How to Become a Concert Photographer

There's no “school of rock photography” and there are certainly no secrets in this business. I'm a music photographer who has lived and breathed concert photography since I photographed my first concert in 2006. As proud as I am of the images I have made, I'm also very grateful to have the opportunity to share everything that I've learned as a professional music photographer.

I started this site ishootshows.com in 2007 and have written over a thousand posts about music photography, from gear reviews to tutorials and how-to articles on how to photograph live music. Here's a collection of some of the articles I feel would be most helpful to anyone looking to get on the path to becoming a rock photographer. 

Concert Photography Essentials

How to Get Started in Photographing Concerts

Getting Started in Music Photography — Creative Live Class

How To Become A Concert Photographer – My story

Recommended Earplugs for Music Photographers

6 Tips for the New Music Photographer

5 Essential Live Music Tips

How To Request A Photo Pass

Concert Photography Etiquette

Guides:

How to Start a Music Blog for Photo Passes

The Ultimate Guide to Photo Passes

Copyright & Concert Photography

The Photographer's Guide to Music Festivals

The Photographer's Guide to Warped Tour

How to Price Your Photography and Image Licensing

Workflow for Live Music Photography

Camera Settings

5 Tips for Better Focus in Low Light

Camera Settings for Concert Photography

AF Settings For Live Music Photography

Metering & Exposure for Concert Photography, Part 1

Metering & Exposure for Concert Photography, Part 2

Photography Gear

Music Photography Gear Guide

Choosing Lenses For Concert Photography

Best Earplugs for Concerts and Live Music

5 Tips for How to Change Lenses Faster in Event Photography

How-To

How to Deal With Red Lights

How to Photograph Drummers

5 Tips For Changing Lenses Faster

5 Tips For Better Band Portraits

How to Capture Killer Facial Expressions of Musicians

General Advice

8 Tips for a Great Photography Portfolio

The Best Live Music Photography Tips

5 Tips for Better Concert Photography

The Timing of Concert Photography

Concert Photographers: Please, Wear Earplugs