Mastering Concert Photography

Concert photography is a challenging and rewarding genre of photography that requires discipline and the right equipment to capture properly. It’s an art form that requires both technical know-how and creative vision. Capturing the energy, excitement, and emotion of live performances is a challenging discipline but when you do it right you capture memories that last a lifetime.

Concert photography is about more than just capturing a moment though – it's about telling a story. To do this, you need to think about what you want to convey in your pictures. Are you showcasing the artist, the energy of the crowd, or the atmosphere of the concert? It’s important to pay attention to the mood and energy of the event and to try and capture it in your shots. It’s also important to pay attention to the artists that you’re shooting because you never know what they’re going to do, and you might miss it.

The Importance of a Good Lens

Having a good lens plays a crucial role in concert photography too, as it will determine the sharpness, clarity, and bokeh of the pictures you capture.

Concert photography often involves shooting in low light conditions, with fast-moving subjects, and challenging angles. Good lenses help you overcome these challenges and produce high-quality pictures that capture the essence of the performance. A good lens will allow you to shoot with a fast aperture, which is essential in low-light situations, and provide you with the necessary focal length to zoom in on the action.

The Essentials of Concert Photography

To get started in concert photography, you'll need to invest in the right equipment. A digital SLR camera with fast autofocus is a must, as well as a fast lens with a wide aperture (f/2.8 or wider). This will help you capture sharp pictures even in low-light conditions and that’s pretty much all you need as far as equipment goes. Despite what you might read in other blogs you don’t need a flash or a tripod.

When it comes to techniques, the key to successful concert photography is understanding the relationship between shutter speed, ISO, and aperture. In low light conditions, you'll need to use a higher ISO to capture enough light, but this can also increase noise in your pictures. A fast shutter speed can help freeze the action, but you'll also need to use a wide aperture to let in enough light. It's important to experiment and find the right balance for each situation.

Composition is also an important part of concert photography. Experiment with different angles and perspectives to capture unique and interesting shots. Pay attention to the stage lighting and try to use it to your advantage. For example, you can use backlighting to create dramatic silhouettes or front lighting to create a more dramatic look.

The Best Lens for Concert Photography

A fast lens with a wide aperture is necessary for low-light conditions. Popular lens choices for concert photography include a standard zoom lens like the 24-70mm and a telephoto zoom lens like the 70-200mm zoom lens. So what’s the difference between the lenses and is one better than the other? The truth is, they are both important and they both do different jobs.

A Standard zoom lens: This type of lens is versatile and can be used for a variety of different photography genres, including concert photography. It’s a good option for photographers just starting out or on a budget. A lens like the 24-70mm or the 24-105mm gives you the option of capturing wide shots.

A Telephoto zoom lens: This lens is ideal for concert photography as it allows you to zoom in and capture close-up shots of the performers. It’s also useful for capturing pictures of the crowd. The 70-200mm is a great telephoto lens for concert photography.

I shoot most shows with two cameras and two lenses and in most cases, I use a standard zoom lens like the 24-105mm and a telephoto zoom like the 70-200mm. These two lenses are more than sufficient for capturing great pictures in a live show environment but there are always some factors to consider when choosing the right lens for your needs.

Factors to consider when choosing a lens

1. Maximum aperture: A lens’ maximum aperture refers to the widest opening in the lens, which is important for controlling the amount of light that enters the camera. When shooting concerts, you want a lens with a wide maximum aperture so you can capture pictures in low-light settings.

2. Image stabilization: This helps to reduce camera shake and is especially important for concert photography when you are shooting in low light conditions. Look for a lens that has image stabilization technology built in.

3. Focal length: The focal length of a lens refers to the distance between the lens and the image sensor. When choosing a lens for concert photography, consider the focal length range you need to capture the pictures you want.

4. Price: Finally, consider your budget when choosing a lens for concert photography. There are plenty of budget-friendly options available that still offer high-quality pictures.

Memory card speed is important to consider

In the exhilarating world of concert photography, one quick tip tends to be overlooked at the start, and that is to always choose fast memory cards and make sure you have plenty of them. While it may seem like a small detail, the memory cards you select can make or break the quality of your pictures.

Imagine this: you have the chance to capture some amazing shots of your favourite band, but your memory card can't keep up with the fast pace of the concert. You miss the perfect shot, and the moment is lost forever. This is why it's crucial to choose memory cards with fast write speeds, to keep up with the fast-paced action on stage.

In concert photography, time is of the essence. You typically only get the first three songs to take pictures, and the band members are constantly moving around at a rapid pace. You have limited time to capture those unforgettable moments, so your equipment has to be up to the task.

Despite its importance, memory card write speed is often overlooked. It's frustrating to wait for an image to write to the card, only to miss another perfect shot. As someone who has been in this situation before, I can attest to how disappointing it can be.

Always remember to choose fast memory cards and ensure you have plenty of them. By doing so, you'll be able to capture those unforgettable moments, and never miss a shot again.

Camera Settings for Concert Photography

Anyone who’s ever attempted concert photography will tell you that the settings you choose can be the difference between an average picture and an amazing one and the truth is there’s no one answer to this question because no two concerts are the same. Every show has different lighting, different stage setups and different artists. Some move about the stage quickly while others might not move about too much at all. All of these factors affect the decisions we make about what camera settings to choose to capture great pictures.

There’s no getting away from the fact that it’s a challenging environment to shoot in so having a starting point for your camera settings is a big advantage if you want to attempt concert photography.

Whilst these settings might need adjusting depending on the lighting conditions and the movement of the artist, they are a great starting point for camera settings and concert photography.

Because you want to freeze the subject and they will most likely be moving on the stage, shutter speed is a priority. You will need to use a fast Sutter speed to capture sharp, detailed pictures so I’d recommend using a shutter speed of at least 1/250th of a second.

Next, set your Aperture to its lowest possible setting to enable as much light to enter the camera as possible. Your f-stop number should be set as low as possible to allow more light in and to add some depth of field to your pictures. It helps make the subject of your picture stand out.

Then there’s ISO and in low light conditions, you’ll need to increase this number to capture well-exposed pictures. However be careful not to increase the ISO too much, as it introduces noise which reduces the picture quality so always be mindful of that. A good starting point for your ISO setting is 1600 and increase it from there depending on the lighting conditions you’re working in.

Manual Mode Vs Semi Automatic Modes

I would always say that shooting in Manual mode is the best approach for capturing high-quality pictures as it offers complete control over the camera’s settings and this is important with concert photography. By using manual mode, you can customise your camera settings to suit the specific lighting and movement of the concert, ensuring that your pictures come out clear, detailed, and well-exposed.

That doesn’t mean you should disregard the semi-automatic modes available in your camera though, such as Aperture priority and Shutter priority because they can be helpful especially when you’re starting out with concert photography. While these modes can be helpful, always try to remember that Manual mode provides greater flexibility and control over your pictures. In an environment where lighting is unpredictable, having full control over how your pictures look is essential. Therefore, being able to swiftly adjust the Aperture, Shutter Speed, and ISO to achieve the desired exposure is critical.

If I had to choose a semi-automatic mode for concert photography, I would select Shutter Priority. Nevertheless, I would always advise using Manual mode because it provides the most control over your pictures.

Tips for Concert Photography

There are many things to consider with concert photography like Shutter speed, lens choice, shooting modes, metering modes and memory cards but I wanted to share some tips that will help you capture that perfect shot in what is a challenging environment, Concert Photography.

Enable continuous shooting on your camera. Concerts are full of action and movement, and continuous shooting mode can help you capture the perfect moment. This mode allows you to take multiple shots in quick succession, increasing your chances of capturing a perfect shot.

Select Spot Metering mode on your camera because when it comes to concert photography, this mode allows the camera to measure the exposure based on a small area of the frame, which is particularly useful when the lighting conditions are challenging or when there are bright lights on stage. Using spot metering mode will ensure that the subject is correctly exposed, even if the rest of the frame is in shadows or darkness.

Always shoot in RAW because it will capture all the data from the camera sensor and that will give you more flexibility when it comes to editing your pictures. RAW files allow you to alter the white balance of your pictures to get an accurate colour balance and that’s something you can’t do with Jpeg files. Paying attention to white balance and other key elements like shooting in RAW will help you to achieve taking perfect pictures.

Will Point and Shoot Cameras Make Concert Accreditation Redundant?

Concert photography is an exciting field for photographers and like most high-profile events, a photographer needs accreditation if they want access to shoot with a camera. Accreditation is controlled by PR companies that represent the artist and it’s an almost impossible thing to acquire unless you’re a big-name photographer or you shoot for a big publication or agency. Concert photography, like most high-profile events, is subject to gatekeeping but this may soon become obsolete thanks to the advancements in point-and-shoot cameras. Security at venues won’t prevent access to a show if you take a point-and-shoot camera in your bag and until that changes, any photographer determined to shoot a show will be able to do it as long as they buy a ticket. If you take a point-and-shoot camera to a show, and that means a camera with a fixed lens, you won’t be prevented from accessing the show so if you have floor tickets and you are prepared to get stuck in and stand in the crowds at the front of the arena, you’ll be able to take print worthy pictures as long as you know what you’re doing. The world we live in is changing fast, and point-and-shoot cameras will revolutionise the way photographers capture concerts.

One of the key advantages of point-and-shoot cameras is their accessibility and portability. Unlike professional DSLR cameras, which require specific accreditation for entry, a point-and-shoot camera doesn’t require this and they are small and inconspicuous. This allows a photographer to attend a concert without the need for special permissions, offering them the freedom to capture moments from any vantage point within the crowd.

Point-and-shoot cameras have come a long way in terms of technological advancements. They now offer features such as high-resolution sensors, fast autofocus systems, and low-light performance capabilities that rival those found in professional cameras. I’ve seen professional photographers who clearly weren’t given accreditation shooting concerts with a point-and-shoot camera from the crowd and whistle I’ve not done it myself, I do see the world of concert photography changing.

Point-and-shoot cameras have ushered in a new era for concert photography, providing photographers with greater accessibility, advanced technology, versatility, and ease of use. With the ability to capture high-quality pictures from various perspectives without the need for traditional accreditation, I believe these cameras will revolutionise the way photographers document live performances in the future.

Final Thoughts

Capturing the perfect picture in concert photography requires a combination of the right camera settings and technical skills. Using a fast lens, increasing ISO, using manual mode, picking the right shutter speed, using continuous shooting, using RAW format and paying attention to white balance all play a part in you taking perfect pictures. There’s a lot to consider but by following the tips I’ve shared in this blog, you’ll be well on your way to capturing breathtaking concert pictures that stand out from the crowd.

If you want to take your photography skills to the next level, take a look at the Perfect Picture Program. In it, you’ll learn all about my SIMPLE system that will help you to start taking great pictures immediately with the camera you already own.