Great photography is the venue owner’s and promoter’s opportunity to show off their amazing events. But it can be tough, especially with low lighting and packed crowds.
Heck, even professional music photographers can have a hard time getting the shots they want.
But at Eventbrite, our experience with some of the most prominent concert promoters and organizers gives us a unique perspective on getting the best pictures at a concert.
Here are concert photography tips from professional photographers and promoters so you can capture the best shots — and use them to sell as many tickets as possible.
Table of contents
The best camera settings for concert photography
Concert photography tips to capture engaging images
Advice for preparing to photograph a concert
The best camera settings for concert photography
Concert photography is especially tricky because it’s a low-light environment, and the light changes quickly. Light displays captivate fans, but they also make it difficult to find the right camera setting.
1. Resist the urge to use flash in the low light
You might need to be creative when illuminating a dark concert space. Using a tripod and long exposure time will help you capture the atmosphere without blurry images.
“The number one misconception people have is that they need flash in the dark — but people in the crowd lose their detail when flooded in light,” said Christie Connell, owner of Azure Photo Studios.
Christie Connell’s point is critical because flash photography at concerts is often prohibited because it distracts performers and disrupts the audience’s experience. Flash can be too bright in a dimly lit music venue, causing discomfort and spoiling the ambiance.
Additionally, concert photographers usually face other challenges like distance restrictions, which limit how close they can get to the stage, making it harder to capture clear, detailed shots.
2. Change your settings for photos of the band and photos of fans
Adjust camera settings based on your subject. This approach requires a high shutter speed to capture the musicians’ actions and a smaller aperture to balance the stage’s intense, bright lighting bursts.
Conversely, photographing fans involves using the ambient light from the stage, possibly requiring adjustments in ISO (the sensitivity of the camera’s image sensor to light) or aperture to capture the crowd’s movement and expressions of the crowd during the live show.
“If you’re shooting the actual band, just use the stage lights — you don’t need flash,” Christie said. “Work with the lights that are already there, keeping your shutter speed high for the motion and aperture smaller based on the amount of light on stage. If you’re shooting people dancing, try to work with the lights from the stage to illuminate them.”
Remain flexible and responsive to different lighting conditions and subjects for vivid, dynamic concert photography.
3. Use a concert photography technique called “dragging the shutter” for shots with spotlights, lasers, or strobes
You can also choose a more creative style with your photos by changing your settings.
“Your flash unit is going to get your foreground subjects to stay sharp and in focus, so keep your shutter open for longer than you typically would — it will allow some of that environmental light to enter the frame, color the image, and add cool-looking streaks and effects to the image,” says freelance photographer Joe Montana.
Dragging the shutter — done with a slower shutter speed — may result in less crisp, precise imagery, but it can capture the moment’s motion and emotion. It’s easier to do this on your camera’s manual mode since an automatic mode may try to change the shutter speed to make a crisper image without streaks.
4. Set the lens to a wide aperture
In low-light conditions like concerts, using a lens with a wide aperture allows more light to hit the sensor, helping to capture clearer images in dim conditions. However, a wide aperture also results in a shallower field depth, making focusing more challenging.
Photographers must carefully manage focus, especially when shooting concerts and dynamic subjects like performers. By using wider apertures, photographers can effectively use the limited light available, ensuring that details are highlighted even from a distance.
To do this, you could set your camera to ‘aperture priority mode,’ so your aperture stays wide and changes the shutter speed to accommodate light fluctuations.
5. Select a high ISO
In low-light, high-motion settings like concerts, select a high ISO, increasing the camera’s ability to capture images under these challenging conditions. Photographer Andrea Wattley recommends starting with 1600. A high ISO helps to brighten the photos but can also introduce noise, which appears as grain in the image.
To counteract this, photographers can use noise-reduction software in post-processing, such as Adobe Lightroom. For crisp images, even with fast-moving subjects and fluctuating lighting,
a high ISO is essential. It allows you to freeze motion without compromising exposure.
Concert photography tips to capture engaging images
No matter what genre or city you’re promoting, “You need a great image to really entice somebody,” says photographer Misha Vladimirskiy. He first got into concert photography as a raver in the 90s, then as an event promoter, and then as a nightclub owner. Now, Vladimirskiy has photographed events like Coachella and is a partner at Filterless.co.
“If you plan to run a business, you need to invest in your visual identity,” Vladimirskiy says. “People don’t see the promoter or hear the DJ — what’s left after the event is the image or video. Photos are an incredibly important way for people to remember that memory, to want to go again.”
6. Remember your concert photography may directly affect the quality of talent you’re able to book
When agents haven’t worked with a promoter or venue, they check out their website or social media profiles. If they see low-quality photography, they may charge you more, want a bigger deposit, or simply not give you the talent. Artists care about their brand image, and the quality of your concert photography reflects on your brand, venue, and the event or music festival you host.
Remember, images are powerful — your brain can process them unconsciously in milliseconds. Your image portfolio needs to be striking so you can negotiate a fee that benefits all parties.
7. Don’t forget to capture the fan experience
Sometimes, promoters leave shows with photos mainly of the performer. That can work for a large stadium show, but if it’s a party at a nightclub, you’ll want to capture the crowd’s unity and shared experience.
That’s because photos depicting the crowd’s energy and unity allow potential attendees to visualize themselves attending your future events.
Just ensure that the photo style and the post-production editing style match the music style and the event’s feeling. Take into consideration effects and colors. Don’t make edits purely based on the photo’s aesthetics but on how you want people to feel when they look at it.
8. Work with the artist’s photographers
If an artist brings a photographer, pay the photographer to use some of their photos. You can make a deal to end up on the artist’s Instagram or the photographer’s social media channels.
Working with the artist’s photographers can be incredibly advantageous. These photographers often have unique insights into the artist’s performances and preferences. Due to their familiarity with the artist’s set and style, they typically know the best moments to capture. This inside knowledge allows them to secure shots from angles that might not be obvious to other photographers.
These photographers likely already have the artist’s trust, too. That means they might be able to get you pictures of candid moments backstage and take shots from a shorter distance than the artist would otherwise allow. That can make a real difference since close-up images are more appealing and attract attention more readily.
9. Create an exclusive feel with behind-the-scenes angles
Capturing backstage moments immerses fans in the unseen aspects of a concert and can also serve as a strategic promotional tool. “It’s really important to shoot from the participant’s point of view but also to bring somebody into an experience they wouldn’t ordinarily see,” Vladimirskiy says. “Try a backstage photo of an artist or a unique aerial angle of an event.”
These behind-the-scenes photos can make the venue or event more appealing to future artists by showcasing a welcoming, comfortable, and professional backstage environment.
These exclusive backstage images can also make backstage passes more appealing to fans, offering them a glimpse into the private side of their favorite shows. Promoting such access can significantly boost ticket sales for VIP packages, enhancing overall event profitability and appeal.
With Eventbrite, you can sell multiple ticket tiers, and you also get access to tools and analytics about your buyers, event attendance, and more.
Want to promote VIP tickets for your next event?
10. Install GoPros for nightlife photography in clubs
GoPros are compact, versatile cameras that capture dynamic, high-quality footage in settings like clubs. “GoPros are amazing cameras in low light, and you can install them anywhere,” says Vladimirskiy. “Especially for promoters or nightlife events, I recommend mounting them all over the club, mounting them on a turntable, or using them for livestreaming.”
Mount GoPros in numerous locations, from turntables to overhead beams, providing unique perspectives on the nightlife experience. Just make sure you add memory cards that are big enough to capture the night’s highlights!
11. Partner with brands to subsidize photography costs
Consumer brands often find concert photos appealing for their advertising campaigns, so reach out to brands who might subsidize your pictures with an event sponsorship.
“There are ways to subsidize the photographer,” Vladimirskiy says. “Put the photos on a gallery on your website that gets a lot of views, and then get a brand to sponsor that page. Or if your Instagram has amazing photographers and followers, brands may give you money to be featured.”
Drink companies wanting to sell at music events or clothing brands wanting more visibility could use some awesome shots of band or audience members using their products.
Advice for preparing to photograph a concert
Photographing a concert requires meticulous preparation due to the dynamic and often unpredictable nature of live events. Unlike more controlled photography settings, concerts feature varying lighting, rapid artist movements, and an energetic crowd.
Here’s how to prepare effectively for those money shots.
12. Do the paperwork
Before thinking about the shoot, sort out the necessary paperwork. You may need a photo pass from the venue or to sign a photography agreement that outlines what you can and cannot do with the images you capture. For example, some agreements restrict the commercial use of photos or require you to submit them for approval before public release.
It’s crucial to prepare and sign these documents well in advance — sometimes weeks or even months before the event. Start early, and stay in touch with different stakeholders to ensure you have all the necessary permissions before the concert day.
13. Scout shooting locations ahead of time
Investigating the venue before the event can significantly improve your photo quality and help you feel more prepared.
This pre-event check allows you to identify the best shooting locations, taking note of the stage layout and the lighting setup. Understanding where the lights are directed and how they might move during the performance can help you anticipate the best moments to capture. If you’re not taking the photographs, make a note of the shots you want so you can instruct the concert photographer.
Additionally, coordinate with the venue staff and the artists’ teams for the venue’s layout so you know exactly where the photographer can stand to capture the performer’s and audience’s experience. For example, there might be an entire section you’ll be able to access on the day, so it’s best to prepare this beforehand.
14. Practice fast manual setting adjustments
Concert lighting can change in a flash, from dimly lit to overwhelmingly bright, often within a few seconds of the same song. To capture sharp and well-exposed images regardless, you’ll need to adjust your camera’s settings quickly, even in manual mode.
Familiarize yourself with your camera’s ISO settings, shutter speed, and aperture well before the event. It’s also best practice not to purchase a new camera model before a big gig. This skill will prove invaluable when you need to adapt to sudden changes in lighting or action during the concert.
Use Stunning Concert Photography to Promote Your Next Event
Great pictures of your concert make for exceptional promotional material. After all, an image says more than a thousand words. Eye-catching images are a powerful way to grab people’s attention. To succeed, you need to invest extra effort into your photos or outsource them to a professional music photographer.
If you want to make the most of that investment, you’ll need the right tools to get your photos out there and promote your concerts so you can bring in as many people as possible to future events.
With Eventbrite’s marketing tools, you can A/B test which photos grab people’s attention and show them off to your ideal audience across multiple social media platforms, all from one place.
