How To Get Started In Concert Photography

Music and photography are some of my favorite things in the world, and combining them is basically heaven. If you’re a photographer and you love attending live shows, then you might enjoy shooting concerts. Here are some tips that can help you get into this fun photography niche.

1. Start small

If you don’t have a concert photography portfolio, start building one by going to shows at small venues or bars. Big artists and venues will probably ignore you if you don’t have any concert photos or credentials to show them- even if you’re a great photographer. I took some of my first live show photos at open mic nights at cafes in North Hollywood (shout-out to Republic of Pie) before moving onto D.I.Y. venues and eventually bigger venues for shows that required photo passes (we’ll talk about this later.) Reach out to local artists, your friend’s band, etc. and offer to take photos during their next gig. Check the upcoming shows calendar at a small venue in your area to see if you find any artist(s) you’d like to photograph. Most of them love having photos of their performance, and you’ll get to practice, enjoy the music, and get some great shots for your portfolio.

*Note: Like other types of photography, you’ll most likely earn little to no money when you’re just starting out. Shooting concerts can sometimes be chaotic and exhausting. If you’re truly passionate about this and want to have a career as a concert photographer, then keep going. Work on your skills, network often, and you can eventually start earning money doing this thing you love.

2. Your skills

You need need to know how to shoot in fast-paced, low light situations. If you don’t know how to shoot in manual mode, start working on that because auto mode won’t cut it (unless you don’t mind lots of motion blur, although that can sometimes make a photo unique.) But seriously, it’s crucial to know how and when to adjust your ISO, aperture, shutter speed, and other settings. Also, shoot RAW and not jpeg if you aren’t already. Some concerts have different colored lights that change every few seconds and artists that move around a lot. You need to know how to freeze the motion while still giving a sense of what the atmosphere and energy was like. Do your research, watch a few videos about camera settings for live shows, and go to some shows and shoot. Shooting is the best way to actually learn and get comfortable with the process.

3. Your gear + protecting it

We all know that it’s the photographer that creates a good image and not the camera. However, you need at least a somewhat decent camera and lens if you want to pursue this seriously. Zoom lenses tend to be ideal for concert photos, but a fixed focal length (prime) lens like a 35mm could also work depending on the size of the venue and where you stand. You can also rent gear to experiment with, and make sure to invest in the insurance add-on that most rental companies offer. It’s important to note that most venues DO NOT allow photographers to use flash at any time. This can distract the performer and even be dangerous by making them dizzy. I’ve seen photographers get kicked out of photo pits for using flash, so please don’t let this happen to you. Make use of the available light you already have in the venue.

Having some type of insurance, like damage and theft, for your gear is a must regardless of the type of photography you do. I can’t tell you how many times I ended up getting shoved into mosh pits at punk rock shows and had to protect my camera more than myself. My camera has never gotten damaged at a show, but I still have the comfort of knowing it’s covered by insurance just in case. You should still stay aware of your surroundings at shows even if you have insurance, and especially if you have to shoot from the crowd and not the photo pit.

4. Shoot for a publication

One of the best ways to obtain photo passes for shows is to shoot for someone. This could be a newspaper, radio station, music blog, etc. You could even start your own music photography blog. If you like writing, you could contribute to sites as both a concert photographer and concert/album/single reviewer and this could give you some more credibility. If you just want to focus on photos, then that’s totally fine. The first publication I shot for was a music blog that was only a few months old, but I was able to get photo passes for bands like Say Anything and Basement. Once you’re shooting for a publication, you can request a photo pass for a show through the artist’s publicist and/or manager. Their contact information can usually be found on the artist’s website or Facebook page in the about tab. They will be more inclined to give you a pass if you’re shooting for a legitimate publication instead of on your own.

5. Network

Networking is extremely important in the entertainment industry. Unfortunately, no matter how much talent you have as a photographer, you’ll probably receive the best opportunities thanks to the people you know and not because of your skills alone. Your portfolio and experience still matters, but so do your connections. Maintain good relationships with artists, their managers, labels, venue owners, and others. Follow the proper etiquette for concert photographers (this topic deserves its own blog post.) Work hard to be known for your trustworthy reputation and work ethic. Don’t be afraid to start conversations with other photographers at shows and befriend them (community over competition, always.) If you’re professional and easy to work with, people will remember that and start to recommend you for other gigs. After building a relationship with an artist and their team, a concert photographer could get upgraded to the official tour photographer. Being a genuinely good and respectful person goes a long way.

Best of luck on your concert photography endeavors, and don’t forget to have fun! Experiencing live music is a privilege.