Paramore are one of those bands that are a gem for live music photographers: an extremely dynamic stage show with an iconic frontwoman and bombastic lights that all make for a fantastic challenge.
Having caught Paramore opening up for No Doubt earlier this year, I was excited to see the pop-punk heavy weights for their headlining tour.
Photographer’s Notes
Paramore of a huge challenge in many ways, not the least of which is the band’s use of dramatic lighting. Of course, this is a “high class” problem, because the band’s lighting treatment makes the band look great when it’s on full blast.
However, as variable as the lighting is for this tour, the biggest challenge for photographing Paramore is singer Hayley Williams.
Williams is nothing short of a firecracker on stage, dominating the front monitors and whipping the crowd into a frenzy with every gesture.
If you’re photographing this tour, expect a small workout if you want to keep up with Hayley, especially if you have to fight through a crowded photo pit.
Also, I have to salute Paramore’s lighting designer. Here’s a shot that shows what gorgeous backlighting this tour is employing:
This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 at 6:02 pm and is filed under Music Photography and tagged with hayley williams, images, music photographer, Music Photography, paramore, photos. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
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Photographing Paramore is a job I like to call "operation hairwhip," thanks to @yelyahwilliams. Was it a success, though? http://is.gd/4NBhj
oh my god, i’m still, and always amazed on your work todd. Looking forward to more amazing shots! keep it up!
Hi Gilang,
Thanks for the comments and support. Regarding focusing, one thing you’re seeing here is that I do personally place an emphasis on a technical execution whenever possible. That is, I always prefer that the images I show are sharp and in focus. Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule, but part of what you’re seeing here are my editing preferences.
However, in general, one thing that will improve focus is knowing what to tell the camera to focus on in the first place. High-contrast areas are always going to allow the camera a better and faster lock.
oh yeah, i forgot to ask, how are you able to take such pin sharp, in focus, detailed pictures? i’m still learning to get a photo like this, and it is hard as hell. any advices are welcomed, thanks :)
Forget the cute young lady that can sing like crazy- I’m drooling over the lighting. They always have an awesome lighting scheme on every tour. Great set as always!
Hi Ivor,
Yeah, Paramore’s lighting designer is an OK guy in my book. The lighting for this tour was much more atmospheric than their stage treatment for No Doubt’s tour, but still a top-notch job. Thanks for the comment.
Sick series todd
theyre here in feb, hopefully get the chance to nail a few wide shots
Hi Dan,
Nice to hear from you here, thanks for the comment. Good luck with the shoot! Hope your stage is lower than mine.
If I shoot them at Soundwave Festival than no way…8ft stages at that setup!
Hopefully shoot a side show, but I’ll be in a completely new state…moving on new years day :)
also have to try find a new outlet before then!!!
I’m back at the bottom of the ladder ARRRGGGHHH
/endrant
Keep the good shots coming
Hey Dan,
Good luck with the move, hope you find a good place at a publication or two in the new year.
Photographing Paramore is a job I like to call "operation hairwhip," thanks to @yelyahwilliams. Was it a success, though? http://is.gd/4NBhj
Great shots Todd. I think my favorite angle is the one of her at the front of the stage, leaning back with her Nike in the foreground. Great perspective shot.
Hi Kevin,
Thanks for the comment. 14mm + Hayley Williams is bound to be a little fun, though this wasn’t as much of a wide-angle show due to the height of the stage. However, I do think this gig was nicer to shoot in some ways because the band didn’t have all the monitors at the front of the stage as they did opening for No Doubt. Great shows, either way, with very nice lighting.
where was taylor york?
Taylor was stage left. You can see photos of him in this set here.
i love your work todd!
these photos are amazing!
i was going to try to shoot paramore but the tickets for my date sold out the day they went on sale :(
i love your work though. you have got to be the best there is and i reallly look up to you. your work is so inspiring for other concert photographers! i only hope to be half as good as you one day :)
Hi Alexandra,
Thanks very much for the kind words. Even if tickets aren’t available for the show, you might want to still inquire about photographing the show. Good luck, hope it works out. Thanks again for the comment.
Hi Todd,
I really dig your shots from this show! They’re all great: I love how you chose to shoot both normal and wide angle, they’re both very complimentary to Paramore’s amazing energy and style. A few questions if you don’t mind-
I’m a student going to photography school, and I really enjoy taking live concert shots. I find it really challenging to take shots as brilliant as yours, because of the low lighting environment. When boost up my ISO, i get grainer photos.. when I use flash, I don’t get the nicer lighting of the stage lights. And of course when I try to open up my aperture and shoot at a slow shutter, I don’t get the crisp sharp mid-air photos. So, as much feedback or suggestions you have would be appreciated. I’m shooting Paramore at a concert next week, and am hoping I can really step up my game, but not have to rely on my portable flash and still achieve the energy/motion with the stage lighting.
Thanks,
Vicky
Hi Todd!
These photos are so great! I so much appreciate live shots, especially ones that look this fab!!
I was wondering, may I get your permission to make a few graphics from your photos? Sorry if I missed any disclaimer that you may have posted about this! These are so so great and I would like to make some icons/banners for livejournal (paramoremusic in particular), but only with your permission.
Thanks,
Sacha
Todd,
Every single photograph is amazing, I love them all.
Great work and can’t wait to see ATL and Boys Like Girls photos.
I’ll be at both and noticed you are shooting for both :]
Todd this set is one of the best sets I’ve seen you put up from the pageant … and it had to be great to shoot in that lighting .. I’ll be shooting there again on nov 17th for skillet I hope I get it figured out this time .. and again what a set what a set indeed and I really love shot number one and got love the haze flowing through the whole set
RT @toddowyoung Paramore http://bit.ly/qHkyG Great Shots Todd!!
http://bit.ly/2b8arD perfeito ++++
RT @caueh http://bit.ly/2b8arD Que perfeito. Quero ser fotografo, mãe
Todd:
I am a huge fan of your work, as well as Ami Barwell’s. I’m new here, and I know you use Nikon gear, so are you using an SB-800/900 with a CTO filter on it to do your fill flash? (I’m looking at the shot of Haley bent over and her mouth is lit inside) The color correction and balance with stage lights and a bare flash don’t seem to do well in my experience. The stage lights are starting out as incandescent lights have a yellow color temp, and the strobe is blue. I use a 1/2 CTO on my SB-800 and dial it down about 2/3′s of a stop for fill.
Now if I just worked in clubs with decent light… (grumble)
I’m dying to try a D3s. ISO off the hook.
OK, I realized my stupidity as I hit the “speak” button. You are shooting major acts, and they don’t allow a strobe. Still, I don’t know how you got that shot without one. I shoot in crap clubs with crap light with a D80 and a 17-55 2.8 Nikkor. There is nothing below ISO 1600 of value on the D80. Color balance is what it is. Noise Ninja rescues me on a daily basis. Yet, the light don’t lie. Is it in photoshop? I don’t do much photoshop work, and even though most of my shots are tremendously underexposed at ISO 1600, f 2.8 and 1/50 sec, how the hell do you get such technically awesome work?
You are a genius, and I’m in awe.
I want your brain and rig, or your brain with a D3s with a 50mm 1.4.
Damn.
Someday I would be able to take shots like these: http://bit.ly/2b8arD But first, PRACTICE!!! DX
Hey Todd! This is a great work! I’m glad to visit your site. I really enjoy your work and it’s an inspiration for me….
Good luck Always!
Hey Todd,
this is completely AMAZING!!! They way you get your angles is very col.
I like your lightning technique, is ISO 1600 what you were using here? or higher?
Keep up the god job!
Awesome pics http://ishootshows.com/2009/11/04/paramore-2/#more-2793
Awesome Paramore pics: http://bit.ly/7ew48V
Wow I just discover your page…
And I dig it :)
thanks to share your knowledges ! I’m going to read tutorials :)
Great series btw !!!
Great lightning.
peace
Thanks for the comment – hope the tutorials are helpful, please feel free to submit a question to the Q&A if you have something in mind that isn’t covered.
RT @toddowyoung Paramore http://bit.ly/qHkyG
Mais fotos de shows: Wilco http://bit.ly/7da8Y0 .Paramore http://bit.ly/4rxy4f / Green Day http://bit.ly/4LhcZT / Franz http://bit.ly/7WfgQ7
@ann95 to mo?e uda ci si? co? z tego: http://bit.ly/2pPSyt albo: http://bit.ly/itqX1
I love this set Todd…I was lucky enough to shoot Paramore when they hit the UK a few weeks after you shot them. You can see my pics here: http://davemussonphotography.wordpress.com/2010/01/21/paramore-birmingham-nia-11th-december-09/ they’re not as good as yours but then they never are!
And I can totally agree with you about having a mini workout to keep up with Hayley – it was very tirring, particularly having to dodge another 12 snappers in the pit AND security AND emo crowd surfing kids that came flying in constantly!
Keep up the good work,
Dave
[...] Photos: Paramore’s Headlining Tour 2009 @ The Pageant [...]
Hey Todd,
Great Shots, I actually met you at the paramore concert @ the Pageant, it’s awesome to finally see your website and view your photography. I’m just getting into concert photography, i’m shooting my 1st big concert and i wanted to thank you for your helpful tips, thanks man!