There are good photographers and then there are crappy photographers. The featured image in this article is one that I recently took of an up and coming band called Vagrants. However, my photos weren’t always this successful. My first attempt at concert photography was in the mid-’80s. Duran Duran was my favorite band and one of the most popular in the world. When I saw in the newspaper that they were playing a show at Cobo Arena in Detroit, Michigan, I was thrilled. The morning tickets went on sale I waited at the entrance to the local Hudson department store where the Ticketmaster booth was located. As soon as the doors were unlocked, I raced with others to the ticket counter. After the agent handed me my tickets, I looked down and my jaw dropped. Row A, Seat 20. Front row center.
On the day of the show I borrowed a Mamiya SLR film camera from my cousin Vinny, just kidding, his name was Eric, and started the two-hour drive to Detroit. There was a no photograph policy in place. It was a cold February night so I hid the camera under my jacket when entering the arena. I went to my seat and patiently waited for the show to start. The opening act was a band called Chequered Past which featured Michael Des Barres on Vocals and ex-Sex Pistol Steve Jones on guitar.
After Chequered Past finished their set, I removed the camera from under my jacket and opened the back to load the film. While in the process of threading the film into the Take-Up Spool, the lights went out. I hurriedly finished and closed the back of the camera. The stage lights came back on and flashed with Duran Duran chanting “Please, Please Tell Me Know. Please, Please Tell Me Know” from their song “Is There Something I Should Know”. Female fans rushed the stage pinning me against the barrier. The security guard saw my camera, gave me a look, and told me I had two minutes. I pointed the camera at the stage and started shooting photos of Simon Le Bon and the rest of the band.
The next morning, I took out the camera and started to rewind the film back into its canister. Something wasn’t feeling right. I removed the film canister and rushed to the drug store to get it developed. Two days later I picked up the photos. I excitingly opened the package and stared at my totally blank set of photos. Apparently, I had failed to properly load the film in the camera so it never advanced. This taught me the number one lesson of concert photography, always prepare ahead of time. Below are some of my tips for photographing concerts.
DO
- Fully charge camera batteries, install and format camera cards, clean lenses, and camera sensors before leaving the house
- Take a backup camera, if you have one
- Check with the venue regarding photography policies prior to the show
- Introduce yourself and make friends with venue employees
- Talk to concert-goers
- Check your camera exposure frequently
- Get shots of each band member including the drummer
- Get shots of the crowd
- Shoot from different locations and angles
DO NOT
- Don’t block the view of fans
- Don’t trip over other photographers in the pit
- Don’t exceed your song limit
- Don’t ignore instructions from security personnel
- Don’t be obnoxious
How do you rate as a Concert Photographer? Give yourself one point for each “DO” that is part of your routine and subtract two points for each “DO NOT” that you violate. Total the points and compare to the scale below
Points Rating
11 Pro
8 – 10 Good
5 – 7 Intermediate
1 – 4 Beginner
0 or less Go Home
Everyone starts off as a crappy photographer. But if you follow the tips above, then you will be well on your way to becoming a Pro Concert Photographer.
Post by Scott Raymer (Website | Instagram | Facebook)
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