Tips for live music / concert photography

Of Monsters and Men

Kaiser Chiefs

UPDATE

I’ve published a revised, expanded and improved version of this article – concert photography masterclass.

I get the occasional email asking for advice on how to take better live music photos, so i thought i’d assemble a guide of sorts here. Consider it just my opinion, i’ve never formally studied photography, i’ve plenty to learn, but i have taken photos at a lot of gigs and taught myself a bit. So i figure i’ll share what i’ve learned. What follows is specifically thinking about taking photos at concerts but most is equally applicable to any situation indoors with low lighting.


The Camera

It’s going to be very tough without an SLR, you really need a camera that you can control the ISO settings and the aperture and shutterspeed. I use the Canon Rebel XT aka 350D (update: now upgraded to the Canon 5D).

Mu at Spectrum

The Settings

ISO

You’ll probably want to set your ISO level to 800 or 1600. At 1600 the images will be getting grainy with digital noise, but that’s sometimes unavoidable. If you’re in a venue with plenty of light set your ISO lower, you’ll get less noise.

Metering

If your camera allows you to change the type of light metering you should set it to spot mode.

Aperture

You’ll want a lens that has a wide aperture, f2.8 or lower. There are 50mm f1.8 lenses that are quite good and cheap these days.

At f1.8 you’ll be able to shoot at faster shutterspeeds because the camera is letting more light into the lens. But there’ll also be a smaller area that’s in focus so you have to be very exact with your focus point.

Shutterspeed

In a low light situation you’re going to need to shoot at reasonably low shutterspeeds in order to get enough light in the camera. But remember the slower your shutterspeed the more likely your shots won’t be sharp, either because the subject moves or your hands move.

I used to shoot as low as 1/40th – 1/60th second but realised i wasn’t going to get pin sharp images at that low shutterspeed. I now try to shoot at least 1/125th second or higher. Sometimes the images are underexposed, but if the image is sharp and slighty underexposed it can be rescuable in Photoshop. If the image is not sharp then there’s no amount of Photoshopping that can rescue it.

Also consider that if you’re using a zoom lens you’ll need to shoot at higher shutterspeeds as camera shake from your hands will be more evident.

Wolfmother in concert

Aperture and Shutterspeed combined

While taking photos i’m often switching between Manual, Aperture Priority and Shutter Priority in order to get the best result. If you’re just starting i’d set your camera to shutter priority, take some test shots and once you get to a setting that’s got enough light and is still sharp stick with that. On shutter priority the aperture will adjust automatically depending on the available light.

All digital photos have Exif data stored in them, this records all your camera settings for each photo. When you’re reviewing your photos later look at the Exif data and note the aperture and shutterspeed of your shots and you’ll begin to work out why the shots turned out the way they did. If you’re curious, all my shots in Flickr have this information available (for example).

Getting the shot

You can be technically adept but still take crap photos, the trick is knowing when to click the shutter. Watch the performance for a moment, where is the light on stage? You may have to wait for the performer to move into the light.

My favourite shots are ones that show emotion and energy. Go for a shot when the singer steps away from the mic, you don’t want it obscuring your shot. Try and get one when the singer is “in the moment”, reaching for a high note or gesticulating.

The other thing to remember is that if you’re shooting digital you can take lots of photos. Go nuts.

Selfish Cunt

Editing

After you’ve taken hundreds of shots at a show, cull them down to the best 20 or 30. Then cull that down to the best 3. If you’re going to show other people your photos don’t show them everything, just the very best. They’ll assume all your shots are that good.

Photoshop

Sometimes your photos may need a tweak in post-processing. This isn’t unique to digital photography, people have been tinkering in dark rooms forever so it’s certainly not cheating to adjust your images in Photoshop. I usually just adjust the levels. Make the blacks really black, bring up the contrast a little. Don’t change too much though, it’ll just look obvious and cheesy. Take a look at this guide to editing your digital images.

Flash

Generally forbidden and a big no no in concerts but sometimes it’s unavoidable to get a decent shot. I wouldn’t use an on camera flash, an external flash will work much better. If you’re in a small venue try bouncing it off a ceiling or wall. And don’t go crazy with the flash, it’s very distracting to the performer and audience, so if you have to use it keep it to an absolute minimum.

Zia

Etiquette

Be nice to those around you. Don’t shove your way to the front, if you want to get closer tap someone on the shoulder, smile and ask if they mind you moving forward to take some photos. If you need to stand right in front of someone ask them if they mind and promise you’ll only be there for a minute. Keep that promise and move on.

Don’t use flash, or if you have to, use it very sparingly. It’s distracting to others and will probably make your photos look crap anyway.

Respect security, if they tell you to stop taking photos it’s not worth the hassle to argue. Just put your camera away and enjoy the show.

Green Day

Well there’s some of my homespun lessons on live music photography. Hope it helps some other amateur snappers.

If you want to share and discuss your concert photos the Concert Photography and Live Music groups on Flickr might be a good spot. But feel free to leave comments here too.

UPDATE

I’ve just published a revised, expanded and improved version of this article – concert photography masterclass.

89 Comments

  2. Wonderful pointers. Waiting for the light conditions to change to get just the right environment is probably one of the most frustrating parts of concert photography.
    That Kaiser Chiefs shot up there, that’s from SXSW, yes? I assuming you’re coming this year!

  3. Yep – the Kaisers shot is from SXSW. And depressingly i won’t be going this year. So wish i was, the line-up is similarly awesome this year. It pains me to read about it.

  4. Hey Dan,
    Great article, I don’t think most people realise that music photography is a lot harder than it looks.
    In regards to shutterspeed, when you say you get blur with 1/40 do you mean like the guitarist’s hand is blurred due to the motion or overall blur?
    The times I’ve pushed things to 1/20 it hasn’t always been that bad – but then I’ve never tried enlarging the image.

  5. mate – cheers for the tips and tricks…
    you seem to be a bottomless pit of knowledge…. thanks for the tips a while back also.. you have really moulded me into the fine young man that i am today 😉 no seriously thanks a mill for the tips..

  6. i was just wondering what camera you use, i’ve always been too wasted to bother looking any time i’ve stared into it.
    i’m picking up the 350D (with the 17-85mm IS lens, drool) soon for my own experiments. even if i am dropping out of my photo degree. haha.
    nice tute!

  7. Fantastic advice, Dan. A quick question: how did you score your photo pass at SXSW? Were you there on an official gig? Any advice for an amatuer photog that wants to use an SLR?

  8. Thanks for those tips. Great timing too – you have just cut at least one incoming email about your work, and guess who that may have come from. 😉
    I have been taking photos at gigs for the past year with only a digital point-and-shoot and I really liked what I got. I has even offered money for my Sarah Blasko shots which I was absolutely stoked about!
    I got a 350D as a Chrissy present to myself and I’ve learnt so much. I look forward to taking photos of the upcoming Tegan And Sara gig in Perth.
    Thanks for your tips man.

  9. Great tips there Dan. Of course better equipment and lenses will get you sharper and more detailed shots but nothing beats capturing the right moments like you said. But I think luck has a lot to do with it because even if you get the right focus, the timing might be off. Or vise versa. I was definitely lucky here

  10. Glad you got something out of the tips.
    Matt – There’s nothing stopping you getting a great shot at a slower shutterspeed, it’s just much more susceptible to movement in the subject and camera shake from your hands. I’d find it very hard to get a sharp shot at 1/20th – but sometimes the photo can look nicer not pin sharp. Depends what look you’re going for.
    Dansays – last year at SXSW they had a system where you needed a tag that you attached to your camera in order to take photos at the gigs. It’s not a photo pass as such, it doesn’t get you into anywhere, it just allows you to take photos once you are in. To get the tag i emailed ahead of time saying that i was shooting for an Australian publication and they said that was cool and i picked up the tag when i got there. Maybe email the publicity contact and try your luck.
    James – a lot of music photography is about being in the right place at the right time and getting lucky (or unlucky). One of the beauties of digital photography is increasing your chances at getting that lucky shot by taking lots of shots to begin with.

  12. I couldn’t have said it better myself. In the future when fielding such questions I will just refer people to this page. Great insights for those starting out.
    For more live music Pix check out http://www.kingpinphoto.com

  13. great tips!! would love to hear more about the rights and wrongs and ways to use flash to fill the picture w/ a little more light.

  14. hi daniel,
    i’ve just posted some photos of a concert held by a local guy here in adelaide. he’s a bit of a rock star. could you possibly have a lok and let me know what you think?
    thanks,
    carly

  15. hey Dan,
    My question is……i dont understand the High Speed Sync button on the flash! when do you use it and why? thanx

  16. Luke – we have the same flash right (Canon 420ex)? I’ve never noticed a high speed sync button, i just keep it on the auto mode.
    I’m assuming it’s something like what i refer to as a fill flash. That’s where the shutter is open for longer than the time the flash is fired. On an SLR if you manually set a shutterspeed of half a second, for example, and have the flash on, it’ll fire and freeze the foreground subject in sharp focus, but the background will have some of the natural light in the room. It’s a technique i often use for party shots. Most cameras have a setting like this built in.
    Maybe i ought to do a tutorial on that some time, i still feel like such an amateur at it though.

  17. Hey man – thanks a ton. Extremely helpful. That’s why you are so successful, Dan – you are not one these elitest, f-ing photography nerds. Much appreciated. Karma is a mother-scratcher – good thing you got her on your side.

  18. luke/dan re the high speed shutter sync. i think that it has something to do with this…
    the flash will only sync at 1/250 when in auto mode – but simply by pressing your High Speed Sync button you can sync it with what ever speed you want – for example when i was taking action shots at the snow i was sync-ing with 1/2000 due to movement of subject. BUT: be careful punters – as you need to check the recycle rate for the flash… i think that the normal sync is 1/250 due to the fact the camera can safely recycle (recharge) and be ready to fire if you take bursts of photos. so when i was taking the photos at 1/2000 the flash was firing every third photo or so…
    and more on what you said dan about the flash firing for 1/2 a second… you can also use second curtain flash which will open the shutter for the 1/2 and then as is it about to close the flash will fire – thus freezing the subject at the end of the exposure rather then the beginning…
    hence forth with – i think i am rambling…. hope this makes sense….

  20. thanks for that mic. Dan- its the button with the thunderbolt arrow and the H next to it, and i thought i saw you using it at the cribs gig!? but anyway, i think i’ll just stick to auto.

  21. I’ve always wondered what that setting was – i’ve never read the manual, i must’ve flicked it over by accident, i usually just stick to auto too.

  22. Hi Dan, this is great! i’ve read a few tips and tricks for these low-light conditions and have never found one short & sweet. Like Tabatha, i have the same camera (EOS 350D w/ 17-85mm) and i’m also starting out. A question about photo passes, do band managers only give access to those who work in media or publishing? I took out my 350D for the first time the other night & yep, the shots turned out slightly better than an ordinary P&S camera.

  23. Ro – it’s my understanding that photo passes are usually only given out to someone representing a publication. For a smaller band you might get lucky approaching them directly. But for anyone touring with a concert promoter involved, you usually need to have some sort of media accreditation.

  24. I’ve been taking concert photos for a while now, but mainly for friends in a rather amateur manner. I needed a quick primer before a show last night and stumbled across this article.
    Here are the results.
    Thanks for the shooting tips!

  25. Thank God someone simply summarises it with out bamboziling me with techy speak and trying to sell me expensive gear.
    THANK YOU so much for sharing your secrets and being so down to earth.

  28. Daniel! Don’t be a sucker and reveal your secrets. All these desperates will suck you dry of information and you will gain nothing. Don’t let the lazy fucks fleece you. kisses

  29. Hi Dan – I just want to say that I stumbled upon this article on tuesday after googling for tips on gig photography and have not stopped referring to it since. You have totally inspired me and your photos are fookin amazing! I am a beginner and am in the process of deciding what digital slr to buy (so confusing) and before reading this article was dead set on a Nikon D70 for some reason, but am now looking into the Canon Rebel XT. Any more tips/advice on what camera and equipment/accessories to buy would be totally appreciated. Thanks for ever writing this article!! 🙂

  30. Both the cameras you’re considering are great – i personally prefer Canon, but there’s not that much difference. After the camera you want to get a low aperture lens – like a f1.8.

  33. A useful, succinct set of tips there Dan!
    Very handy for me – read it a few hours before my first gig shoot!
    I too have a digital Canon – what lens are you using? It’s certainly loads brighter than my 17-85 (EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM).
    D

  34. Thanks for the great tips Dan, very helpful. I am looking into a rebel xt vs 20d and my final debate has come down to low light concert photography and whether the extra ISO on the 20d (goes up to 3200 vs xt up to 1600) would be better in this specific condition. Any thoughts? Thanks much in advance!

  35. Having never used the 20D i’m not in the best position to say. But i’d have a feeling it’d be getting pretty rough in the noise stakes at 3200 ISO.
    I think you need to go up to the big bucks with the 5D to get a camera that’s really amazing in high ISO and low noise.
    If it was me i’d probably save the $500 or so and buy the Rebel XT and invest in a nice low aperture lens.

  36. Thanks Dan! I was wondering about that as the noise even at 1600 can be pronounced from what I’ve seen in photos around the web. And I had read that the basic capabilities in terms of picture quality between the two cameras are similar, so it seemed that it would likely just increase in noise at 3200 on the 20d. It does seem to all be in the lens, at least between those two cameras. Great, that was the last thing I needed to know before taking the plunge! thanks again for your reply, anya

  37. Hey Dan,
    Like the hints on live band work,ive been shooting for a couple of years but theres always room for improvement.Check out some of my work on http://www.bobdixon.tk
    Slan
    BoB

  38. Hi Dan!
    Greetings from the other side of the world!
    Great article and, most of all, great photos!
    I also love rock n’ roll and i’ve been photographing concerts here in Portugal since around 1997.
    Unfortunatelly, it’s almost impossible to sell concert photos here in Portugal, ’cause thare are no speciallized media.
    I’m trying to sell my services outside Portugal. Can you give me a hint? And, while you’re at it, could you take a look at some of my photos at http://galerias.escritacomluz.com/sal ?
    Thank you! And keep rockin’ down there!!

  39. great information….maybe you could answer this for me.. i want to buy a digital camera that I can use at concerts. i usually sit in the first 10 rows and would like to bring back some nice pictures to my friends. What camera would you suggest. I will only use it for concerts as I am not into taking any other type of pictures. I would appreciate some suggestions.

  40. You really need an SLR camera with a low aperture lens to take the best shots at live shows. But in terms of cheaper smaller cameras the Fuji F10 might be good, it shoots up to 1600 ISO which is very neat for a camera of it’s size.

  41. good tips. but i would add, ‘watch & wait’ for the right moment allied with the right light (ideally white light). quality and not quantity… check out http://www.shakenstir.co.uk gallery and live reviews.
    Tony P
    Music Photographer

  42. Hey dan, thanks for referring me to this article.
    I’m shooting with a film SLR (the pentax mz-50)and a wide angle lens that goes down to 1.7, I’ll also be using ISO1600 fuji film. From what this article said I’m guessing I should be fine – fingers crossed. Thanks again for the tips.

  44. Hey! great article, i can surely used the tips, thanks a lot!
    check out my pics at flickr and leave some comments if u like!! 🙂

  48. New to Digital Slr..
    Just bought a d50 and having a blast with it.
    I don’t have a clue how/where to make improvements but the info you offered here is fantastic!
    I love shooting concerts yet wonder best way to compose shots.
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/ice_ix
    if you can’t get whole guitar or you just want a close up shot, where’s best place to crop of the neck
    On mic, where do you cut that off?
    best way to shoot keyboardists and guys buried awkwardly behind stacks of equipment…
    If you want one body shot of a member.. but mic stand in the way.. what do ya do? LOL
    Man.. not too much time to figure it out, especially with 5min rules
    Peace! Sincerely, STeve GB>

  49. Thank you for the great tips, you’ve covered just about anything! And the photos say it all 🙂

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