Making music as part of a band is all about artistry. However, creativity can be possible even if you aren’t directly involved with the music. Band photography is a surefire way to show off your talents while also doing something that allows a band to raise their profile. You can’t just point, shoot, and call it a day. Instead, you need to be practicing and honing your craft. Here are some tips on how to get the right shot as a band photographer.
Buy a Photography Backpack
If you want to be a good photographer, you can’t just depend on your gear. The best DSLR camera won’t make a difference if you don’t have a proper understanding of how to use it. However, to be professional, you need to have high-quality equipment. You should have at least one camera, different lenses, cases, tripods, and more. In order to keep that equipment safe, you should have a photography backpack. Look for a durable and spacious photography backpack. Make sure that you have all your equipment accounted for at the end of every shoot, safely secured in your backpack.
Get the Lighting Right
Bad lighting can be the absolute death knell of photography, band or otherwise. If there are shadows or glares overcasting your subjects, it’s going to be a huge problem. You need to address the lighting situation as soon as possible. Whether indoors or outdoors, you need to pay heed. If you’re outside and it’s a particularly sunny day, you might need to use some filters. If it’s overcast, you might need to use some additional lights. You should also be ready to wait for a different day if you’re doing an outdoor shoot. A perfect shot is one that’s worth waiting for.
Try Dynamic Poses
You might be able to take a flawless shot of the band members all standing together in a line. However, that’s rather boring, if we’re putting it charitably. You want to give people something they can remember from the photo. Think about the band and their type of music. How can they pose that would best represent who they are? For instance, if you have an energetic band, you should have them give energetic poses. Let the members of the band give their input about what would make for the best shots. You should take as many photos as possible and decide which one would work best.
Find Good Backgrounds
You want to give your shots as much depth as possible. If your background is just a plain wall, people are going to be disinterested. It will just look like a bunch of people standing around. Instead, you need to harness the power of depth in order to create compelling photos. Outdoor shots are a great way to present this. Use scenic landscapes to create a breathtaking image. You want to properly balance the background along with the band members, with neither taking away from the other.
Hopefully, this has given you a great idea of how to get great shots as a band photographer. You need to understand what makes good photography compelling. Don’t let yourself slack or stop from challenging yourself. As a band photographer, you want to practice absolute professionalism. There should be clear communication between you and the band members. If they have any questions about your photography techniques, be prepared to answer them. The more you develop your craft, the better your portfolio will be and the more others will want to work with you. Every click of your camera and new angle can be revolutionary.
