Have you driven through downtown Austin lately? It’s looking a little bit different at the corner of Cesar Chavez and Red River. If you haven’t noticed, the Austin Convention Center isn’t just closed for renovations and expansion, it’s been demolished down to the ground. With an uptick in corporate events in Austin in the recent years, corporate planners are being forced to rethink logistics. That’s exactly what National Instruments (NI) did for their annual NI Connect event by relocating this year’s gathering to Fort Worth, Texas. As a professional Fort Worth event photographer, I had a front-row seat to how this pivot played out and honestly? Fort Worth delivered. It delivered so well, in fact, that we’re going back next year!
It’s easy to assume that leaving Austin means sacrificing style, energy, or access. But Fort Worth brought its own brand of charm and capability, with just enough grit and polish to make the whole thing feel intentional, not just a back up plan.
Understanding the Brand Behind NI Connect
National Instruments doesn’t do fluff. Their events are about about connection and networking, clarity on updates and rollouts, and new innovation from brand partners. NI Connect is where engineers, execs, and global partners converge to share what’s next. What I offer NI Connect is precision visuals on their produced big key moments and tech rollouts, along with candid interactions between global teams. They want branding consistency across breakouts, lounges, and product demos. I’ve worked with them for a few events now and it’s my favorite way to work: capturing real moments for brands I have a history with that feels cohesive, intentional and gets used right away so I feel like I am adding value to their week. “You caught moments we didn’t even realize we needed,” one of their comms leads said….and that’s my mf-ing jam.
Why Fort Worth Works for Corporate Events
Fort Worth worked because everything important was close, connected, and built around real access. NI Connect used both the Omni Hotel and the convention center across the street. That walkable setup made the schedule tight, efficient, and easy enough to manage. Breakouts happened on both sides, exec meetings flowed straight into keynotes, and nothing got lost in transit. From a photographer’s perspective, that proximity meant I could cover more of the story as their Fort Worth event photographer with less friction (but a hell of a lot of steps!).
The team didn’t try to hide the fact that this was Fort Worth. In fact, they leaned into it. One of the week’s standout moments was the evening party at Billy Bob’s. It wasn’t just an off-site. It was a brand-aligned experience with live music, local flair (bull riding AND a longhorn steer to take photos with), and a distinct sense of place. People showed up, stayed late, had custom cowboy hats made, and talked about it long after last call.
For the international partners flying in, Fort Worth’s access to DFW Airport made a real difference. A 35-minute drive from a true international airport meant easier arrivals, tighter timelines, and less complexity for global teams.
If you need a city that supports large-scale events without adding logistical noise, Fort Worth can absolutely carry it.
What I Focused On as a Fort Worth Event Photographer
- Keynotes and Panels: Speaker stage shots that feel dynamic, energetic and like you’re in the room.
- Candid Interactions: Moments of connection—especially during Q&As and networking at the expo help tell the story beyond the agenda.
- Sponsor and Product Spaces: Clean, high-contrast visuals with brands clearly defined and dynamic interactions for brand use later in pitch decks, reports, and social.
- Environmental Details: Venue context, signage, branded lounges all help anchor the event in time and place.
- Portraits On-Site: Pulled aside execs and VIPs for clean updated headshots and leadership imagery. (Huge bonus for future media use.)
- Night Events: Evening happy hours had a different energy. We all know that there is no one wilder than a bunch of parents with no responsibilities at a corporate event!
If your company is rethinking its event location while Austin’s convention center is off the table, Fort Worth may be the move and you’ll want a photographer who already knows how to work it.
I photograph corporate events across Texas and beyond, with a process that’s fast, collaborative, and tailored to the story you want to tell. Let’s connect about your upcoming event.
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