at the same time. They get great material with a relaxed energy and don't bring a bunch of production chaos into the room. That's why we work well together. Their reel:

Video still from the Lake Effect Films event highlight reel

Photo & video for your event — how the video partnership works →

The clients

Who I've worked for.

GoogleInstagramTikTokSnapchatSamsungVerizonAT&TDisneyNetflixPOPSUGARIMAXPBSSalesforceMorgan StanleySoFiSotheby’s2UUCLANorthwesternBuzzFeedMilken InstituteUN WomenGoopSephoraVersaceRalph LaurenAlmayPaul MitchellClarinsGatoradePepsiBacardiStoliNissanRange RoverPorscheHyundaiFiskerVirginAutomotive NewsColdwell BankerCentury 21InmanGoDaddyHavasThe Wonderful CompanyPoliticoELLEEsquireCosmopolitanVanity FairThe InfatuationVisit CaliforniaFood NetworkChivasExpedia

I've photographed presidents, heads of state, CIA officials, A-list actors, technology under NDA, FIFA World Cup VIP suites, corporate executives, private donors, influencers, founders, athletes, and small backyard events. The point of that list isn't that important people need a different kind of photograph. It's that they usually don't want to spend long taking one, and I don't get flustered around them.

When I photographed George W. Bush at a step-and-repeat, the Secret Service thanked me for being quick because they said some photographers take forever. Bush then asked me to come up for a photograph with him, and one of the agents used my camera. That's basically how I try to work: quick, efficient, and out of the way.

A backyard event is literally no different. There are still VIPs to the client, and I still need to cover the scale, the details, and the real moments.

Where I shoot

Regional Service Areas

Downtown LALA Convention Center · JW Marriott L.A. LIVE · The California Club · corporate towers
HollywoodDolby Theatre · TCL Chinese Theatre · Hollywood Blvd premieres · studio events
Beverly HillsThe Beverly Hilton · Greystone Mansion · Fairmont Century Plaza · luxury brand work
Santa MonicaSnapchat HQ · rooftop events · beachfront galas · brand activations
West HollywoodInfluencer launches · press events · private parties · nightlife-adjacent brand events
Century City & Culver CityCorporate summits · panels · studio-lot activations · agency events
Pasadena & the ValleysFundraisers · nonprofit galas · private celebrations · school & foundation work
Ventura County & beyondAgoura · Westlake · Calabasas · Thousand Oaks · Camarillo · broader SoCal

No travel fee in Los Angeles or Ventura counties. Beyond that, I quote by location.

Rates

Rates & Deliverables

Lead photographerfrom $300/hr · 2-hr min
Additional shooter$275/hr
Full day (up to 10 hrs)$2,400 flat
Overtime (past 10 hrs)$300/hr · half-hour increments
Multi-day programs$2,400/day · one quote for the run
Next-Day Rush (full gallery)$350 flat
Social Selects (10–15 same-day images)$150 flat
Travelfree in LA & Ventura · beyond, quoted by location
Insurance$1M general liability · COI on request

You need a second photographer when two things have to be covered at the same time: multiple floors, a dedicated step-and-repeat plus someone roaming, or an awards presentation where one photographer stays up front while the other gets the room and the scale.

Download the one-page producer kit (PDF) — rates, deliverables & specs for your vendor file →

Why hire a specialist event photographer

Because event photography isn't portrait photography with more people. It's a live job. The light changes. The schedule slips. Someone important arrives early — or not at all (they know who they are). Someone else leaves in seven minutes. The keynote runs long. The sponsor wants one thing, the PR person wants another, and the room still has to look better in photos than it felt in real life. Not easy, but it's normal. I've most likely already dealt with the problems your event is going to have: dark hotel ballrooms, mixed stage lighting, rushed executives, step-and-repeats in bad locations, panels with people looking down the entire time, huge rooms that need to look full, small rooms that need to look intentional, and timelines that are more optimistic than real. That's why teams hire someone who only does this kind of work.

LOS ANGELES — FISKER

Guides & journal

If you're curious and have a little extra time.

Guide · Basics What is event photography?

Engaged audience under colored light at a Havas Media conference in Century City

Guide · Rates What an event photographer costs in LA

Attendees at a Salesforce branded corporate event

Guide · Hiring How to hire an event photographer

Private party at the Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills

Guide · Private Events Hiring a private party photographer

Recently: Event Food Photography in Los Angeles (July 2026) · Why I Judge Event Photographers on Preparation, Not Talent (July 2026) · Anime Expo 2026 (July 2–5, 2026) · The SNAPPYS (March 31, 2026)

All guides & event recaps →

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much does an event photographer cost in Los Angeles?

$300 an hour, two-hour minimum. A full day — up to ten hours — is $2,400 flat; past ten hours, overtime is $300 an hour in half-hour increments, stated up front. Multi-day programs run on the same day rate, quoted as one number for the whole program. Full breakdown in my guide to what an event photographer costs in LA.

How fast will I get the photos?

Full gallery within 48 hours. If you need a few hero shots the same night — press or social that can't wait — I pull selects and send them day-of. Really big multi-day events run a bit longer for the full set, usually 5 to 7 days. More in my guide on delivery turnaround.

How do I get the files, and can I use them?

You get a Dropbox link to high-res edited JPGs — download, share, drop them into a deck. The usage rights come with it: web, press, social, internal, sponsor. I keep the copyright and don't hand over RAWs, but for whatever the photos need to do afterward, you're covered. See what the contract covers.

How many photos do I get?

Depends on the event — roughly 60 to 200 edited images per hour. A packed conference with a long shot list lands high; a quiet rooftop mingle lands low. I don't hard-cap it. If a frame's strong and useful, it's in. More on how the count works.

Are you insured? Can you send a COI?

Yep. I carry $1 million in general liability through Hiscox, and I can send a certificate of insurance naming your venue as additional insured when your venue or production requires one. Just tell me who to name and by when. No sweat.

What kinds of events do you shoot?

Corporate conferences, brand activations, galas, red carpets, product launches, and private parties. Sixteen years in, I've shot most kinds of rooms. Start with corporate event photography, event video, or private parties.

Contact

Tell me about your event.

5.0 on Google · 46 reviews · $1M liability, COI on request