PHOTOGRAPHY
[ WANNA BE A MUSIC PHOTOGRAPHER? | Blue Amber ]
“I only get the first three songs? Really?!?”
Christmas and birthdays. Were my images any your social media specifically music driven
good? Probably not. Even when I first started photos. Tag the artist, the venue, and even the
That’s what goes through your mind when you taking on clients and photographing families (I record label, and use the right hashtags.
decide to become a music photographer and will be the first to tell you) they weren’t great. I you hear how long you get to shoot a concert loved photography for so long and wanted to 2. Look online at concert venues in your area
and get all of the images you want out of the do it, but I needed more than passion to kick it and make a list of concerts you would like
allotted time. up a notch. I needed time, study, determination, to shoot.
and experience.
Think about it: you’re so excited to shoot your
3. Reach out to different media outlets and see
first concert and you find out what the industry I started shooting professionally a little over if you are able to get photo passes to shoot a
standard is for media photographers… the first 10 years ago. Then I decided, after shooting variety of concerts.
three songs, with only three to four minutes for my church, Elevation Church, to drive my per song. That’s it. You are supposed to jump professional career into the music industry. Your 4. Do your research on the band you are about
directly into creative mode, in the middle of a church is a GREAT way to start. I watched an to shoot. Watch their latest YouTube videos
photo pit filled with other photographers, and interview with Justin Timberlake when he was to study the lighting for the concert you will
within a small window get the most amazing on a late-night show. He talked about how he cover. You will then know the cadence of the
shots you can for the media outlet you are started off singing in his church’s choir, and that music you are shooting and how the lighting
shooting for. was the best way to get started as a singer. Well, correlates to the music.
it’s true for music photographers as well. Aside
Now, there are two ways you can go with your from all of the spiritual guidance you receive 5. Photo passes are usually picked up at the
thinking; be frustrated you have a limit in time, for your life, the experience to photograph life box office, and sometimes, for bigger venues,
or allow this pressure to refine your skills and change, events, and worship experiences on you will be escorted into the photo pit for the
build your God-given gift into the best it can and off stage, guides your creative eye in a way first three songs, and then escorted out. Unless
be. You can become a professional. Don’t allow you can’t get anywhere else because you are you are the house photographer or tour
the enemy to set you up to feel contained. If you using that gift to give back to serve God. photographer, or if you have an all access pass
get into a “limited” way of thinking, that is how
you will shoot, and that is what will develop.
from a brand you are shooting for, you won’t be
To start moving forward in this direction, here allowed to go out into the crowd or venue to
are some pointers… shoot. So, make it count!
1. Start by being intentional, only posting on 6. Turn around the photos immediately. After
I’ve been in love with photography ever since
I was a little girl. I asked for cameras for
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January 2018
WorshipMusician.com