The Photography Essentials of Clicking for Live Music Concerts!

Cater to the Niceties and Niche of the Craft.

Clicking for Live music gigs is a whole lot different from clicking otherwise. You're tasked with capturing the energy, vibe and mood of a concert, with very little control over critical elements such as lighting, shooting positions and the ability to direct your subjects. That is a whole different ball game from shooting with models in a production setting that conforms to your brief, and with a team to support you as well. It is this thrill of capturing imagery of Live music performances or concerts that is rather exciting, and that is also what makes the very process of doing it enjoyable, satisfying and valuable in itself.

Make Your Way Through The Hurdles.

There are several constraints that present interesting challenges – you only get to shoot during the first two or three songs (after which you have to leave the photo pit in front of the stage); there are strong lights that bathe the performers in colour and blow out details in your shots, and you can't access every portion of the stage that you might want to. It's fun to work around these and try to create compelling images. Good lighting, a well-appointed stage and an enthusiastic audience go a long way in making your pictures stand out.

Soak in the Vibe; Then let it Reflect.

Depending on the music and the artist's background, one must compose pictures to suit their vibe and what they're known for. For example, with metal bands, one may try to capture a dark atmosphere by isolating the subject, including the smoke emanating from smoke machines and treat the raw image accordingly. With pop acts, on the other hand, one can try to highlight the performers' signature costumes. Researching artists' music and previous photographic coverage before shooting their concerts certainly helps to quite an extent, in this regard.

Step out of Familiar Terrain, and Walk into New Horizons.

It can certainly be more exciting to click artists who you are familiar with, than those you don't know quite well. As a music lover, though, the opportunity to discover new acts is a bonus. Shooting unfamiliar performers gets you out of your comfort zone, thus expanding your horizons as a photographer. Do not fall for poor composition and over-the-top editing; both issues can easily be fixed by referring to the works of more accomplished photographers and practicing consciously.