The Best Music Photography Tips
Last month, I posted 6 Tips Every New Music Photographer Should Know. These basic tips and pieces of advice were geared more toward getting into live music photography in general and dispelling some myths about what it takes to be a music photographer. Since we’re kicking off a new year, I’d like to change the [...]
The Best of ishootshows.com 2010
Education and sharing what I know has always been a big part of www.ishootshows.com. As we head into 2011, here are some of the articles and pieces I enjoyed sharing with you all this past year.
6-Tips Every New Music Photographer Should Know
I receive a lot of email from aspiring music photographers. One of the most common requests from young or beginning music photographers is for advice on starting out. In response, here’s my open “letter” to all new music photographers with six tips and pieces of advice for anyone just starting out.
5 Tips For Photographing Warped Tour
It’s hot, the summer solstice has come and gone, and, more importantly for many young music fans, Warped Tour is cris-crossing the country for the two months. Yes, Summer is here. If you’re interested in photographing Warped Tour, here are five tips you should know.
Catchflash
A guitar solo at the edge of the stage is just the sort of act that encourages fans to put down their beers and raise up their cameras. No frontlighting? No problem. You’ve probably seen the effect – a serendipitous contribution of flash in one of your photos from some kind stranger who happened to [...]
Lighting Techniques: Backlighting for Band Portraits
In this shot of The New Heathers, I superclamped an SB-600 just out of frame in the elevator shaft for accent lighting. Love it or hate it, backlighting is a effective way to punch up music photography, whether it’s on stage or off. Here’s a look at getting the most out of a limited number [...]
Music Photography Year in Review 2009
2009 is coming to a swift close. It’s been a fantastic year for music photography, filled with great concerts and amazing opportunities.
Photographer’s Guide to Warped Tour
If you’re attending Vans Warped Tour this year, it’s going to be sweaty, crowded, and a whole lot of fun. And all that’s without a camera. For press covering the annual touring festival, you’re in for a whole new level of craziness. Here’s your guide to photographing Warped Tour.
One Approach to Concert Photography
The photo pit is a brutal place. One approach to concert photography: When the lights go down, if you’re in the photo pit with me, I want to destroy you. After the first three songs, then we can be friends.
5 Tips for Better Concert Photography
Ben Weinman of The Dillinger Escape Plan, and the making of a jump shot. The band just cranked it to eleven, the floor is heaving, lighting designer is doing his best to recreate the finale of Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Here are five simple tips for better concert photography.
The Best Part About Being a Music Photographer
Last week I asked, “What’s your favorite thing about being a music photographer?” Here are your answers.
The Hardest Part of Being a Music Photographer
Last week, I asked a simple question to my Twitter followers: “What’s the hardest part about being a music photographer?” Here’s how you responded.
Becoming a Concert Photographer
Andrew Bird, whose kind manager, Andrea Troolin, granted me my first photo pass. A reader asks about how I got my start as a concert photographer. From the first show and the first photo pass to the first big break and beyond, here’s my story so far.
High ISO, Digital Noise & Noise Reduction
No concert photographer is a stranger to the challenge of digital noise and challenges of balancing image quality against difficult shooting conditions. Even as digital sensors and image processing become more sophisticated, the issue of digital noise is a constant struggle in concert photography. Live music photographers are constantly thrown into low and unpredictable lighting [...]
Better Photography Through Editing
You can become a better photographer without improving your shooting technique, composition, or consistency to deliver. In fact, you don’t even have to pick up a camera. Best yet, it’s something you’re already doing: Editing.
Concert Photography: Timing
Despite the often demanding time constraints of concert photography, sometimes it pays to slow down and observe before going in with shutter blazing. With shooting gigs, like so many things, timing is everything.
How much do you shoot?
How much do you shoot, and what factors determine the success and failure of your images? A look at the “hit rate” for concert photography.
Capturing Facial Expressions
A reader asks about etiquette for presenting performers in a flattering manner. Is photographing a singer with their mouth wide open a display of intensity, or do they just look hungry for the mic?
AF Technique, Settings for Concert Photography
Single servo, or continuous AF? A look at choosing the right AF modes and camera settings for concert photography.
Pros & Cons of Using Lens Hoods For Music Photography
Lens hoods and concert photography. We take a look a the pros and cons of using that extra plastic to shield lenses from stray light, beer, and sweat.
Concert Photography Q & A
I’m pleased to announce a new feature here at ishootshows.com: the concert photography Q & A. If you have questions about anything in the realm of concert photography, now’s your chance.
8 Tips for a Great Photography Portfolio
Creating a portfolio of one’s own work can be a daunting task, but it’s an essential part of presenting oneself as a photographer. A top notch book is one of the best ways communicate one’s ability and vision, especially when it can be viewed online and around the world.
Concert Features: Suggestions?
As I expand ishootshows.com’s content and think about improvements, I’d like to ask you, the readers, if there are any aspects of concert photography you’d like covered in show write-ups and other how-to/tips features.
. 
