Comments on: The Hardest Part of Being a Music Photographer http://www.ishootshows.com/2009/05/26/the-hardest-part-of-being-a-music-photographer/ Music Photography, band portraits and promos from professional music photographer Todd Owyoung Sat, 11 Feb 2012 11:58:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Bob The Tog http://www.ishootshows.com/2009/05/26/the-hardest-part-of-being-a-music-photographer/#comment-69015 Bob The Tog Sat, 13 Jun 2009 22:23:38 +0000 http://ishootshows.com/?p=1927#comment-69015 Same as M0n5t3r and Stan Arrived at a show tonight and the press agency I do stuff for had arranged with the record label for my photographic pass. When I turned up at first they had no knowledge of me. How unprofessional!?!?! They then found someone from the band's management who had an email from the PR company and even although he had heard of me, he rejected me because he found out I was working for a press agency!!! "I'm sorry there's no way I can let you in if you work for a news picture agency" To say that the Agency and I was dissapointed was an understatement. Been doing local stuff for ages and this was my first big show through them! Same as M0n5t3r and Stan

Arrived at a show tonight and the press agency I do stuff for had arranged with the record label for my photographic pass. When I turned up at first they had no knowledge of me. How unprofessional!?!?!

They then found someone from the band’s management who had an email from the PR company and even although he had heard of me, he rejected me because he found out I was working for a press agency!!! “I’m sorry there’s no way I can let you in if you work for a news picture agency”

To say that the Agency and I was dissapointed was an understatement. Been doing local stuff for ages and this was my first big show through them!

]]> By: Olivier http://www.ishootshows.com/2009/05/26/the-hardest-part-of-being-a-music-photographer/#comment-68791 Olivier Sat, 06 Jun 2009 09:22:30 +0000 http://ishootshows.com/?p=1927#comment-68791 @DPC: Nope man, same here in Belgium. I take the AB and Le Botanique as an example (but for the last one I have the chance to know the security guys very well). For the AB (as far as I remember): You get into the concert hall as anybody else. At some close exceptions; You wait at the lobby for your photopass (at this point of time, the 2 firsts front rows are already full). You make your way into the already over crowded front rows whishing your camera doesn't get wet by some guys/girls dropping their beer on it. Try as much as stay polite when you get on the edge of the stage when you hear: again a f-word with a camera (but in 90% the guy/girl comes to you after a while asking for the site where the pictures will be put on). For Le Botanique, you only get you photopass around 19.00 (7pm), not before! Generally no problems. Only problem is when there is a big band playing there. Last almost bad experience was The Subways. After I got my pass I found myself with the crowd at like 10 meters from the hall entrance. Then I heard A voice saying: Ollie, you got there! Security guy (I know hil well for having work with him) letting me pass first :-) But usually these 2 concert hall have no photopit or whatever it is. The only time I saw one in the AB was for NIN! Beside that, the worst part of being a concert photographer are for me these things: - Guys working for an agency who think they are 'la crème de la crème' (means the best of the best) and not having respect for the others or event the crowd (see one of my exemple in my flick photostream called don't do that). - Having my photopass 10 minutes before the show because someone did forget one of the list on his desk... 2 floors up. - Being pushed by the security before the end of the 3rd song(dpc should remember Main Square Festival last year). - Not having any answer at my request. It's just yes or no, no more no less. But there is also good parts!! Concert photography is just my hobby, I love it. But sometimes it's hard @DPC:
Nope man, same here in Belgium. I take the AB and Le Botanique as an example (but for the last one I have the chance to know the security guys very well).
For the AB (as far as I remember):
You get into the concert hall as anybody else. At some close exceptions; You wait at the lobby for your photopass (at this point of time, the 2 firsts front rows are already full). You make your way into the already over crowded front rows whishing your camera doesn’t get wet by some guys/girls dropping their beer on it. Try as much as stay polite when you get on the edge of the stage when you hear: again a f-word with a camera (but in 90% the guy/girl comes to you after a while asking for the site where the pictures will be put on).
For Le Botanique, you only get you photopass around 19.00 (7pm), not before! Generally no problems. Only problem is when there is a big band playing there. Last almost bad experience was The Subways. After I got my pass I found myself with the crowd at like 10 meters from the hall entrance. Then I heard A voice saying: Ollie, you got there!
Security guy (I know hil well for having work with him) letting me pass first :-) But usually these 2 concert hall have no photopit or whatever it is. The only time I saw one in the AB was for NIN!

Beside that, the worst part of being a concert photographer are for me these things:

- Guys working for an agency who think they are ‘la crème de la crème’ (means the best of the best) and not having respect for the others or event the crowd (see one of my exemple in my flick photostream called don’t do that).
- Having my photopass 10 minutes before the show because someone did forget one of the list on his desk… 2 floors up.
- Being pushed by the security before the end of the 3rd song(dpc should remember Main Square Festival last year).
- Not having any answer at my request. It’s just yes or no, no more no less.

But there is also good parts!!

Concert photography is just my hobby, I love it. But sometimes it’s hard

]]> By: Krista http://www.ishootshows.com/2009/05/26/the-hardest-part-of-being-a-music-photographer/#comment-68780 Krista Fri, 05 Jun 2009 17:32:45 +0000 http://ishootshows.com/?p=1927#comment-68780 I agree with the 2nd and 3rd responses. The security guards are extra mean to us females that just want to take pictures. Also, I'm still kind of new to the whole thing so I guess its hard to convince venues and management that I'm a serious photographer not just someone that wants to get into a show. I agree with the 2nd and 3rd responses. The security guards are extra mean to us females that just want to take pictures. Also, I’m still kind of new to the whole thing so I guess its hard to convince venues and management that I’m a serious photographer not just someone that wants to get into a show.

]]> By: tim http://www.ishootshows.com/2009/05/26/the-hardest-part-of-being-a-music-photographer/#comment-68665 tim Tue, 02 Jun 2009 18:57:40 +0000 http://ishootshows.com/?p=1927#comment-68665 the toughest parts are dealing w/ proofing/editing/publishing stuff when you have a lot of shows in a short period of time, while juggling a full-time job and family demands. not hearing back from publicists is also a needless pain in the arse; i'm an adult, i can take no for an answer. gotta give redlight props for their excellent communication for the recent Phish shoot. i'm not in this thing to make a ton of $, but it is increasingly frustrating to hear from bands that they love yr work, but that they have no money and just want stuff for free (and not just tiny bands...i got contacted by the guitarist of a pretty decent-sized band last week). the toughest parts are dealing w/ proofing/editing/publishing stuff when you have a lot of shows in a short period of time, while juggling a full-time job and family demands.

not hearing back from publicists is also a needless pain in the arse; i’m an adult, i can take no for an answer. gotta give redlight props for their excellent communication for the recent Phish shoot.

i’m not in this thing to make a ton of $, but it is increasingly frustrating to hear from bands that they love yr work, but that they have no money and just want stuff for free (and not just tiny bands…i got contacted by the guitarist of a pretty decent-sized band last week).

]]> By: Janice http://www.ishootshows.com/2009/05/26/the-hardest-part-of-being-a-music-photographer/#comment-68640 Janice Mon, 01 Jun 2009 23:46:51 +0000 http://ishootshows.com/?p=1927#comment-68640 i am an 18 year old female, being taken seriously is an obstacle for me. it seems like every other teenager is a 'photographer' these days. it's important for me to be viewed as a professional, rather than just another kid with a camera. i am an 18 year old female, being taken seriously is an obstacle for me.
it seems like every other teenager is a ‘photographer’ these days.
it’s important for me to be viewed as a professional, rather than just another kid with a camera.

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