I’m an aspiring photographer. A concert photographer to be exact. I just want to be around live music all the time. The thing is, I don’t know where to start with that. I’m already a communication arts student in college and have taken some photography classes in my curriculum. I know I won’t get in shows to take pictures because I don’t have a press pass. I can’t get a press pass because I have no experience or credentials whatsoever….
I want to know how you got into shows, did you build your portfolio first? stuff like that.
I personally didn’t exactly start off the traditional way. As you can read in other entries and websites, I originally started off in the music business with street teaming/marketing. While networking and building up my contacts, by the time I got into photography, I had musicians and publicists willing to help me out in that field to practice since I had previously helped them out with other work in the past.
However, my advice is to start off with your local clubs. Talk to the club owner to see if they need a club photographer, perhaps even in trade for helping them pass out flyers and hang up posters all of the town for their upcoming shows (which is what I did for the Blue Note in Columbia, MO while I was going to college out there).
I also suggest searching for any local music magazines or webzines to see if they need any show photogs… maybe even start your own (which is what a few of my fellow concert photographers started with). Some publicists, even for the bigger acts, will honor even the “smallest” of press outlets because at the end of the day… press is press.
How about local bands in your area? Talk to them to see if they can do anything to help you out at their upcoming shows, as well. It’s good practice… Plus, if they happen to be opening for a national act, sometimes you might be able to luck out and get in touch with their publicist who might be willing to help you out, as well.
