Live on stage So you want to be a concert photographer
What not to expect
Don’t expect backstage parties with the band. Those days are gone. Most acts don’t even spend time backstage. They are usually in and out of the tour bus.
What to expect
Expect everything to run late and rushed. Make sure to have your letter/email of credentials printed out and easily accessible. Don’t bring the kitchen sink with you. Most venues will not allow all your roller cases to come in with you. And there is no room in the pit for it.
What gear do I need?
I can only tell you what I use and why I choose to use it. I shoot Canon bodies with battery grips. I have tried many mirrorless systems and have yet to find any that can keep up with the Canon and Nikon focusing systems. Things move quickly and you can't waste time on slow auto focus.
I always shoot with two bodies, a full frame and a crop-factor. 70-200mm f2.8 starts on the full-frame and a f2.8 24-70mm starts on the crop-factor. I keep a f2.8 16-35mm on my belt. When shooting from the sound board the 70-200mm starts on the crop-factor and a 600mm starts on the full frame.
Bring extra batteries, and media cards with you. Do yourself a favor and go to the nearest housewares store and buy a small $20 step stool. You never know when you will need to stand above the crowd. Always, always, always bring a set of ear plugs and a lens cloth with you. NEVER BRING A FLASH – IT’S NOT ALLOWED, BESIDES IT WOULD DO YOU NO GOOD (unless you are shooting red carpet or meet and greets)
How do I start?
Local Clubs
Get a hold of the owner and/or manger and tell them you will work for free and share all your images with them for promo. You gotta start somewhere. These shows are usually more difficult to shoot, so it will be good practice. The stage, if any, is almost always under lit and/or back lit. You are most likely going to push your ISO, but that's ok, don’t fear a little noise. You may be tempted to use a flash, since it will be allowed in most small clubs, but don’t… You’ll never learn for later. Make sure all the acts get your card so you can send them the images. Eventually you’ll start getting calls for paid gigs.
Moving up to the big shows
At this level you will either be shooting from the pit or the sound board (see tips). The only way to get credentialed on these shows is by contacting the concert promoter or the artist’s publicist directly. Sometimes the venue can pass your name on to the right contacts, but you are better off making the contacts your self. When requesting credentials, you will need to be shooting for an accredited media outlet. Don’t expect to get in just because “they are your favorite band.”
Small venues
(Theatres - 3000-5000 people)
Like the small clubs, theatre shows usually offer poor and back-lit subjects. Sometimes larger acts, that travel with great lighting, hit the theatre circuit, but be prepared for the worst. At this level you also face the potential for shooting into a video wall or an LED wall. It is what it is, and everyone shooting the show has the same issues, just roll with it. Usually you will be allowed to only shoot the first two or three songs of each act and then wait out in the lobby between acts. Many times in theatres you will shoot from the sound board. These stages don’t have pit areas for photographers to stand in without getting in the audience’s view.
Large Arena Shows
10,000 or more people
You’ve made it to the big show, and all the fun & hassles that come with it. You will usually find that there will be an over abundance of light (beware: a lot of Heavy Metal bands like it dark) and an assortment of effects from fog to lasers to confetti canons. Flying beer and screaming kids… Yep you’ve made it! Usually you will only be allowed to shoot the first two or three songs of each act and then wait in the lobby between acts. Be prepared and don’t get discouraged or mad. I once shot an act that only allowed me to shoot the last 30 seconds of the first song and the first 30 seconds of the second song, and yes they did have someone with a stop watch guarding us.
Get your Game On
These are just my personal tips. Your mileage may vary and you may develop your own system
Share your images
Share your images with the venue and/or the promoter, but only if you are not restricted from sharing by the publication paying you. Never violate your clients trust.
Warm up acts
Okay, so a lot of them are bad, but some are decent. More important – they are a great way to get a peak at what to expect later. Take a look at the staging and the light grids above. Does it look like you are going to be shooting with an over abundance of light, or does the grid look sparse.
Look for pyro, fog machines and confetti canons. Try not to get stuck behind them.
Play with your camera settings during the opening act… experiment. That’s what they are there for.
Initial camera settings
I like to start at 1600 ISO, spot metering, f5.6 and a shutter speed of 320. I set all my cameras to back button focus and put them in servo focus mode. I like to set the focus area in the center group on my Canons (I am sure Nikon and others have their own equivalent). During the real shoot my aperture may go open up to f2.8 or narrow down to as much as f8 and my ISO may go down to 400 or as high as 6400 or more. I always shoot in low speed continuous or high speed continuous mode. BE READY FOR ANYTHING AND ABOVE ALL KNOW YOUR GEAR AND HOW TO QUICKLY MAY ADJUSTMENTS.
Where am I shooting from
Shooting from the pit
If you are shooting from the pit (at the stage), and you are not blocked by staging and/or equipment, move around a lot. Get different angles – don’t just stay at the foot of the stage and shoot up the artist’s nostrils. If you have a good wide angle lens, the foot of the stage is a great place to get shots of the singer and guitar players doing their stuff. Use your 70-200mm as well – move as far away from the stage as you can in the pit and you’ll get some great close-ups while lessening the angle to your subject. People will think you are on the stage with the artist. AND MOST IMPORTANT…. FORGET EVERYTHING ABOUT THE RULE OF THIRDS. Don’t try to frame the composition of the century. Get your focus and get your shots. Your time is very limited, you can crop to a better composition in post.
Shooting from the sound board
If you are shooting from the sound board (Front of House) use your stool. The crowd will usually be standing for the start, if not the whole show, and usually with their hands raised. Be Ready. Pull out the big guns… When shooting from the board I always shoot with a 600mm and sometimes I stick it on a crop factor body to get me in a little tighter. You’ll take a hit on some noise with the crop-factor body, but you may be able to lower your ISO to help offset that a bit. Don’t be disappointed if you get stuck at the sound board to shoot. Many modern shows have complicated staging and thrusts making it difficult to fit a group of photographers. And let’s face it, some artists just don’t want their photo taken. Take the good with the bad.
Final thoughts
Don’t be a ass. Treat the other photographers with respect. Don’t just bully your way in front of everyone to get the shot – it’s a good way to be removed from the event. Usually all photographers give each other a shot at the good spots.
Don’t get spooked or scared by photographers with state-of-the-art gear or big job titles. I’ve seen Rolling Stone photographers get some of the worst shots I’ve seen and I have seen shooters walk in with twin Nikon D4’s and fast Nikon glass with no idea how to use the gear. Bottom line, get your ‘game on’ and get your shots.
Do not violate your clients trust or agreement, if you want to keep shooting. Every time you shoot a show make friends with the media contact from the promoter. Get their contact info. Make friends with other photographers and ask their advice if you are not sure. We don’t bite. The first time I shot professional bull riders I was just sitting their looking clueless. A sports photographer sitting next to me was more than happy to offer his advice. Just pay it forward. I have often let other shooters use a lens when they needed to, or have help new shooters set their cameras.
ABOVE ALL ELSE… KEEP AT IT AND KEEP IT FUN!
For more information or tips feel free to contact me through my website