How to be a Concert Photographer by Keeyahtay Lewis of Deadbolt Photos
I have been taking pictures since 2004. I started out shooting landscape and architecture, which is a pretty common way to start out. Before I picked up a camera, I was a writer, painter, and singer, but music was always my first love. At some point a few years ago, I stopped wanting to be on the stage and solely wanted to take pictures of those who were. I just didn't really know how to go about doing it. Getting a photo pass, being able to capture the (sometimes un-) controlled chaos was all daunting to me. Luckily, I never lost that desire. In March of last year, I reached out to a music blog and asked for a pass. Surprisingly, it came easily to me. Maybe more easily than it should've. In a matter of months I had shot everyone from Lil' Wayne to Foo Fighters, Circa Survive to Brand New, and Blink 182 to name a few. It all happened so fast. People ask all the time for my secrets – how I did it. Honestly, there is no secret. I work harder than everyone around me. Beyond that though, I didn't try to rush it.
Don't rush it
Don't think that a "good camera" equals good photos. Don't think that just because you shot three shows, you are going to get published. Take your time. It seems that everyone wants to shoot bands now. I understand the allure of wanting to be part of the action. The issue is, no one wants to work for it. Kids get a camera given to them and expect Alternative Press to come calling. It doesn't work that way. I took my time. I shot thousands and thousands of pictures before I asked for my first photo pass. I knew I might only get one chance, I didn't want to waste it.
Shooting live music is hard. On any given day, you're dealing with fast movement, no lighting, crazy lighting, smoke, lasers, fire – sometimes all at once. I am lucky that I have a feeling for it. Those years spent playing in bands and going to shows built up an instinct that has helped me capture epic shots. I know when something is about to happen. It gives me time to frame the shot and it allows me to get that moment I long for. It keeps me going until the next show.
Practice. Practice. Practice.
Take pictures all the time. Start bringing your camera to smaller shows and venues. The bigger places won't let you bring a DSLR to a show, but smaller bands and locations will. This is how most music photographers get started. If you do get a photo pass, for God's sake, practice. With music photography, or any photography really, it is important to establish your own style. People come to me to shoot because they want that "Deadbolt Photos look". They know what they will get when they hire me. I have spent a long time honing my style, and the last year and a half has just solidified that. The only way that you can do that is by taking pictures, thousands of pictures. You have to mix up what you are doing until you find what works for you.
Don't Get Discouraged
It is important to also state that it's hard to make money shooting concerts. You will need to do a lot of work to get your name out there. You may have to shoot things or bands you don't necessarily like just to get to do something you enjoy. When I am not shooting music, I shoot for tattoo magazines, weddings, kids, and sometimes even bartend. You do what you need to do to get by. But, like anything else, if you put the effort in and you do good, solid work, the money will come – Eventually.
Have Fun
You are creating art – Capturing moments that will never happen again. I love what I do. I love being able to capture moments that will never happen again. I love firing away and knowing I got that shot. The one people will be talking about. I love when a band member steps into the crowd and grabs some kids hand, then that kid will find that photo I took somewhere and freak out. I love that I can be a small part of that feeling. I also love that now I have gotten to know some of my musical heroes on a more personal basis through my pictures and interviews I do from time to time. And, I love the excitement of not knowing what is going to happen next. Nothing moves as fast or changes as much as a concert. It keeps me guessing and keeps me interested. I absolutely love it. But it's a lot of work. Editing, emailing publicists, writing reviews... I have gotten kicked more times than I can count by someone crowd surfing. I have slipped on fake blood while shooting Gwar (and drew real blood when someone landed on my head.) I have stood on the barricade to get the singer in the audience, and gotten pulled onto stage by Steel Panther to shoot. I love being so close to the stage that the pyrotechnics makes me sweat. I love it all.
Gear
I shoot with Sony. I know this may strike some as weird, considering many concert photographers use Canon or Nikon, but I am a Sony man through and through. My primary camera is an older one; the Sony Alpha 700. I have been shooting with this for about five years. I am looking to upgrade soon to the new A77, but my A700 will always be my go-to. I also have a back up camera, the newer, beautiful A55. For concerts, I use a 24-70 f/2.8 Sigma lens. In most instances, this allows me to get as close or far enough away from what I am shooting. On occasions where I am shooting from the sound board (or far away), I have a Sony 70-300 f/3.5 lens at the ready. But honestly, to shoot crisp clean concert photos, you need something that's at least f/2.8. Anything else isn't really fast enough. Also, I don't use flash to shoot concerts. It can ruin your photos and most venues won't let you have one anyway. Part of what makes concert photos so much fun to look at is that they can make you feel like you are at the show. A blown out flash photo lessens that feeling.
Extra Tips
- Edit yourself. This is such a hard thing to do sometimes. I take a lot of great photos that no one ever sees. If I shoot six pictures in a row of something that looks the same, I'll pick one, edit it, and no one sees the rest. Nobody wants to see sixteen pictures in a row of the drummer in succession. It weakens the rest of your pictures.
- Photo Pit Courtesy. It's always easy to spot someone who doesn't know what they are doing. They are the ones holding up their camera in the singers face blocking your shots. They are the ones not working with you so you can all get what you need. DON'T BE THAT GUY.
- Remember to make time for yourself. You can easily get burned out. There was literally a period of twelve days straight last year that I was shooting a show every night. I was exhausted!. Sometimes you just have to step back and recharge your batteries.
- Closing
With music photography, like anything else, there will be good days and bad. But if you love shooting – if you feel like you cannot do anything else, you won't let the bad days stop you.
For more information on Keeyahtay Lewis and Deadbolt Photos, check out
www.facebook.com/deadboltphotos,
www.deadboltphotos.tumblr.com,
and on Twitter @deadboltphotos