Band photos: DIY or Pro

[hrodbert696]

If you can get the passionate hobbyist with great photo gear, that's ideal. For one band I was in, my daughter got this shot (and not with a particularly expensive camera, either), which I thought was pretty usable:

But it's often worth it to get a pro, especially if the band is established and stable in its membership. Another band I was in got shots like this by hiring a pro, which is obviously on another level...

 

[whatizitman]

you know, for my brother's wedding, he used a pro, she wasn't personable, and just used stock locations that she always used. The pictures were horrible. My wife chose a different photographer for our wedding. He was humorous, adventurous, and got to know us and learned about our personalities. Our wedding photos were fantastic.

With a pro you get the fancy equipment, but you may not get the "important" stuff. I chose someone who takes photography as a serious hobby (yes, there are LOTS of them out there) with a good camera and some quality lenses. Someone you're comfortable with, and is really in to your band and wants to take great pictures of YOUR band. Don't use some dude's iPhone or iPad shots, they are always a little grainy our out of focus looking to me.

Best part with using a non-pro? They will blast off hundreds of shots and you will get them all to work with versus a pro who will often work with 'I will take X number of shots and photoshop X-Y shots and you will get Y. You will not get any of the RAW files nor copywrite to the pictures"

Pro or non-pro, it helps to have an idea what you're getting beforehand. Word of mouth is key. But there's still no guarantees. Anyone can call themselves a pro.

My wife hired a pro for our wedding. This was pre-digital era. We didn't know anyone in the area for refs (long story there). So she went blind and got someone out of the phonebook. Pictures were horrible. We had to pay for the proofs, and we never used them. We have two shots that we liked. Everything else we have kept came from friends and family.

Lesson learned. Contrast that to people we've had shoot family pics, which usually come out great. We ask around, research things out. As opposed to, say, my inlaws, who always hire "someone they've heard goes to the same church" or whatever, and assume it will be fine. We visited family recently on a long road trip - everyone figured it was time for a big family pic. Let's just say results were less than stellar.

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

Great response and I thank you. In the past, we have always used photographers that owe us favors or will work in trade (or one of us was "dating" a "photographer"). With this project, I am really pushing the DIY route until we are further down the road.


I believe I have swayed the group to try DIY first, even though a local "pro" has offered to "cut us a deal."

Well, you know what they say about first impressions. I would go with whomever can show me their work that I like the best, regardless of their pro status.

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

If you can get the passionate hobbyist with great photo gear, that's ideal. For one band I was in, my daughter got this shot (and not with a particularly expensive camera, either), which I thought was pretty usable:
View attachment 820939

But it's often worth it to get a pro, especially if the band is established and stable in its membership. Another band I was in got shots like this by hiring a pro, which is obviously on another level...
View attachment 820940

The first shot is really pretty good. The second is amazing. Whomever that is is a pro for sure.

 

[hrodbert696]

The first shot is really pretty good. The second is amazing. Whomever that is is a pro for sure.

Thank you! Yes, exactly. Technically, actually, we didn't hire him to get THAT shot, the same photographer happened to be at the gig that day. But we had hired him to shoot a previous gig, with quite excellent results.

 

[bass12]

I would hire a professional (just make sure they are actually professionals and not just people who own the equipment and claim to be pros - way too many of those out there these days). I've been down the amateur route too many times and it has never ended well. One of the big problems I've had has been trying to convince bandmates that the photos delivered by amateurs have been of an unprofessional quality (the same thing has happened with graphic design work). I've been stuck in situations where I've tried to explain why the photos we've had taken aren't up to snuff - only to be told that I'm "too picky" or "just being negative" (it happens I'm the only one who's had any training in visual arts). Even when I've gained some ground in convincing my bandmates that a set of photos is not good it's been difficult to convince these people that we should have another shoot done (it's easy to go the "good enough" route when the session has already been done and paid for). I think it's generally good to "do it right the first time".

 

[photogdude]

In today's world, the lines between "pro" and "DIY" are pretty blurred. Take a look at the product. I have a friend who is an amateur, but can do more than most pros I've seen.

One way to tell a pro from a diy, is a pro's only source of income is his/her photography.

 

[bass12]

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.

What you're talking about is symptomatic of our society at the moment. I see this a lot with self-proclaimed graphic designers - people with no solid training but who have some graphic design software on their home computers. The problem is that the majority of people (clients) don't have a very discerning eye, and so these charlatans get away with passing themselves off as pros. With photography, a lot of it is about controlling the environment you are shooting in and that's something most people don't have a clue about. Same goes for composition and visual dynamics. A good understanding of semiotics can also be helpful - if not essential - when setting up certain kinds of shoots.

One way to tell a pro from a diy, is a pro's only source of income is his/her photography.

That can be a good clue but it's not necessarily true.