As a live music photographer, for the most part you get approximately 15 minutes between the audience and the band to take some outstanding shots. At first glance, that limited time frame might seem like an obvious obstacle, but that’s actually not really the case. The real obstacles are found elsewhere.
So, is the 15-minute time limit enough?
Actually, yes. It’s more than enough. While it’s debatable whether the beginning of the show is optimal for capturing the true feel and nature of the performance, those 15 minutes are still plenty of time to capture some astonishing shots.
How come? Well, think about how many shots you really need. You also need to be able to select the best ones, and if other aspects are in order, 10 minutes is more than enough to capture some amazing images—without pressing the shutter hundreds of times.
This means you can easily have five minutes, or even an entire typical song, to simply stand there and enjoy the experience of being in that space between the audience and the band. It’s the place where the energies of both sides clash and create the magic that is one of the most important aspects of the live music experience.
On top of that, if you place those five minutes somewhere in the middle of the short time frame, it can give you a better feel for and overview of the show. You can then use that insight to your advantage and take even better, more immersive shots.
So, if limited time isn’t an issue in itself, where are the obstacles?
The obstacles are actually many. Even though they might not be directly connected to the 15-minute time frame, that time limit does amplify them.
1: Space
Sometimes the space between the audience and the band is tiny or packed with other photographers, which can make it harder to position yourself properly. However, a decent dose of patience, plenty of respect, and a few tricks you’ve picked up over the years will do the trick – and you’ll get those much needed shots.
2: No space
At some shows, the photographers’ pit doesn’t exist at all, which means you have to find your way toward the stage through the crowd. The closer you get, the less space you’re likely to find. But if you’re not shy about showing up early – and if you have the height and strength to hold your spot in the eye of the storm – you might end up with some truly immersive live photos. These are the kinds of images that are hard to capture when you’re separated from the crowd and placed safely between the stage and the audience.
3: Light
One of the most crucial elements of photography is light, and it plays a massive role in live photography as well. While it’s not directly connected to the time frame, if an artist starts their show with songs lit in a way that’s not camera-friendly, it can result in less-than-ideal images. However, if you’re patient and observant, you can still make the most of the situation. And if you’re skilled – and a bit sneaky – you might even make poor lighting conditions work in your favor, as shown in the examples above.
4: (Unidentified) flying objects
Out there, positioned between the crowd and the stage, you can occasionally expect flying objects, crowd-surfers landing on you, or even artists jumping down into the pit – sometimes dripping various bodily fluids and wildly swinging microphones like maniacs (hello, Cedric Bixler-Zavala). What can you do to protect yourself? Keep an eye on what’s happening around you. And if you’re familiar with the artist and have attended their shows before, you can often anticipate at least some of this behavior.
5: Taking a break
As mentioned earlier, short breaks are not only useful for getting a better overview of the situation – which will likely result in stronger images – but they also give you a chance to experience and breathe in the unique position of being between the artist and the crowd. These moments shouldn’t be underestimated. Even after photographing hundreds of shows, they can be deeply rewarding and help maintain your hunger for live music photography. Without that hunger, your shots may be professionally executed, but they’ll lack the edge that allows them to truly communicate the music.
