So you want to be a concert photographer: tips and tricks for breaking into the business

Port O'Brien / Photo by Amber Gregory

So, you've decided: you want to be a concert photographer. It doesn't take long for you to realize that you have no idea who to talk to or where to start on the path to achieving your goal. There isn't a degree you can obtain in concert photography, and established concert photographers, like established artists of any sub-genre, can give off an air of aloofness or of being unapproachable--compounded by the concert photographer's proximity to, and seemingly blase, nonplussed attitude toward, celebrity.

The dilemma for the aspiring photographer becomes a familiar one: you need real experience shooting concerts to get photo passes, but how do you get that experience when no one will give you a photo pass because you lack experience? It can be discouraging, to say the least.

If you are just starting out, read these tips & tricks--things you should definitely know when trying to get your first few assignments. It helped your esteemed Examiner; why couldn't it help you?

1. Know how to take a great photo

Do you produce consistently professional-quality photos? Do you know how to use your camera--in manual mode? Do you get the underlying fundamentals of photography (aperture and exposre)? These may seem like rudimentary questions, but the truth is that concert photography is one of the most difficult subgenres to pursue.  It helps to know what you're doing before you ever step foot in a concert venue. If you have a portfolio of your non-concert photography, that helps too--if you can prove that you already have the skills, you are more likely to be given the chance to prove yourself.

Still Flyin'  /  Photo by Amber Gregory

2. Networking, Networking, Networking

Networking is the single most important thing you will do on your journey to establishing yourself as a concert photographer. Network as much as you can, in person and on the internet. Find photographers in SF by searching Google (warning: there are a lot!), and if you are brave, send them an email--you never know, they might be willing to give you advice. Read up about camera policies at SF concert venues by searching for venues on Google or Yelp. Find communities of concert photographers online, join the group and be an active participant. Become known online as someone who wants to shoot concerts.

Ultimately, however, strictly online interactions can only take you so far. The best way to meet people is still in person, so go to shows around San Francisco--go to as many shows as you can (a list of this Examiner's favorite SF concert venues is in the sidebar to the right, and you can't go wrong with any of them). When you attend a show, put yourself out there, meet people, talk with the photographer(s) if you can (or listen closely if you hear them talking with someone else--you never know when they might dish their methods or own list of tips), and get to know  fellow concertgoers . After the show, find the people you met at the concert online. You could email them if you want, or find them on social networking sites like Twitter or Flickr. Let them know that you are interested in keeping in touch--even if you don't become best friends, you have gained at the very least a connection to the world of concert photography, and at most a friend who could take you under their wing and hook you up with your dream job.

La Roux  /  Photo by Amber Gregory

3. Have the proper gear

It is this simple: while a point-and-shoot camera may be good enough for snapshots on the lawn at Shoreline Ampitheater, if you are serious about concert photography you will need the correct higher-end gear, and know how to use it.

A DSLR is a must in the poorly lit world of concert photography. Unfortunately for your bank account, an entry level DSLR probably won't be able to shoot in the dark very well, so a mid-range model is preferable. This Examiner does not recommend one brand or model over another, but to give an example, all of the photos on this page and indeed in the entirety of the SF Concert Photography Examiner pages, were taken with a Canon EOD 5D.

As for lenses, there is great variability as to what type of lens--zoom or prime, wide or telephoto--individual photographers prefer. No matter your preference, you will need to be able to shoot fast and wide open in order to get emough light for sharp photos--from f/1.4 on the low end to no more than f/2.8. If you wanted a good all-purpose lens, all of the photos in the SF Concert Photography Examiner pages were taken with a 50mm f/1.8 prime. 50mm lenses are versatile and small, and if you can only bring one lens (or choose to) 50mm would be an excellent choice.

A note of caution for those who enjoy shooting with flash: it is common courtesy--and frequently a stringently enforced rule--not to shoot concerts with flash. Exceptions to this rule include when a photographer has a special agreement with a band or the band's management to use flash. All of us have seen That Guy. You know the one--the photographer with an enormous external flash,  pointing it straight back into the lead singer's eyeballs the entire show. Don't be that guy!

Make sure you have enough space to shoot at least 500 photos of each show--more is not uncommon, as you'll be shooting rapidly most of the time. An 8-10gb compact flash card (or two) should suffice.

4. Don't turn down an offer

Beggars can't be choosers. It is unlikely that you will be courted by more than one publication or venue, at least at first--so if you receive a reasonable offer, including a request to shoot for free, take it and don't look back. Any reasonable opportunity will gain you experience and exposure--both of which are needed to catapult you to the next level.