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\nAnna<\/p>\n
![\"anna-lee-media-tour-photographer-smallpools-2015\"](\"https:\/\/annaleemedia.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/anna-lee-media-tour-photographer-smallpools-2015.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
^ On Smallpools’ tour bus | Photo by Erix Arocha<\/em><\/p>\n Being a big music fan, I tended to gravitate toward friendships with musicians or other music fans in Oklahoma City where I\u2019m from. I\u2019d already been doing photography for a few years when my hobbies began to overlap. I shot countless local shows and promos for friends’ bands. Often, small local shows will not have any camera rules. They are also usually\u00a0poorly lit with\u00a0no pit barrier- so if you can learn to get good photos out of these conditions, shooting shows will only get easier.<\/p>\n In college, I became extremely invested in the school\u2019s event programming board. I gained the position of concert coordinator which gave me unlimited access to shoot some very prestigious artists, as well as a valuable crash course in concert and industry logistics.<\/p>\n These early stages were great for gaining live show and low light experience and portfolio images.<\/p>\n Most commonly, photo passes (PP) are issued to a photographer working for some type of outlet (blog, magazine, etc) where the photos will be published. The more relevant and influential the outlet, the better your chance of getting a PP. If there\u2019s a show you\u2019d like to shoot, try partnering with your largest local music publication, or any online outlet that you can build a relationship with. You may or may not be getting paid in this scenario, depending on the outlet and who approached who.<\/p>\n However, many of you may be like me- no association to an outlet. In that case, I take the route of shooting for the band themselves. As a tour photographer the actual band is my client. I also shoot local shows when I\u2019m home. Occasionally I\u2019m hired to do these, and the PP is provided for me. Other times, I want to shoot out of personal interest. If I know someone in the band, crew or management, I will request a photo pass from them directly in exchange for providing photos for social media.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re just starting out, chances are you don\u2019t have a connection. The next best thing is to locate an email for the band\u2019s management online and respectfully request a PP in a brief<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0email that includes a link to see your work. Start out with smaller shows and\/or smaller opening bands on large shows. They will be less saturated with PP requests, and it\u2019s a great way to learn and build a portfolio. You will probably not get a response more often than not, so keep improving your portfolio\u00a0and reaching out. (Remember, some smaller shows\u00a0may not even require a PP.)<\/p>\n Yes and no. I actually have a BFA in Graphic Design, but took some classes for my Photography minor. Do you need to go to school to do what I do? No. But you definitely need to get a technical foundation from somewhere. If you don\u2019t go to school for photography, put just as much time into learning the techniques as if you went to school for it. Shoot every chance you get and the techniques will become intuitive.\u00a0CreativeLive<\/a> is an amazing resource, with free workshops for every level of experience.<\/p>\n Having an \u201ceye\u201d for photography is very important, but what separates the pros from the \u201cfauxtogs\u201d is whether or not your photos are technically sound (in focus, well-exposed, in focus, appropriate lens\/settings for the situation, did I mention in focus?).<\/p>\n Succeeding in music photography comes down to two main factors: (1) your craft and (2) your network. Personally, I\u2019d place more importance on your craft.<\/p>\n At the risk of giving a cop-out answer, I can’t\u00a0choose. Every person and situation provides a different shooting environment. I really do cherish the relationship I have with each of them.<\/p>\n I\u2019m a Canon girl! Here\u2019s what is usually in my bag for any given show or tour (plus all the necessary, related accessories):<\/p>\n Canon 5D Mark 3 My answer to this changes based on what I\u2019ve been using the most lately, and for the last several months it has been my 16-35mm f\/2.8. It great for both pit shooting as well as for backstage candids with flash.<\/p>\n It makes sense to ask a photographer what photography equipment you should buy, right? Not exactly. It’s kind of like walking into a shoe store and asking the first person you see what shoes you should buy. (What’s your style? Are you going running in them, or going on a date? What color do you want? What’s your budget?) Deciding on camera equipment depends on a lot of factors- most specifically, what are you going to be shooting? If you throw in the fact that you need something inexpensive, it gets even more tricky. I only know the equipment I use- I’ve not personally tested the consumer level (cheaper)\u00a0options. I’d have to do the same Google search as you to research the best option for your budget. Take note that you do get what you pay for, so a “good but cheap” camera is somewhat of a paradox, but we all have to start somewhere. I would also generally argue that a good lens is more valuable than a higher end camera body for getting by, especially in low light situations like concerts.\u00a0You can always rent it before you buy, if you’re not sure.<\/p>\n My main point:\u00a0If you’re extremely new to photography, first do your research and learn about cameras and lenses in general- how they work, and the major differences between each one. This is necessary to know how to properly use it once you own it. Once\u00a0you understand how they work, you should have a pretty good idea of\u00a0what you want to buy.<\/p>\n That being said, here’s some actual helpful information. When deciding on a camera body, what matters to me personally are aspect ratio (full- vs. crop-frame), high ISO capability, and sensor size + resolution.\u00a0Deciding on a lens is more use-sepecifc. They vary based on focal length, prime vs. zoom range, and speed (aperture range).\u00a0If you’re shooting concerts, letting in as much light as possible is your number one priority, so you’re better off with a lens capable of f\/2.8 or wider.<\/p>\n The short answer: There are no \u201cuniversal concert settings\u201d. But here\u2019s what you want to know: I do have a range of settings that make for a solid starting point.<\/p>\n Taking a picture always comes down to the light. It\u2019s safe to assume that most concert situations are going to be dark. The more light you can let into your camera while retaining a clean, sharp image is where you want to start. For example, I set my camera in the realm of f\/2.0, 1\/350, and ISO 2500, and go from there. This is very much a ballpark set-up and will depend entirely on the speed and length of your lens, the brightness of the stage lighting, etc. Even then, when you\u2019re shooting bands with an actual light show, your settings will be all over the board throughout the set.<\/p>\n EDIT: To clarify, tour photography (and music photography in general) is not my full-time job. I am a photographer full-time, however most of my income is supplemented with the freelance work I do at home. (See more about this under the Q about my other work!) Full-time music photography certainly exists if you are in the right market. Full-time tour photography is much more rare, but is possible with the right network and the time\/hustle it takes to grow into that position.<\/p>\n My first tour ever was pretty unreal: Warped Tour\u2026 in Australia. Similar to my start in music photography, my first tour experience was with a friends\u2019 band. They were part of the Australia Warped lineup in 2013. After that I had the tour bug. Although I gained experience and a variety of portfolio images, it didn\u2019t lead directly to any other tour opportunities.<\/p>\n The next band I toured with was Smallpools. They are the band that actually got the tour ball rolling for me. If you follow my work, you know I\u2019ve been with them for long time. My start with Smallpools was an anomaly, in that it broke the \u201cit\u2019s all who you know\u201d rule. I had no connection to them, or anyone they knew.<\/p>\n So here\u2019s how that came about. On the advice of a musician friend, I created a \u201cmusic photographer EPK\u201d that I could send out, which was a self-contained document citing my experience and including sample images. I researched several bands\u00a0I enjoy\u00a0that were either on tour or that would be soon and reached out to the them in the same way that I do when requesting PP\u2019s. When it came to Smallpools, the only way I could find to contact them was via Facebook message. Even though I was a total stranger, they took the time to look at my work. They told\u00a0me that they liked what they saw and decided to give me a chance based on that.<\/p>\n We started conservatively. I went out with them for one week, beginning in LA and ending in OKC, so that they were able to drop me off at home. This kept it inexpensive since this was an experiment\/investment for both of us. Fortunately is was an amazing fit, and Smallpools hired me to continue coming back every time after that.<\/p>\n From there, I was able to quickly build a network of connections with other bands that Smallpools toured with as well as friends in crews with other bands. This led to tours with Grouplove, Walk the Moon, as well as relationships with other bands for future work (stay tuned!).<\/p>\n From a personal position, my favorite part of touring is that fact that I get to build a long-term relationship with the band and crew. They\u2019re not clients, they\u2019re family. This gives me a really unique opportunity as a photographer. I get to know them on a level from which I can anticipate what to capture, and snag those raw, candid (and not so candid) moments. I enjoy this dynamic more than anything, and based on the feedback I\u2019ve gotten from the bands I\u2019ve worked with, that\u2019s my specialty.<\/p>\n From a professional position, my favorite part of tour photography is that I get to invest in the band\u2019s brand. When I photograph a group so long-term, my pictures become imbedded\u00a0their image. Being able to invest in them on this level is extremely rewarding, and a great privilege.<\/p>\n It all comes down to minimalism. I really enjoy traveling, so I was already acquainted with packing efficiently. You have to be realistic about what you need and will use. Even when you\u2019re on a bus, storage space is very limited. I have a great packing list that I\u2019ve spent years perfecting. But it’s still tough to never really feel “settled”. Adapting\u00a0is all in your head.\u00a0There are also a lot of daily, logistical responsibilities that are quick\/convenient at home, but become more tedious to deal with from the road.<\/p>\n Another factor that is not frequently anticipated is how you relate to your fellow tour members. I could spend a long time unpacking this concept, but what it comes down to is this: You don\u2019t go home by yourself at the end of the day. You\u2019re living with these people 24\/7, so it\u2019s really important that you\u2019re able to \u201chang\u201d. Everyone has to make more of an effort to stay positive, be cooperative, and do more than is required to help each other out.<\/p>\n Yes, I do get tired. Albeit unconventional, it is very much a job. It\u2019s not always glamorous. But the hard work has yet to outweigh the reward of doing something that I love so much. It\u2019s important to find your own ways to stay physically and emotionally healthy. For example, I make smoothies for meals. When I have time, I love taking walks by myself around the city. I also go to sleep with my favorite show on Hulu in my bunk at night to unwind.<\/p>\n Perhaps the most wearing things are the sacrifices you make by not being at home- the people, things and events you miss being gone for long periods of time. Tour is a very \u201cremoved from reality\u201d head space, and it\u2019s harder that you\u2019d think to stay in touch with friends and family. Mine are very understanding about the situation, but it’s so important to make an effort at staying present in their lives.<\/p>\n This is perhaps one of my most frequently asked questions, but it\u2019s kind of an amusing misconception. There are always other ladies around! Whether it be a female member of my band, another band on the tour, crew member, significant other riding along, etc- it\u2019s fun to get to bond with them on a different level than the guys.<\/p>\n That being said, females are definitely in the minority on the tours I\u2019ve been on, so I understand the curiosity. The thing is though, that touring is such a different lifestyle altogether, so dynamics like this are just part of that overall adjustment. Living with guys is a crash course in being low-maintenance, accompanied with the interesting difference in personalities. Overall, it\u2019s an environment that I enjoy, and meshing with the guys came easy. Fortunately, I\u2019ve found that every band in the genre I call home are the nicest people around. It\u2019s kind of like adopting a family full of brothers.<\/p>\n Just a few points that come to mind, in no particular order:<\/p>\n Put your craft above everything else. The key to getting where you want to be with anything is to ensure what you\u2019re putting out is high quality. I understand being anxious about your end goal- just wanting to be in that position. But don’t jump the gun on quality and experience. The market\u00a0is oversaturated with mediocre photographers, so let’s raise the bar of the industry!<\/p>\n Specialize in something and be persistent. This is the best possible marketing advice I can give. If you want to get to the next level, it\u2019s better to be known for doing one thing really well, rather than spreading yourself too thin. That\u2019s not to say you can\u2019t and shouldn\u2019t shoot multiple things- just filter what you put out there!<\/p>\n Adopt a style, but don\u2019t over-process. Half of the fun of digital photography is what you do with the image after you take it. But don\u2019t let you photo get lost in heavy-handed editing. This screams amateur. Work on taking quality photos, so you\u2019re not editing to fix them, but rather to gently enhance them.<\/p>\n Narrow down more. It\u2019s easy to get attached to nuances in each image you take, or to see the redeeming qualities in less than great images. However your end viewer is making a more detached, objective judgement, especially when it comes to music clients. A handful of solid images looks much better than a ton of mediocre options. It took a while to train my creative brain in this. Now the one test I use is to ask: \u201cCan this photo\u00a0stand alone as a solid image?\u201d If not, it gets cut. (It gets easier with practice.)<\/p>\n The biggest compliment for me is when someone says they can recognize my work. As a general rule, having a consistent style is very important to get your of work to stand out. Here \u201cstyle\u201d refers to everything from the way you frame photos, posing\/direction, the way you treat light, editing, etc. These things comprise your overall style.<\/p>\n On a more personal level, I\u2019ve found that working mostly with bands in a very close-knit genre has been helpful. They share a fan base, and often other industry contacts, so I\u2019ve been recognized for my work in these circles.<\/p>\n Stay present on social media with quality<\/em><\/strong> content, and\u00a0find unique ways to market yourself! Interacting with those who follow your clients or your work makes a huge difference.<\/p>\n The #ALMfancam is a project I started as a way to give fans an all-access peek into what I get to do every day. I encourage concert goers to be the first one to put a disposable camera in my hand day of show. They communicate with me via Twitter to claim the camera for their city, by sending a selfie in line with their disposable. I keep the camera with me throughout the day and fill it with exclusive backstage photos and shots from the pit.<\/p>\n I first witnessed this done while on tour with Grouplove. A couple of times, a concert goer would come early bearing band gifts and disposable cameras for them to use. I saw it again most recently with Magic Man, for which I commandeered the camera during the set. It was fun, but what really registered with me was witnessing their excitement to get the camera back, and then seeing the developed photos in a later tweet. I realized that I could help facilitate this experience. I can give people a more comprehensive and intimate peek into their favorite bands\u2019 lives behind the scenes, as well as to snag a few show photos for them from spots they would not otherwise have access too.<\/p>\n The response has been amazing so far, and fans have gotten in line to claim the #ALMfancam as early as 5am!<\/p>\n As with any creative career, photography is half creativity and half business. That\u2019s one of the biggest challenges, because freelancers have to learn every aspect of running that business.<\/p>\n Staying creative and motivated can also be a challenge. Creativity is an exhaustible resource like anything else, so it\u2019s important to actively seek inspiration, and take time for yourself to relax. I also make time to do personal projects- things just for fun, so that it\u2019s not all client work.<\/p>\n Yes! I have an established wedding photography business in Oklahoma (that I\u2019ll be expanding to LA at the end of this year). I love the variety of shooting a completely different subject when I\u2019m not on tour. Wedding photography has a more feminine and romantic vibe, but it\u2019s fun to see how I can merge it with my music and promo style for a more modern and edgy approach.<\/p>\n I also get an assortment of clients requesting everything from fashion to commercial to high school senior photography, as well as doing my own personal projects, shooting with friends, or even just phone art for Instagram.<\/p>\n I do give general photography lessons locally in OKC when I\u2019m home, but I\u2019ve got some fun announcements for my followers and aspiring music photographers coming down the pipe, so stay tuned!<\/p>\n ^ Smallpools Lovetap! tour\u00a0| Photo by Erix Arocha Over the last year, I\u2019ve had a huge increase in the number and frequency of questions about what I do. I\u2019m flattered that you consider me when seeking advice, and I wish I had time to sit down with each of you one-on-one to answer them all. Since there are several questions about music photography … Read more How did you start shooting bands?<\/h2>\n
![\"eden](\"https:\/\/annaleemedia.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/PA175341bwla.jpg\")
\n^ From my first ever promo shoot with\u00a0Eden Sharmaine, 2009<\/em><\/p>\nHow do you get photo passes to shows?<\/h2>\n
Did you go to school for photography? What should I study to be a music photographer?<\/h2>\n
What is your favorite band\/venue\/lighting designer to work with?<\/h2>\n
What kind of camera\/equipment do you use?<\/h2>\n
\nCanon 16-35mm f\/2.8
\nCanon 35mm f\/1.4
\nCanon 85mm f\/1.8
\nCanon 70-200mm f\/2.8
\nCanon 45mm f\/2.8 Tilt-Shift
\nCanon 600EX-RT Speedlight<\/p>\nIf you could only use one lens, what would it be?<\/h2>\n
What camera\/lens should I buy?<\/h2>\n
What settings do you use for concerts?<\/h2>\n
How did you start touring? What was your first tour?<\/h2>\n
![\"43-smallpools-tour-photographer-anna-lee-media\"](\"https:\/\/annaleemedia.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/43-smallpools-tour-photographer-anna-lee-media.jpg\")
\n^\u00a0Diamond Ballroom in OKC during my\u00a0first run with Smallpools | Photo by Catie Bartlett<\/em><\/p>\nWhat\u2019s your favorite part about being a tour photographer?<\/h2>\n
How do you adapt to life on the road? Do you ever get tired of being on tour?<\/h2>\n
What is it like to be the only girl touring with a bunch of guys?<\/h2>\n
![\"AnnaLeeMedia-20150511-6878\"](\"https:\/\/annaleemedia.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/AnnaLeeMedia-20150511-6878.jpg\")
\n^ Just one of the guys.. Leg 1 of the Smallpools Lovetap! Tour<\/em><\/p>\n![\"10562556_10101043769070651_4986374647890688094_o\"](\"https:\/\/annaleemedia.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/10562556_10101043769070651_4986374647890688094_o.jpg\")
\n^\u00a0With Hannah Hooper of Grouplove, Honda Civic Tour | Photo by Elli Papayanopoulos<\/em><\/p>\nWhat is your advice to new photographers?<\/h2>\n
How are you able to stand out as a photographer?<\/h2>\n
What is the #ALMfancam, and how did it come about?<\/h2>\n
![\"almfancam-alm-fan-cam-anna-lee-media\"](\"https:\/\/annaleemedia.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/almfancam-alm-fan-cam-anna-lee-media.jpg\")
\n^ #ALMfancam photos of Walk the Moon, Talking Is Hard tour<\/em><\/p>\nWhat are your biggest challenges as a photographer?<\/h2>\n
Do you shoot anything besides music?<\/h2>\n
![\"12-harn-homestead-oklahoma-okc-wedding-photographer-hannah-adel-caleb-collins\"](\"https:\/\/annaleemedia.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/12-harn-homestead-oklahoma-okc-wedding-photographer-hannah-adel-caleb-collins.jpg\")
![\"17-okc-la-austin-wedding-photographer-1920x1280\"](\"https:\/\/annaleemedia.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/17-okc-la-austin-wedding-photographer-1920x12801.jpg\")
\n^\u00a0OKC wedding clients
\n<\/em><\/p>\nDo you give photo lessons?<\/h2>\n
![\"Anna-Lee-Media-tour-photographer-smallpools-2015-2\"](\"https:\/\/annaleemedia.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Anna-Lee-Media-tour-photographer-smallpools-2015-2.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"