When I first started photographing live concerts, like many, it took a while to get the hang of how it all works. From shooting moving objects in different light, to the rules of the pit, to working alongside other photographers, it all became a huge learning experience. Like we all can agree on, the more and more you try something, the better you'll become at it. So here I hope to lend some input on how I go about shooting my shows to help broaden my creativity and versatility. Every photographer shoots shows differently, so like I always say, I am solely speaking on my experiences to hopefully help someone out there...Can I shoot outside of the pit after the 3rd song?To understand the 3 song rule, see my previous blog post. In some venues, you are allowed to roam around after shooting in the pit. It's important to know if the venue allows that before you shoot. You don't want to assume that they allow that. If they don't and you're walking around taking photos, you're going to get in trouble and potentially harm your relationship with them. It's always best to just ask a security guard once you arrive to the pit. If you are in fact allowed to roam around, my advice is to use your time wisely to capture other photos.What happens when there's not a photo pit?There are many venues out there that do not have an actual barricade to let photographers shoot in. Sometimes this becomes a challenge in crowded venues. Whenever I know that there is not a pit at a specific venue, I try to get there before the doors open. Sometimes security will let you in first if you explain you need to shoot for press. Get to know security and make friends, because you're likely to see them the next time you shoot there.If they let you in first, that's great. Get a spot up front. If this is a very crowded show, you need to be aware of your best spots. You don't want to be dead center because you'll have a mic stand in your way. If the stage is high, grab a spot to the side so you aren't looking up in every photo. Just realize that if there are lots of fans, you're not gonna be able to move.Just last week I shot a show without a pit and was up in the front. This was a VERY energized crowd, which made my shooting quite difficult. I was literally being knocked side to side, water was being thrown, I was smashed up at the barricade, and people's hands kept getting in front of my lens. Whenever something like this happens, first of all you need to protect yourself and your gear. You also do not want your camera knocking into someone's head or get soaked with liquid. After the 5th song or so it got too much for me to get good shots, so I got out of there.Putting your camera in the air while you walk out is best, because not only do you want to protect your gear, others see a camera and see you coming. But, if this looks like it won't work out for you at the time, you might need to stay in front and deal with it. But once I got out of the front, I was able to get my shots from the back. This is where I began to get creative with what I had to work with.Shoot outside of the ordinaryWhen you're able to shoot outside of the pit after the 3rd song, use your time efficiently to look for great photo opportunities. If you follow my Instagram you likely see me post many photos from the perspective of someone recording the show on their cell phone. While many will argue about cell phones being used at concerts, I don't mind having them as long as they aren't blocking my shots. In fact, I really enjoy having them there for potential captures. You want the viewer to feel the energy and excitement.These types of shots grab attention. They're different. When you're hired to shoot for a band, you should mix it up. Putting in shots like this will not only provide a unique collection of photos for the band, but they're impressive and out of the ordinary. You'll need to practice a lot until you understand how to make them look great. Many times it is very dark in the crowd, so seeing someone's hand on their phone might be very difficult. Wait for bursts of light if the band has motion lighting on stage or you might be able to fix in post-processing.Bursts of light are great opportunities to shoot. If you have a good light technician, you'll have some great stuff to work with. You can see the photo to the right where there was a big burst of light. This helped illuminate the crowd, which allowed me to focus on them. It also helps to know the music you're shooting. Bursts of light may come on certain parts of songs, where the crowd may be asked to sing part of a song. If you know the band you're shooting, you should have an idea of peak parts of songs to anticipate how stage lighting works. We'll talk about live concert stage lighting in a future post. Maybe you're near the soundboard and want to get some perspective shots of the sound tech, a focus on the crowd, some hands swaying side to side, or maybe a poster waving in the air. These are other types of opportunities that provide unique photos. Giving your client a broad range of photos shows them your versatility and creativity, which will in turn greater your chances of working with them in the future. You want to stand out and be different. Create images that provide energy and a sense of feeling as if you were standing in that crowd. Be ready for every photo opportunity. You're going to miss some, and it will feel awful. But when you're ready and have a plan of attack, you'll be very proud of your work. Why is it important to have a plan of attack?When you're prepared for something, there's a far better chance of being happy with the outcome. Knowing ahead of time that a band tends to jump or stage-dive will keep you ready for the right moment. If you know a band likes to get rowdy and throw liquid around, you'll definitely be ready to protect your gear and possibly grab some unique shots.Personally, I have grown to understand music quite a bit. I am musician myself and I know when songs are due for a peak moment. Having a background in music as well helps me anticipate when I feel a musician may jump. When he or she does it once, they're bound to jump again during the set. It's up to you to grab the right moment and make a great image.I basically define a "plan of attack" as preparing yourself for your shoot. Do you want to shoot one song with a specific lens of yours and switch it up for the next? Might save you 10 seconds, which could make or break your next shot. I use a few different lenses during the shows I shoot because each have a different use and feel to them. I'll talk lenses in a future post.When you're done in the pit, do you want to focus on the crowd shots? If you keep shooting the band, you might miss a great opportunity for a crowd shot. Like in all aspects of photography, once you miss the shot, it's gone. Make sure to be constantly thinking of your next move. You have nothing to lose. ConclusionOnce you get around to shooting tons of concerts, you'll learn your stuff. You'll eventually have the ability to simply attend a concert and figure out your plan when you arrive based on the type of venue, lighting, and vibe. But it will always help knowing ahead of time what types of things you may encounter. I've had friends of mine who shot a band in a previous city tell me that one of the band members will do something specific during their set. Like maybe a flip off the drum set on the third song as you can see to the left. This is super helpful, because being ready for it will help you capture work you are proud of. I was ready and positioned myself and saw it coming.You may think that knowing something like that ahead of time is cheating. Maybe you don't, who knows. I personally don't feel that way. At the end of the day its about your images. No matter how you got them, do they make the viewer feel something? Do you feel something? If yes, job well done. Always step outside of your boundaries and shoot differently on occasion. It will broaden your creativity and you will prove yourself more versatile to your clients. I'll continue talking about this in a future post! If you have questions, please comment and I'll respond!
