That time I met Ghostface shooting for Vice

Don’t become a music photographer. Just don’t do it. If you have a few people tell you that and then you shoot a few shows for no money and then you get stiffed on a couple shows and then you shoot some more shows for no money but someone gives you a drink ticket that is only good for PRB and you still want to do it then maybe carry on.

I tell people this because it’s not responsible. It’s not a good choice if you want to make enough money to raise a family. You’ll train as long as a doctor to make less money than a teacher. Then if you’re good all of the sudden it might work out and you could have one of the most rewarding or dopamine driven jobs a person could imagine. All that said, it never gets easy. You’ll have to keep fighting, keep shooting and stay on top of the game as you mold with one of the most oversaturated industries in existence. Because everyone has a camera and everyone wants to get into shows for free. And that will never change. Here’s five tips on what you can do to get it going.

Five tips to get started shooting music photography

Build a good portfolio.
Don’t stop. Just go. Until you can show consistent decent work you’ll never get paid. Do it because you love it. Because if you don’t love it at first you really won’t love it when you have to do it to get by and you’re waking up on a 6th day hangover and you’re missing when you used to wait tables at Cracker Barrel. Because nothing else matters in this field and if you don’t love it there is no reason to be there. Shoot local bands, venues and free events in the community to get it going. Send your photos to as many people and have as many in person conversations as you can.
Talk to other professional photographers.
Go to concerts and festivals to meet artists, promoters, and other people working in the industry. This is really only boring if you don’t love what you do. Drink a couple of beers. Smoke a joint with somebody. Whatever you like to do. Introverted? Take people’s pictures and tag them on instagram. Whatever you need to do to make a real connection with people while playing to your strengths. Just don’t walk up to me and talk about how bad the lighting is. I hate that.
Pitch your work to those who are established.
Reach out to some music magazines, newspapers, labels, and bands. Choose your genre and only do this to people you want to work with. In this industry authenticity is everything. Be sure to tell people why you want to work with them and include samples of your work. Send a clear pitch outlining how you can help them achieve their goals. Talk to people like they are human, because a lot of these people answer emails and have people try to use them from sun up to sun down. Be a person.
Sell prints and merchandise if you can.
Think about selling prints of your photos. If you want to do this factor up the costs. Don’t put yourself in a hole if you can avoid it. This can be a costly endeavor. Post your photos online to see what people want to buy first, then order prints as needed. If it’s done right it can be a drain or a good way to supplement your income or help with expenses.
Offer your services to businesses.
Be a boomer about it. Print off a piece of paper with your work. Walk in the door of places and ask if there is a manager there. If you talk to anybody just say, “Hi, I like this place and I wanted to drop off a portfolio in case you guys ever need any help.” You can do this at restaurants, venues, event spaces, stores or anywhere you want to be affiliated with. It sounds crazy, but in a day when everyone is working it online, there is real value to talking to another human face to face. Real connections are made face to face no matter what the internet tells us. The more you’re shooting the better.

Chelsea Days at Beer City in Oklahoma City

In summation, becoming a successful music photographer takes time, money and elbow grease. It's just as important to continually improve your skills as it is to develop your own style and meet people. And if it ever starts to feel like you hate, try to put it in perspective that while people are out there jacking off horses, cleaning out bed pans, workings in sub zero temperatures you are taking photos in a climate controlled music venue with cocktails for a living. You’ll be okay. The most important thing is to put down your shit, get out of the house and start clicking that little button.