A small new gadget caught our eye this week. Forma, a pocket-size optical viewfinder from Canadian photographer and inventor Peter Modzelewski and his studio Oramod, launched on Kickstarter on November 10. PetaPixel covered the launch, and Modzelewski explained the thinking behind it in his own write-up on 35mmc. The idea is simple: hold it up to your eye and see exactly what a given lens will frame, without pulling out your camera.
Most of the buzz is coming from film, large-format and landscape shooters. But the habit behind it, deciding your frame before the moment happens, is one of the most useful skills in event photography. Here is what Forma is, and how the same idea helps us scout venues and deliver stronger photos for San Antonio events.
What Forma is
- A frame-line finder you look through with both eyes open. One eye sees the scene, the other sees bright frame lines on black, and your brain blends them so the lines appear to float over the real world. It borrows this trick from Voigtländer’s Kontur finder, first sold in 1951.
- Swappable cards for different lenses and formats. Laser-cut cards are matched to specific focal lengths and formats, from 35mm film to large-format and panoramic cameras, so you can compare a wide and a normal lens in seconds.
- Light and wearable. It is 3D printed from a carbon-fiber composite and weighs about 30 grams. It can hang around your neck or clip onto a camera’s hot shoe.
- Built for real conditions. It has built-in illumination for dim light and colored gels so the frame lines stay visible against different backgrounds.
- Availability. It is a crowdfunding project, so the usual caution applies. The campaign hit its goal on launch day, and shipping to backers is expected next month.
Why pre-framing matters at an event
At a conference, ceremony or gala, the big moments do not wait. The keynote walks on, the award is handed over, the ribbon is cut. If you are still figuring out where to stand, you miss it. That is why we treat the first part of every job as a scouting walk.
We have shot Nikon Z9 and Z8 bodies since they launched, and on a venue walk we usually just raise the camera with the lens we plan to use. A tool like Forma does the same job with less weight and without anyone mistaking a test frame for real coverage. Either way, the questions are the same:
- Where is the clean background? Look behind the podium or stage. Exit signs, stacked chairs and bright windows can ruin an otherwise great frame.
- Where is the wide “story” shot? Like the photo above, a spot behind the audience can show the crowd, the speaker and the venue in one image. That is the shot planners and marketing teams use most.
- Which lens for which moment? A wide zoom for the room, a normal lens for networking, a telephoto from the back for speakers. Checking focal lengths on the walk tells you what to have mounted when the program starts.
- Where can I stand without blocking anyone? Aisles, side walls and the back corners matter. Good coverage never comes at the expense of guests’ view or a videographer’s shot.
- What will the light do? Outdoor ceremonies change fast as the sun moves. Indoors, stage lighting and windows can fight each other. Note where the light will be at program time, not just during setup.
A simple scouting routine you can copy
- Arrive early enough to walk the room or grounds before guests do.
- Stand at the back, the sides and near the front, and frame the stage from each spot with the lenses you plan to use.
- Pick two or three “home base” positions for the key moments and remember them.
- Check the background and the light from each one, then confirm the run of show with the planner.
- Reframe once the room fills up. A full room always looks different from an empty one.
What this means for San Antonio event clients
You do not need to know what a frame-line finder is. What you will notice is the result: clean backgrounds, wide photos that actually show your turnout, and no missed moments because your photographer was out of position. When you book, it is fair to ask:
- Will you arrive early to walk the venue?
- Can we share the run of show and any must-have moments ahead of time?
- Are there places you should not stand, such as a camera riser, a livestream position or an accessible seating area?
A few minutes of planning before guests arrive is often the difference between a nice gallery and one your team uses all year.
Gear mentioned in this post
- Forma by Oramod is sold through its Kickstarter campaign, not through camera stores.
- Voigtländer optical viewfinders, a classic way to preview frame lines on cameras without a built-in finder: Voigtländer viewfinders at Adorama
- Nikon Z8, one of the bodies we have relied on for event and headshot work since it launched: Buy the Nikon Z8 at Adorama
Disclosure: some links in this post are affiliate links, which means Grey Bug Photography may earn a small commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you.
Sources: PetaPixel, “Forma Is a Wearable Viewfinder Built for Finding Photo Compositions,” November 10, 2026; Peter Modzelewski, “Why I Built Forma,” 35mmc, November 10, 2026.
Planning a conference, ceremony or team event in San Antonio or elsewhere in Texas? Reach out to Grey Bug Photography, or see how we work with planners on our For Planners page.
