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As you see by the conversation above, making a living (even making some money to pay for gear) in photography is tough these days. The tendency is to want images (read: music) for free or cheap. Seeing how our music business is these days is a good lesson to remember for all the creative arts. Be respectful of the value of the product, and generous in your appreciation. And be respectful of ownership of the images.
Drop by a few dozen professional band websites for your genre and take a look at their promo/press kits or pages. See those pictures? You want pictures like those. If you don't think you can do your own, get a pro to take them.
I suggest you get a pro if possible.
The advice to look for a portrait photographer (or even a boudoir photographer - since they can make literally any body or face look good!) is spot on.
And if you do hire a pro, listen to their advice, even if you don't go with it. These camera types know their business and also know best what works on film. So don't fail to take advantage of their expertise as well as their camera if you hire one.
I suggest you get a pro if possible.
The advice to look for a portrait photographer (or even a boudoir photographer - since they can make literally any body or face look good!) is spot on.
And if you do hire a pro, listen to their advice, even if you don't go with it. These camera types know their business and also know best what works on film. So don't fail to take advantage of their expertise as well as their camera if you hire one.
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Haha someone posted about brick wall pics? I cropped a band pic for my avatar. I have a very talented coworker friend who runs a successful side photog biz. She wanted to do our pics and refused to be paid. She also did some family pics for me. Still refused to be charged. She also does tons of cool stuff etsy stuff that gets a very good draw. I've bought a bunch of stuff for gifts and had to force money in her hand and run away before she can refuse. She didn't want to charge me regular cost. I told her she is a pro who deserves to be paid for her work. She doesn't live on her art, but they are legit biz endeavors. We are good friends, but you can only do so many favors for friends before non-friends start coming out of the woodwork expecting favors
Have the band take individual high-angle bathroom-selfies (bonus points for duck face) and then stitch them together into one omni-selfie to rule them all.
I'm a pro photographer, a bass player, and take all my own photos. So is that 1,2, and 5?
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If you're in WA, let me know and we can work something out.
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If you're in WA, let me know and we can work something out.
We have not one but two pro photographers who are fans. They shoot at our gigs, don't charge us anything. Also, one of our guitarists is a pro--he was a staff photog for the biggest regional newspaper...until they stopped having staff photographers. (He does not take pictures of us, as he is, you know, busy playing and whatnot.)
One of those photographers is also a bassist...Brian Blake.
One of those photographers is also a bassist...Brian Blake.
We had a guy like that, too. We ended up dropping $300 or so on his services. IMHO, it was a great investment.
I've had professional photos done of some of my pets (don't laugh - it's a thing up here), and the one difference that I really notice is lighting. Most amateur photography is done with a single light source, either the sun or a flash. Pros often use multiple light sources and get noticeably better results. But if you've got someone with a digital SLR, can't see the harm in letting them shoot a buttload of images for you. There's bound to be something usable in there.
I voted pro.
Of course, it depends on your bands aspirations and budget, of course. But being in real estate, I have tried all three for photos on listings of mine.
Learned my lesson, too.
In order of preference:
Pro
Hobbyest
DIY
And - it's the same thing with musicians, right?
If you were getting married, would you hire a weekend warrior band, a garage band from the neighborhood, or a pro band??
I have TURNED DOWN gigs when asked to do special events (not any weddings, but similar with regard to what a band should do) for friends. Why? We aren't up to the task.
Yeah, would my band like to get paid $3K for a dinner party gig? Sure.
We wouldn't deserve it. We are a $300-$500 per gig band, period.
Photogs are the same way.
You want your band to look pro, get pro shots.
Of course, it depends on your bands aspirations and budget, of course. But being in real estate, I have tried all three for photos on listings of mine.
Learned my lesson, too.
In order of preference:
Pro
Hobbyest
DIY
And - it's the same thing with musicians, right?
If you were getting married, would you hire a weekend warrior band, a garage band from the neighborhood, or a pro band??
I have TURNED DOWN gigs when asked to do special events (not any weddings, but similar with regard to what a band should do) for friends. Why? We aren't up to the task.
Yeah, would my band like to get paid $3K for a dinner party gig? Sure.
We wouldn't deserve it. We are a $300-$500 per gig band, period.
Photogs are the same way.
You want your band to look pro, get pro shots.
Honestly, with todays technology you can get some pretty professional photos with some very amateur equipment. If your just starting out theres no need to spend money on something you can do for free. I'm going through the same thing with my band were just gunna get a friend thats an amateur photographer to take some pics. But I mean when it really comes down to it, there are some smart phones and online photo editing equipment could get the job done for now until you've made a name for yourself and are ready to spend money. Just something good enough to put on a website and make little posters.
D
"Pro". The quotations are key. A photographer can be a professional, but they don't have to be top quality. Or you could forgo the whole professional category and skip right to a photographer that doesn't use this as their profession. Just find someone who is humble and has a good eye. There are plenty of people out there.
If you have access to a half way decent DSLR than that's all you need to DIY and maybe a good editing tool.
I paid 400 for my DSLR entry level but it takes kills shots. It also does moving objects very well. It came with an extra lens to but you can rent lenses for decent prices to. I rented a fish eye lens for a project and it came out awesome. Then go to Amazon get a cheap tripod and a remote for snapping pics remotely.
Good luck.
Sorry, but eff that!!
Some clown can go buy a great DAW and make a "better" recoding in his basement for relatively cheap, but if he has crap for ears and creativity, the results won't be there.
I HATE the notion that its all about the gear, and i am really surprised that on a forum where so may decry the low balling of musicians pay, there are those undervaluing the talents of professional photographers.
Agree. Attention to details and knowledge of lighting is key. THEN comes fancy equipment
Ah! You touched on something I forgot to.
A great eye with mediocre kit will take a better picture than a hack with $10K in gear.
Same goes for anything really.
Who's gonna sound better - Pino with a Squire Affinity, or me with a Fodera??
Don't need no poll for that one.
