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Question: How do I become a band photographer!?
I am a 16 year old girl who's determined to do something I love and be successful at the same time!. I absolutely love music and am constantly at shows and concerts, so I'm interested in photographing bands -and I don't mean standing in the front of the violent crowd with my camera!. Like, VIP passes, or on stage or something!. I am completely serious about this and I would love this to be my career!. But I feel like the sooner I start the better ('cause honestly, what am I waiting for)!. I'm not sure what I'm required to do or how to start out!. How should I go about this!?Www@QuestionHome@Com
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
1) You're going to have to build this from the ground up!. You simply won't be able to jump into big shoots (the VIP stuff you're referring to) until you establish yourself!. There are many, many, many others already doing this who are already reasonably well known in their geographic areas!. You'll be competing with them and their already-established reputations!.
2) Speaking of: Get in line behind the rest of us!. When I started doing this, I was amazed at the number of local concert photogs there are in my area!. also, almost all of the big-name acts that appear in the US are shot by about 30 or so concert photographers across the country!. The rest of us are waiting our turn at that!.
3) There are some ground rules!. Violating them will only hurt you!. They're pretty basic: No flash!. 10-15 minutes/3-4 songs shooting time!. No shooting without advance permission (copyrights and all that - and go brush up on those so you know your limits there as well, or else again you will only hurt yourself)!. Don't engage in paparazzi behavior, either!. That will only make you enemies!.
Make friends with some local bands you like!. Most local acts have never seen themselves photographed professionally while onstage, and are often thoroughly stunned with the results (especially when compared to the fanpix they usually see or get)!. Arrange to shoot these acts while performing at local clubs!.
Have these acts bring you in as their photographer so you don't have to pay cover!. This is your current VIP pass!. Again, it's going to be a while before you can play big-shot shutterbug!.
Shoot in RAW format!. You'll have far more post-processing options than if you shoot JPEG!.
Use the good shots as part of your portfolio!. Once you have some good stuff, start pitching yourself to other acts, and show them your work!.
Part of this will be 'standing in front of the violent crowd' with your camera!. That is the only way to get the good performance shots!. You'll also need to stand in the middle of the crowd, as well as at the back!. Some of these bands may allow you actually onstage for some good closeups, as long as you stay out of the way of the show!. Some will also allow you backstage, although at the entry level there often isn't a backstage to go to, or what's there is cramped and totally unsuitable for any kind of photography!.
Be nothing but nice to everyone!. Period!. Be polite and respectful, no matter what!. There's no room for pride or ego when you're just getting started, and displaying it at all will only hurt you!.
Once you have a bit of a portfolio, you can start charging for your work!. Do not expect to make a lot of money at this for quite a while!. There are avenues of photography that are far more profitable than concert photography (senior citizen portraiture, children's sporting events [which comes with another set of rules and laws], wedding photography, to name a few)
That's the wetware side!. Next is the software side!.
You're going to need good image processing software!. In my opinion, the best choices are GIMP (freeware), Corel Paint Shop Pro, and Adobe Photoshop!.
You'll also need dedicated noise-removal software: Neat Image and Noise Ninja are very good, about equal in capability and performance (which tends to exceed the noise-removal features of your chosen image processing software), and priced about the same!. You're going to need this because you will need to shoot with the ISO cranked to the max, and you want at least ISO1600 to do this!. ISO1600 is noisy and grainy; noise-removal software is needed to overcome this!.
To process RAW images, either Bibble Pro or the RAW processing software that comes with your camera!. also, newer versions of Photoshop can handle most RAW formats!. Just remember that Photoshop is the most expensive (and way overpriced) software, even if you cheat your way into the new versions by buying old versions at computer trade shows!.
There's some software for you!. Now for the hardware!.
Use a dSLR!. You can buy whatever you want here!. (Consumer grade point-and-shoots just will not get it here!.) My preference is Canon, but Nikon also makes a fine camera!. The best way to decide which one to buy is to look at what your friends and fellow area concert photographers are shooting with!. Buy what they have - this way you can borrow lenses from each other!. Do not buy any of the kits - use the savings from buying only the body to buy a lens better than the kit lens!.
Buy the best lenses you can afford!. It is imperative that you buy constant-aperture lenses!. Most concert shooting is done under very low-light conditions!. You want the widest aperture you can get as a result!. I heartily recommend f/2!.8 lenses at the minimum, wider if you can afford it!. Get one 50mm f/2!.8 lens, something around 18-50mm or 28-70mm f/2!.8, and something around 50-150mm or 50-200mm f/2!.8!. Longer zoom ranges tend to not have the aperture you need!.
Buy several smaller memory cards instead of one large one!. Flash memory is like a hard drive: If the controller dies, the data is gone!. Period!. You're better off losing 100 pictures instead of all 500 of them!.
Get a computer with a LOT of RAM or upgrade your old one to a LOT of RAM (as much as the machine can handle)!. Make sure it has a pretty fast CPU and a pretty good video card!. Give it a DVD burner!. also, buy an external hard drive - the largest you can afford!. Store all your work on this drive in case your computer ever dies!. Archive all your work to DVD as soon as you've finished processing!. This is the backup to your external drive!. Think of these as your negatives!.
A bit more than you were expecting for an answer, eh!?Www@QuestionHome@Com
hahahaha gooooood luckWww@QuestionHome@Com
Get in contact with local music magiznes set up an interview and tell them what you want!. You may not get anything until your older, but until then go to shows with your camera and take photographs to use as your portfolioWww@QuestionHome@Com
Get setup with a local band, create a good portfolio, and get in line behind the other photographers!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
Start going to shows( local) taking photos and working on technique!.
Show the photos to the bands, and if you're good, they may ask you to continue to shoot them and spread the word to other bands!.
You can also send bands examples of your work and ask if you could photograph them!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
I think I may have misunderstood your question!. You stated you didn't want to merely stand in front of the band taking photos, furthermore, you said VIP passes and "on stage or something"--so when exactly are you going to take photos of the band!? In the Green Room!? in the bus or in their private jet!? I am not trying to be funny here!.
You have to be near the stage and snap something like this!.
http://farm4!.static!.flickr!.com/3251/2420!.!.!.I suppose it gets crowed and it may get dirty, as well!.
But as a photographer, you need to realize that you're not there as a spectator!. They pay you to capture good photos so the novelty of going to a concert may wear off quickly if this becomes a "job"!.
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