Concert Photography. How to further myself?

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zildjian

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Iain
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So, i recently started doing some concert photography. I think i've grasped how to do it pretty well. I've only done two concerts, but i have managed to take pictures of some pretty big bands in my 'scene' of music (madina lake, the audition, flood of red, innerpartysystem). And before people say it's the quality, not the band, that counts. I know. I was just saying.

I do it as a hobby so im not expecting to make money, but im just wondering how to further myself. I.e gain some 'recognition'. By that i mean, get asked to take pictures of bands live, or whatever.

I also wondered how people get their pictures in magazines, do they submit them? or is it just luck someone has saw their picture? and how would i get to work for, or take pictures for magazines or whatever? Do i contact the magzine, promoter whatever? Or do i sit and wait?

I dont wanna sound big headed or anything, im just wanting to know what to do.

My Flickr is here : http://www.flickr.com/photos/himynameisiain/
 
I think it's 50% talent and perserverance and 50% luck. I'm sure others would disagree however.

Getting recognised and published by major magazines will not be easy. Chances are they won't even look at an email.

Best thing to do is keep at it. Shooting local bands, gaining experience. Hopefully eventually a smaller website or publication will take you on. I've been trying to find music websites that have gig reviews but that only sometimes have an accompanying photo - maybe they need a photographer?

If I'm honest I'm still trying to figure it out myself, and I'm sure someone will come along and say what I've said is a load of nonsense. But I think at the end of the day there are no hard and fast rules. Just keep at it, and have fun!
 
in the same boat... shot about 5 or so gigs now... but theyve all been very small pub-y gigs, which are great fun, but arent getting me any where, have a larger gig on the 17th *** :), just keeping on going is what im trying... one day i may get lucky...

good luck to you :D
 
fallen_mathi said:
in the same boat... shot about 5 or so gigs now... but theyve all been very small pub-y gigs, which are great fun, but arent getting me any where, have a larger gig on the 17th *** :), just keeping on going is what im trying... one day i may get lucky...

good luck to you :D
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good luck to you too, what gig?

I happen to talk to the admin of a fairly big music site in the US, and he's helped me out a bit, by allowing me to shoot things for interviews his site has. But i don't want to rely on him to do this. I agree, i have hop-skipped the "Pub" gig thing, and practically jumped into decent sized gigs, at good venues.
 
I'd say just as the above posters have said. I'm the same as you. Just been shooting some gigs throughout glasgow. Shot a king tuts a few times and thats tricky lighting!

Your pics look good though, ill probably bump into you in the pit at one point!:thumbs:
 
how did i do it? it just happened slowly...

ive not had a plan, i just photographed local gigs and took pics i liked.

i also shot some big bands i liked unofficialy from the crowd because i wanted to get some great images for myself.

gradually over the last year ive reestablished myself locally and now i get asked to a lot of concerts by bands and promoters.

one young band even asked for a photoshoot inbetween 2 bands at 12 at night,great stuff thinking on my feet no flash in a dark club [and i was tipsy]

i supply a monthly local music listings and a colour local music magazine [both are free and ime happy to help for free as well].

they now ask me if i have specific pics or to take pics they need,as i am reliable we have a great relationship.
people often contact me for photos and ive 2 promo band photoshoots coming up.

nationally ive had photo passes for some of the big groups [essential with todays security] on the strength of my work so far and a few contacts ive made.these are groups i want to see and photograph.

ive photos on a cd this year of an indie musician who i photographed 20 years ago before he was famous,he saw some of my old work going into a film and asked for a photoshoot.

also i have a famous [former] punk artist using my photos for posters and press releases after i was asked to photograph them live through a contact/friend of my brother ive known 25 years!

so you could say ive put the time in...

no i dont make money out of it

realy i would say london, a lot of luck and being pushy is where its at.

i know people who do more than me and have loads of publications cant live of it...

me i do it for fun i wouldnt swap all the big groups for the small local groups i see some terrific concerts, far better than some established tosh...


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for my twopence I enjoy doing this too
madina lake are great to shoot, the lead singer had to be pulled back from singing to the 3rd or 4th row of the crowd when I saw them on last years kerang tour.
I've done larger concerts and smaller venues and it's all fun.
The best way I think as a hobbyist is to get into your local culture magazine.
I used to shoot some bits for the Left Lion in Nottingham. A lot of fun, free gig entrance. saw splendour festival in nottingham (kate nash, paulo nutini, charletons, ocean colour scene) kerrang tour, randoms like Har Mar and Sia, Petebox, etc, quite a few more. No-one really big yet but that takes a bit more wheely.
So find your local student circulation culture magazine and volunteer your arse off.
More recently I've had a local band ask for a promo shoot as I shot them as a local festival and they used some promotionally.
but luck, perseverance and also if you're feeling really frisky....get registered with something like PA photos when you get into larger gigs and submit to their archives.
 
I'm kind of getting the impression, that i should just keep going as i am. And eventually luck will have its way with me (good, hopefully).

Well, i have some fairly decent gigs lined up to shoot. So i can't really complain atm for lack of gigs.
 
A local music mag or your universities magazine are the two standard starting points. My uni's mag was how i started gigs, i havnt looked back since :D
 
I meant doctor (though I typed it) but if you got anything to pass on, I get to shoot a lot of the student gigs because I'm an audio tech with the radio station and my mate is the rag tech coordinator so I get in a lot of places but the stuff off campus and the big touring bands are my next target
 
I worked for a club for a couple of years. Had pictures published in local papers first, then through some bands that did well i managed some shots in larger magazines. I then got passes for some larger gigs. I still prefer doing stuff for local unsigned bands though, raw rock and roll:woot:
My site is FELTIMO.COM if you want a look, but its only got some old stuff on it at the moment as its being updated, but feel free.
Dean:)
 
handy thread this! I'm into my gig toggin too, and for a while i was really hoping to score a photo pass for the last gig i was at (Go:Audio at the limelight in belfast), so i emailed their management (had no idea what i was doing really) but no luck, however someone i know did the same before and managed to get one so i don't really know how the whole scene works!
Wasn't that bad though, elbowed my way to front row to the gig instead and got some snaps!
like this-
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3627/3445444729_1282376f85_m.jpg


i love shooting at gigs but a lot of the time I'm pleased with the image but the quality ain't always great due to having use ISO 1600 most of the time... Annoys me!
 
^ small picture

I was going to be going shooting the gallows tomorow... Until they tried to make me sign everything away to them. I understand for large bands this is a common occurence, but at this point i was not prepared to do so.
 
Im surprised with a band like The Gallows.
There not that big but some times they have there heads stuck up the arses.

Glasvegas use to have one but dont now.
The morrisey photo release was a A class joke.
But thats another story
 
konastab01 said:
Im surprised with a band like The Gallows.
There not that big but some times they have there heads stuck up the arses.

Glasvegas use to have one but dont now.
The morrisey photo release was a A class joke.
But thats another story
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I didnt think Gallows would be like that. Being on a major label may have been why. KInd of gutted but hey oh, got a few gigs lined up this month anyway so im fine.
 
zildjian said:
^ small picture

I was going to be going shooting the gallows tomorow... Until they tried to make me sign everything away to them. I understand for large bands this is a common occurence, but at this point i was not prepared to do so.
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ime glad you did that its getting a bit silly i hope i would of done the same...:thumbs:
 
i did sign something for a big artist i like.

but i negotiated a upfront payment and a promise that i can use pictures they approve which will only be the ones i give them anyway and they wanted my feedback as to which to use.
in effect i was working for them but i had a say in the terms.

i was the only photographer doing live pics. so it was a privledge and a bit of pressure.

i wont sign my work over for nothing...

as they are going to use them for posters and press release and with a big credit to me ime happy with it.

they were fed up with the touts outside selling cheap knockoffs
 
konastab01 said:
Im surprised with a band like The Gallows.
There not that big but some times they have there heads stuck up the arses.
Click to expand...

All bands under the Raw Power Management banner have that contract, it only pops up at some gigs though, no one knows when they will produce it, it's a weird one for sure. There here in a few weeks so it will be interesting to see if it's produced.

The morrisey photo release was a A class joke.
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I signed this contract on Saturday night and only realised the day after what i had done. (Ameteur mistake at best quite frankly, was really tired and had been told by someone else the contract was fine so signed it)
 
No one done morrisey due to it.
It was farce.
If I get presented with one I always read it.
Sometimes they are ok other times they are stupid.
It swings on round abouts...
 
I've shot a few big acts, but I've been quite lucky that an agency have got me the job. I don't sign anything away, I retain all rights to my photos.

As far as getting recognized, thats not easy, as you can see on here, many others want to do the same thing. I would suggest trying to get your pictures seen by the right people, so the band management for example. Speak to local papers, the day after the gig, say you have some picture if they have anyone doing a review, or do a review as well. Photos and an article are a big plus. Consider the type of magazine that would want to pay money and publish your photos of the band. Magazines need to be interested in the act, however good your photos are, if they're not interested, that wont pay money for them.

If you think your style is that different and you have a range of different venues, perhaps you could send some in to the photopress, they may run an article on gig photography.

You may have the best gig photos of the local duo 'Just Us' (I know you haven't), yet the local paper wont be interested, unless something special happened newsworthy, and the national press certainly wouldn't be interested. With the right act, you can sell your pictures. You need to phone them and email them.
 
I have just shot my first proper gig last Sunday and will be shooting same artist again net Sunday.

From experience and talking to a few people it is all about growing a thick skin, and being prepared to keep at them.

I am sure I am making loads of amatuer mistakes, and will probably continue to make them right up until I find out a better way. Phone calls, emails and playing the blag best you can with promoters.

I think it works best with trying to get a pass with an artist if you say you have paid for a ticket and just want to shoot the gig freelance.

Keep at it and you might not get anything, but you will have had a good time getting there!

Do any of the more experienced among us have tips on how to get passes, how to talk to promoiters and how best to get pics out there to interested parties?
 
ding76uk said:
I have just shot my first proper gig last Sunday and will be shooting same artist again net Sunday.

From experience and talking to a few people it is all about growing a thick skin, and being prepared to keep at them.

I am sure I am making loads of amatuer mistakes, and will probably continue to make them right up until I find out a better way. Phone calls, emails and playing the blag best you can with promoters.

I think it works best with trying to get a pass with an artist if you say you have paid for a ticket and just want to shoot the gig freelance.

Keep at it and you might not get anything, but you will have had a good time getting there!

Do any of the more experienced among us have tips on how to get passes, how to talk to promoiters and how best to get pics out there to interested parties?
Click to expand...

Get working for an publication/website.

My mate runs a large music site, and allows me to go and take pictures for bands the site has interviews/reviews with. With that a certain label from america, has offered me photopasses to their bands playing in the uk.
 
Again, is it mainly luck, just a case of get yourself out there as much as possible, send everything to everyone, til someone bites then?

Also when sending out images, do you still watermark them when sending to mags?

Lastly, how do you follow up emails, is it best with more emails or a courtesy call. I am trying to get in with a major mag at the min, I know they are running a feature on the artst next month, and have emailed the picture editor lo res previews. I am currently awaiting a reply. Was thinking give him til Monday and follow with another email and a call. Does this sound like a sensible plan of action?
 
If you emailed it yesterday, call today. Check if they got it, then ask, would they be interested in using it for their feature. If they say they haven't got it, ask if they may be interested and say you can mail some examples. Also you may be best to email a pdf of the contacts and one larger file. Don't send hundreds 5-10 let them know you have more should they require them. Be prepared for some figures, they may ask how much.


ding76uk:- not sure if your trying to get into the music scene with your photos, if you are, don't let them have the link to your web site, there are no music pictures on there.
 
As I understand it, when a band gets signed to a label, the negotiations re pics are no longer in their control. Sometimes it's not even the bands management who decide who can/can't shoot........it's the promotors decision.

The band are sometimes not even aware of the negotiations going on and have nothing to do with the picture contracts, so if you don't get a pass, don't blame the band!
 
photostar_1 said:
As I understand it, when a band gets signed to a label, the negotiations re pics are no longer in their control. Sometimes it's not even the bands management who decide who can/can't shoot........it's the promotors decision.

The band are sometimes not even aware of the negotiations going on and have nothing to do with the picture contracts, so if you don't get a pass, don't blame the band!
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I agree don't blame the band thing. But i have bands who are signed to big labels in america, giving me photopasses without going through management.

It just depends on the management/label.
 
I had a pass for Paul Weller a month ago, as did a few others. Then the O2 contacted all the photographers to say Paul Weller didn't want any photographers. Girls Aloud give exclusive rights to a Guy call Rob Cable, although occasionally other photographers are allowed, or do from the audience in the hope they don't get caught. Most of the acts I've done have been arranged by the venues. However in the Paul Weller case, I think the artist/management/pr still has a final say, should they not want photographers.
 
natjag said:
ding76uk:- not sure if your trying to get into the music scene with your photos, if you are, don't let them have the link to your web site, there are no music pictures on there.
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No I sent them a link to another site I have set up for the time being. Need to get my site sorted again. Off to photog a local band tonight, hopefully leading to promo shots. May not be **, but I am finding just doing it is paying off!

Cheers for the tips though mate. Am going to get on the phone now!
 
ding76uk said:
No I sent them a link to another mimic site I have set up.

Cheers for the tips though mate. Am going to get on the phone now!
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Cool, have you seen any of Zack Arias web critiques. its the kinda thing he mentions all the time. Have separate sites for different types of photography, so it looks like your specialise in one, rather than trying to be jack of all. He seems to think thats a better thing to do.
 
Yeah. Every time I check his site I wonder if mine will finally get up there. Maybe there should be an area of the forum specific for website crit (Mods take note:lol:)

I love the stuff Zack does and has helped me in setting up my site, and now in deciding how to get things set properly, although I drive the GF mad with how I need to change it all the time, and has resorted to going upstairs when I mention Zack or his DVD.

Just rang the pic editor, he's not in but will be back at 3.40 and is expecting my call. Fingers tightly crossed!
 
Guys, let the team down. I u-turned my decision. I thought i may aswell get the experience out of it, as it will be the biggest venue i've shot at to date. And i can still upload pics from support acts right?
Sorry guys :( lol
 
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