Getting Into Concert Photography: An Ultimate Guide for Beginners
Updated 11/12/2019 for grammar and updated prices.
If you’ve ever been to a concert, you’ve probably seen a number of photographers in the pit, behind the barricade, and side stage. If you’re a photographer who’s just getting into the game, or if you’re a seasoned photographer who’s just getting into live music — you’re probably already finding out that shooting shows isn’t easy.
I’m a concert photographer, based out of Atlanta GA, and I’ve shot about 200 shows in the last few years. I get a lot of questions about concert photography, so here’s the ultimate guide to getting into concert photography.
Concert photography is different from any other style of photography. It’s fast, dark, and the barrier to getting into it can be tough. On top of that, unless you’re already a professional photographer, convincing people to pay you is going to be tough — and even if you get paid, it might not be much. Getting good gigs is all about networking and knowing people, and if you don’t know anyone, well, it’s not easy.
Starting Out: The Basics of Photography Gear
If you’re already a photographer and you have gear, software, and a workflow that works for you, you can skip down to the next section. This part is for…
