The first thing to consider is who you want to shoot for. Obviously, in my case, I photograph for my own site, Greeblehaus. Another route is to photograph for established media outlets and sites. There are pros and cons to each way, and you have to decide which is best for you.
For example, I had to build up my site’s traffic to be granted photo passes myself versus under the wing of say, local media like Westword, 303 Magazine or The Know. But, I also answer to myself and generally don’t have the same hard deadlines that photographers who work for others do.
Making Money As A Concert Photographer
Making money in concert photography is a complicated question. For me personally, it’s wrapped up in the benefits I get from this blog, which is both tangible cash and the intangibles – like fun events, travel, etc. But please understand that usually, music photography is a passion project and it’s woefully underrated in terms of budget.
Most people earn the best living by working their way up in media outlets or going on tour with bands (while helping with other things like merch). Selling photos (on a mass scale, at least) is generally not an option due to copyright laws, which is a whole ‘nother post in itself (but see more info below).
I wouldn’t have it any other way, though. I have been shooting concerts for nearly a decade and it’s one of the most fulfilling things in my life.
Below are just some general tips that I have learned over the years. Hope you find them helpful too.
Header photo by Mark Tepsic.
Tips for Becoming A Concert Photographer
Know The Rules
First, you need a photo pass (below) to photograph any band. That could come in the form of just being on the list, or actually receiving a pass or wristband you must wear. You also need professional photography equipment, meaning a DSLR. Some photographers have a mirrorless as a second camera, but phone cameras are nixed, except for perhaps a quick shot or two for social media. The golden rule is “three songs, no flash.”
That means you will be allowed to photograph the first three songs, either from the pit up front, or front of house (FOH) – which is actually near the soundboard in the back. Confusing, I know. At bigger shows, you are escorted in by the media contact and escorted out after – and may not be able to stay for the rest of the show. (Heck, at least it’s an early evening then, right?)
How To Get A Photo Pass
Generally, to get a pass, you need permission from the band, their PR, or the promoter of the show. Who you ask is something you learn from experience, but usually: a small show is the band, a medium show is the PR, a large show is the promoter. Google is your friend here, but as you gain a reputation, bands and PR professionals will start reaching out and asking you to cover shows.
Request your photo pass 2-3 weeks before the show and follow up, although you may not get your answer until the day of (sometimes just hours before the show). An accompanying ticket may or may not be included and may or may not be necessary depending on the size of the venue. This again, sadly, is just something you learn with experience.
Tip: Don’t photograph your photo pass and share it online. That makes it prone for copying in other cities and makes PR people mad at you.
Shoot Local Bands and Free Shows
Here in Denver, we have a great music scene, so there are a plethora of great bands to photograph. This is how I started, requesting to photograph locals, building my portfolio and learning the ropes. I was then able to show PR people my work and request bigger and bigger shows. Also, free outdoor concerts such as Denver Day of Rock are a wonderful opportunity to practice and also photograph bands on bigger stages from the audience without needing a pass.
Get to Know Other Photographers, Staff and Security
After a while, the photographers in a scene get to know each other, as well as nationally touring ones. Here is a post of Denver concert photographers on Instagram. The benefits of this are many. Obviously, it’s nice to be friends with the people you see all the time, but also you may need an extra photo card in an emergency or some earplugs.
Sometimes I am in the zone when I step into the pit, but I really do try to say hi to people I don’t know when I can. Same goes for security and staff. In the case of security, they are there to protect the fans – and us. So, sometimes they may yell at us to get out of the way, but it’s usually because someone is crowd surfing up and about to kick you in the head!
