Music Festival Photography!!!

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Set_Nights

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I am not entirely sure this is the right section to put this in or if I am just opening myself up to a big flaming but here goes! Have any of you ever done any festival photography? If you want to get into this sort of thing what is the best way to go about it? Affiliate yourself with a publication and try and get a press pass that way? Contact some of the bands directly and if so what sort of lines should you be playing?! For the big festivals do you get a generic photo pass that lets you into all the pits or would it just be for one act?

Why do I want one? Well I'm not a professional in any way and just do this as a hobby and I'd love the chance to get up close and personal to some of the bands I love and take some great shots to remember :). I gather than more big events you get like a 3 song window or something and then you're out and pretty much have to merge in at the back which I am aware of! I don't have any fantasies/expectations of making any money or getting into big publications but I do have some hopes of maybe getting a photo into one of the small local/student publications :).
 
I took the band route. Just emailed one and got a AAA pass to the progpower festival in 2007. That in turn led me on an all expenses paid, plus wages trip for 2 weeks around Europe on tour with the same band. I've also done other stuff for them when they play over here and a gig in Poland, and will hopefully be shooting for them at this years Bloodstock festival.

It's always worth a try!

At festivals you will have a press pass or AAA if you are lucky. You'll get access to the photo pit for all bands. Usually 3 songs. It's a manic few minutes, but great fun.
 
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TCR4x4 said:
I took the band route. Just emailed one and got a AAA pass to the progpower festival in 2007. That in turn led me on an all expenses paid, plus wages trip for 2 weeks around Europe on tour with the same band. I've also done other stuff for them when they play over here and will hopefully be shooting for them at this years Bloodstock festival.

It's always worth a try!
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How did you go about contacting the band? What angle did you use? I'm trying to write an email but it's hard going for more than a few lines without sounding really cheesy or ********y!
 
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EARPLUGS. Festivals are crazy loud.


Can't help with how to get there I'm afraid... I've been working for magazines at pretty much every music event I've been to, though at download festival last year I was mostly filming, not stills.... but yeah, earplugs. You're working, you're a freelancer... you have no boss to mandate this stuff other than yourself.

I use surefire EP3. They can take any situation I throw at them...
 
Yeah earplugs are a must!

I just said it like it was.I emailed the manager. I said I loved their music and was planning on going to the festival and I'd love to be able to take some photos.
A week later the frontman replied saying he'd sort out AAA passes and I could hang out backstage with them. I also went back to their hotel afterwards for the aftershow party!

Of course it won't always work. I've had more rejections than acceptances. If you want surefire passes, then a publication is the way to go, but it'll take a lot of time and hard work to get there.
 
itsdavedotnet said:
EARPLUGS. Festivals are crazy loud.


Can't help with how to get there I'm afraid... I've been working for magazines at pretty much every music event I've been to, though at download festival last year I was mostly filming, not stills.... but yeah, earplugs. You're working, you're a freelancer... you have no boss to mandate this stuff other than yourself.

I use surefire EP3. They can take any situation I throw at them...
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Do you know if at Download you just need the one press/photography pass to cover all stages/times or do you just get given one for a specific stage/time slot?
 
to do download fest you will defo need to be press or a photographer for Live nation unless they have a live and unsigned thing going down... i think it would most likely be an alloted time slot unless your working with a specific band.
 
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I don't know so much with photography, but I used to write reviews of gigs/singles for various websites and magazines. Find your local "scene" website or magazine, get involved there. Show your worth and you'll get invited to bigger and better stuff. Remember it is work, and for every great gig theirs a thousand monday night metal bands when you just want to go to bed. High points were getting a press pass for download, low points were getting to download with just £10 in my pocket and finding that it was £5 to park and there were no freebies beyond the ticket.
 
meehaja said:
Remember it is work, and for every great gig theirs a thousand monday night metal bands when you just want to go to bed.
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Amen to that. I chucked it all in beacuse my Wednesday nights were being spent in some dive of a bar, listening to stuff I didnt want to listen too, getting groped and bashed by drunken metalheads and not getting to bed until stupid O clock.

The big shows are great when you get them, the little ones... Not so much.
 
Aj2k8 said:
to do download fest you will defo need to be press or a photographer for Live nation unless they have a live and unsigned thing going down... i think it would most likely be an alloted time slot unless your working with a specific band.
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Download actually accept people not from Live Nation, but as with most festivals, they want to know how you are promoting them, what you are going to do for them, and most of the time, what publication etc you are from.
 
meehaja said:
I don't know so much with photography, but I used to write reviews of gigs/singles for various websites and magazines. Find your local "scene" website or magazine, get involved there. Show your worth and you'll get invited to bigger and better stuff. Remember it is work, and for every great gig theirs a thousand monday night metal bands when you just want to go to bed. High points were getting a press pass for download, low points were getting to download with just £10 in my pocket and finding that it was £5 to park and there were no freebies beyond the ticket.
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there was a free tuborg/tea/coffee bar in the press area....

it did **** it down though :(
 
My boyfriend used to stage manage and his advice is pretty similar tot he above. You will only have 3 songs to shoot, on the 4th the NME etc get their shots, then you will have to take your camera away, serious consequences is you are caught photographing without permission!

Not a very glamourous way to see the bands that you love. And doesn't really pay very well, either. Sorry if that bursts your bubble.

Good luck!
 
Fandange said:
My boyfriend used to stage manage and his advice is pretty similar tot he above. You will only have 3 songs to shoot, on the 4th the NME etc get their shots, then you will have to take your camera away, serious consequences is you are caught photographing without permission!

Not a very glamourous way to see the bands that you love. And doesn't really pay very well, either. Sorry if that bursts your bubble.

Good luck!
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I know about the 3 song window and then having to merge into the back of the crowd. So I know it's not the most glamorous/efficient way to see the bands! I also have no delusions of making money from it. I just really enjoy doing it and would love to have those 3 songs even if it meant I had to spend the rest of the time at the back :).

Not sure what you mean about taking photos without permission? Surely everyone they let into the pit has permission and there are always lots of photos taken from the crowd?
 
Set_Nights said:
Not sure what you mean about taking photos without permission? Surely everyone they let into the pit has permission and there are always lots of photos taken from the crowd?
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Your permission is basically you get the first 3 songs and that's it. After that you don't have permission to take photographs from within the pit.

Although depending on the festival, bands etc, sometimes you can stay in the pit through the whole show.
 
Nothing ****es me off more than the photogs that get kicked out of the pit after 3 songs and then barge their way to the front barrier to keep shooting. If you cant your pics in 3 songs, then you shouldn't be there.

This is where a AAA pass comes in very usefull. Up to the mixing/light desk with a wide angle or telephoto and then back stage to get some behind into the crowd shots.
 
MissV said:
Your permission is basically you get the first 3 songs and that's it. After that you don't have permission to take photographs from within the pit.

Although depending on the festival, bands etc, sometimes you can stay in the pit through the whole show.
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Ah, I see :).

TCR4x4 said:
Nothing ****es me off more than the photogs that get kicked out of the pit after 3 songs and then barge their way to the front barrier to keep shooting. If you cant your pics in 3 songs, then you shouldn't be there.
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Lol! I wouldn't have thought that was even possible at a festival :eek:! Why you'd want to take your expensive equiptment through the crowd or anywhere near the barrier to get crushed is beyond me! Saying that if I can't get a pit pass I'm probably going to be squished near the barrier instead with a mini point and shoot :(.
 
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