Love it or hate it, networking is an important part of the writer life!

In-person events provide access: a way to make writer friends, meet the conference organizers for future speaking opportunities, and connect with agents and publishers. However, with so many other attendees hoping to do the same, you need to find a way to stand out from the crowd.

Here are 7 out-of-the-box(ish) ways to make an impression at conferences and other in-person events.

Want to turn a presenter into your new best friend? Take photos of them while they’re on stage. You can even do some video clips.

“?If you’re at a conference or an event and you know somebody up on that stage, the best thing that you can do for them is take a whole bunch of pictures,” suggests Bobbie Carlton, founder of Innovation Women.

Speakers need video and photos of themselves on these stages, whether for speaker sizzle reels, social media, one-sheets, or on their websites.

“By the way, I have made friends with some very cool people just because I happened to sidle up to them at an event and go, ‘Hey, I got a really nice picture of you on stage,’” Bobbie shares. “They immediately connect with you on LinkedIn, and they give you their card and everything; so, take pictures!”