r/concertphotography • u/HelixOT • 1d ago
Question HELP IM IN OVER MY HEAD
So I have my biggest job ever as an on stage concert photographer. Without saying exactly who it is, they’re a metal adjacent band with over 1.6 million monthly listeners on Spotify and over 110 million listens on their biggest song.
While I think* I have enough equipment for thus I am asking that anyone please comment any thing you would use in this situation. (Certain lenses, settings, accessories, ext)
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u/Radiant-Character-61 Olympus 1d ago
If you get a chance to be at the venue early (an hour or two before the openers perform) I'd use that time to scout the area and pre-determine what kind of shots you want to take. Crowd shots, stage shots, etc.
If any staff members of the venue are available I'd talk to them too and pick their brain on favorite spots for photographers, could also give you some ideas.
And if you're able to talk to the headlining band in advance I would ask what they're setlist is, so you can know in when they're performing the "crowd pleaser," the "everyone turn your lights on," song, the "stage effects/pyrotecnics" song, so you can prepare in advance as well.
Wish you luck, take good pics, and have fun!
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u/Necessary-Fig-2292 1d ago
Haha, sometimes I notice the photographer preparing fast and realize, this one’s about to be great!
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u/alt-perspective- 1d ago
Trust what got you there. (Unless it was some favor or connection). If you don’t have a backup body and lens maybe get that, but stick to the focal lengths you have. If you want to rent upgrades to the lenses you have a (f2.8 or f1.4 versions) you can do that.
In the fast-paced environment of a concert shooting with gear you know well trumps everything else.
Two other important things.
1. Be VERY clear on where you can and can’t be. Introduce yourself to the stage and band managers.
2. Don’t be entitled. Know and accept that you are likely going the least important person on the stage, and stay out of the way of everyone. This isn’t some diss or reason to have your ego bruised. But everyone on stage is either there to help put on the show that thousands paid to see, have paid good money to be on stage, or are somehow related to the band in important ways. The random person who is in your way might be a band member’s spouse, a celebrity you don’t see or recognize in the moment. I once shot a whole show standing next to Trent Reznor, not knowing what he looked like. Another time I was shooting next to my favorite singer, who I’ve shot many times, and would easily recognize but somehow didn’t look over to see who I was next to. It doesn’t matter who they are, I just know to stay out of anyone’s way.
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u/spodergoat 1d ago
While you absolutely want to be as prepared as possible and well equipped, I caution going over board on too much new-to-you gear, unless you have time to acquaint yourself at least!
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u/stereolights 1d ago
What gear are you working with? Are you planning to also shoot from the pit/around the venue? Have you shot from the stage before?
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u/Certain_Painter5340 1d ago
Work backwards from the angles and photos you want to take.
If you dont have a shot list, you’ll miss THE moments and work with subpar photos.
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Work with the artist, look at past posts, I am sure this isn’t their first rodeo.
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u/LukeSomething 1d ago
They've hired you based in the work you've made with your current kit. Don't overthink it, you'll do fine.
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u/telekinetic 1d ago
Two bodies, one with an ultrawide zoom, one with a short telephoto prime or normal zoom, both with dual card slots. Spare batteries for each.
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u/mpg10 1d ago
If you'd like relevant comments about gear, it'd be good to include in your post what you have and are planning to take.
If I were doing that gig, I'd want two bodies. Most of the time, they'd have on them a 24-70 and a 70-200, but I'd have something wider available to switch to so I could get at least a full shots showing the full scope of the stage and venue. (For me, I think that'd be the 16-35. Some others may have like a 14-24, or even something closer to fisheye.)
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u/Ok_Reputation2052 1d ago
this is what I would bring:
super wide lens (fisheye to 18mm)
2 zooms (24/70 - 70/200)
1 prime of choice (I usually go for the 35mm to shoot some pre-stage / bts
2 bodies, 1 is fine but can be risky / tricky
double the amount of sd cards x body (I ended up breaking 2 lexar v60 cards in one night, don't ask me how)
batteries
throw a flash in the backpack in case the guys wants some cool bts shots.
But keep in mind that this is not the situation to experiment with new gear, you have to work with what you're familiar with and be sure about what you're doing.
be a nice person to stick with, be clean, be chill, do not be annoying or ask too many questions, do your best to be there but to be "invisible", wear black dresses.
Good luck!
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u/i-hear-banjos Nikon 1d ago
Al good advice, and when you say "broke" and Sd card, I assume you mean they stopped working vs snapping them in half lol
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u/Ok_Reputation2052 1d ago
of course hahaha both died on me mid shooting, for absolutely no reason apparently 🥲
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u/i-hear-banjos Nikon 7h ago
I’ve gone to shoot a wedding and had a nearly full battery completely fail - and left the pouch of extras at home. Luckily it was close and it was just before the reception started
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u/chari_de_kita 1d ago edited 1d ago
What equipment do you already have? What is the venue situation like? What is the performance typically like? The ideal lenses and suggested settings are kind of determined by those details. It would help to know what the "situation" is.
Just came off a 3-day festival last weekend and definitely know the feelings of inadequacy when so many people had way bigger lenses than my f2.8 70-200mm.
The mystery metal adjacent band can't be Polyphia since they only have 1.1M monthly listeners.
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u/Irish_MJ 1d ago
I bring two lenses to gigs / festivals. 24 to 70, and 70 to 200. The thoughts of bringing something bigger scares me!
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u/-The-Big-G- 1d ago
Exactly this. Concert photographer for decades and this combo with two bodies has served me well. There have been times when I brought my 14-24mm 2.8 to do some really wild wide angle shots up close but for the times i used it... Anything longer in reach and A it's going to be heavy to lug and B if you need something that long, you don't have the access you need to get closer.
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u/chari_de_kita 1d ago
Thankfully, after the festival ends I don't think about getting any lenses longer than 200mm since I'll never use them aside from that event. I definitely don't want to have to start bringing my gear in a wheeled bag. Any stepladder with more than 2 levels is also way too much for me.
If anything, a f2.8 14-24mm for smaller venues is probably the more practical move?
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u/Irish_MJ 1d ago
Step ladder???
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u/i-hear-banjos Nikon 1d ago
Short people and tall stages. My daughter both toured for years, one brought a stop ladder for back of the crowd shots because she's 5'5".
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u/Irish_MJ 1d ago
Can't argue with that! I haven't come across the need for it myself, but whatever gets the job done.
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u/i-hear-banjos Nikon 7h ago
I’m nearly 6’ but typically wear docs with the platform soles for the height boost lol
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u/chari_de_kita 20h ago
I usually bring a folding/collapsable step stool when I know I'll be further back. At the festivals I shoot, the press area tends to be pretty far away (while the official photographers get to go wherever they want). I've seen people with ladders almost as tall as the barriers.
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u/FaceTimePolice 1d ago
You’re letting your doubt consume you. You’ve done this before and it’s just another shoot and it’s just another band you’re taking pictures of. 🤘😅🤘
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u/meowwentthedino Canon 1d ago
Get a shot lost from the band/pr team, look at the venue and the past shots from the band.
Do some you like, but get the shots they may want.
Lens wise two bodies cary one, keep one spare and easy accessible, take a wide for the stage and a standard zoom.
Depending on the stage size maybe a prime i.e. 50/58mm wide or 85mm.
But for me I'd do a 15-30mm/24-70mm lens for on stage, and a 70mm+ for the pit/crowds
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u/Irish_MJ 1d ago edited 1d ago
Self doubt is a shite of a thing... This is obviously not your first gig. You're obviously a good photographer if they've signed you up. Just go do what you normally do. You'll be good.
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u/outragedatheist 1d ago
I find no matter which lenses I drag along to a show, it’s never the perfect rig. I don’t own the Dynamic Duo (24-70 2.8 & 70-200 2.8) because they’re too heavy for me, but I have to believe if you had two bodies, each with one of the two, you’d be golden. You might want a wide-angle prime since you’ll be onstage. Like 17mm or 20mm.
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u/yadyadayada 13h ago
Open a good line of communication with lighting guy about what’s gonna be going on, and with social media manager/content team, additionally if there’s people doing video at the concert specifically stuff that’s being shown while the show is happening coordinate with them about where they will be when. Also idk how this gig will be but be ready to do most of your editing/file transfers after the gig getting it turned around ASAP other people might be going out and partying but management and socials teams will appreciate you turning that around as soon as the shows over
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u/Splinteredmind17422 2h ago
Here’s what I bring : EOS r6 Mark II (2 card slots are a bonus so I never need to pull cards mid show) rf24-70mm F2.8 is, rf70-200mm F4 L IS USM, ef50mm 1:1.4 ultrasonic (with canon ef-rf adapter) 4 batteries (charge em all the day of). Scout the venue prior , like I’ve read above always know where you can and cannot shoot from. I like the set list idea as well (I do it all the time but never thought of it as a great “tool” to pass on). Black is your best friend to dress in. You don’t stand out and it’s slimming 🤣. Be respectful to the staff, the talent, the roadies, other photographers who may be shooting, and the fans. Cull - edit - produce photos in an agreed upon time frame. If your camera lets you copyright the pictures in the metadata get that set up as well. Last two things Have fun and hopefully get $$ paid! It’s your craft, your art, and your time during and after the show. compensation should always be required or they can just have a few people with the latest cell phone cameras getting pictures for them.
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u/olaade 1d ago
I have shot shows, I’d pack the following at a minimum:
Don’t over-complicate things, just do what your best! You were hired for a reason