Picture this – live music photography

It’s not called ‘the pit’ for nothing.

You’re standing there sweltering, clinging onto your gear whilst being jostled by competing photographers.

You’ve got three songs to get ‘the shot’ then you’re out – on a deadline to download it, process it and fire it off to the agencies.

There’s a baying crowd at your back and a band with their amps turned up to 11 in front of you. If you’re lucky, it might be a band you actually like…

It’s only rock & roll – do you like it?

Live music photography is an attractive proposition for many – and it’s easy to understand why:

- you get to go to loads of gigs for free
- you’ll get up close and personal with real live rock & roll people
- your shots can end up on the covers of magazines and CDs; and attract considerable sums of money

And it can be those things- sometimes it’s the most satisfying and exciting form of photography there is.

Sometimes however-

- you have to go to loads of gigs by bands you wouldn’t normally cross a very small street to see
- you realise that – up close and personal – many real live rock and roll people have terrible skin and untrimmed nasal hair
- your shots will end up attracting a couple of ‘not bad’ style comments on Flickr; or attracting considerable amounts of dust on your hard drive

Still interested? Great – read on…

Stairway to heaven

So, how to get started?

Like most photographic fields, you need a portfolio of suitable shots before you’re able to turn up at a gig with a camera and not get thrown out by security.

Chances are you already know where local unsigned bands play. Go to all the gigs you can; get to know the bands and – more importantly – their managers, PR people and the venue owners.

Ask them if it would be ok if you take some shots. Offer them to them for free. Be nice, be polite, be professional.

Learn the camera settings that work best for you (it’s all about speed and low-noise settings).

But for pity’s sake, leave the flash at home.

Some small bands and venues won’t mind if you behave like a portable strobe lighting unit, but if you use it at a professional gig you’ll find yourself on the pavement outside with your camera lying beside you. In several pieces.

Once you’ve got the shots, send them to everyone connected with the industry you can think of. Local papers & magazines, the nationals, press agencies, record companies – prepare for a lot of rejection letters, but you only need one to say yes.

Shooting stars

Remember that live music photography can be as stressful, competitive and demanding as any other kind of job.

But, when it all comes together: when you see one of your paid shots of a band you love in print or online, there’s no feeling to match it.

So put in the earplugs, strap on your armour and prepare to enter the pit…see you there (and sorry if I jostle you – it’s nothing personal).

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This post was written by Keith D, freelance web designer & photographer. Find out more here.