Bar Bands

[willy]

Pls take a look at some of my work with some local bar bands and let me know what you think. Thanks.

Here's the link: http://www.wilsonphotog.com/images/Live%20Performances/

[jfrancho]

Pick a few of the best, and post them here!

[willy]

Here are a few of my favorites...the bar was tiny but I think I hid the small size pretty well.

[jfrancho]

Those look great. The first one of the gold top is really interesting. I like that you include the lighting, it gives a sense of context. I do a lot of this type of work, so I understand the limitations, but watch your empty space. In the last one, while it really shows off the lighting effects and provides a moody backdrop, the crop feels a little too high, too much missing from the bottom. Number two on the other hand really fills the frame nicely. That shot, with the lighting in the fourth, would be a killer shot. Exposure and focus accuracy looks great, and I can live with a little subject movement that always sneaks in. Really good job. Do you shoot bands frequently?

[Paul Shields]

#1 - A perfect product shot! As a band shot it obviously misses the main subject, but does convey a feeling of lively movement
#2 - very expressive movement, but bit noisy and not too sharp?
#3 - good pose. The supertrooper spot fits well in the background
#4 - not too sure about the pose on this one. I find the shadow of the stand gets in the way a bit.

[jfrancho]

Paul, as I guy that gets paid to shoot bands, by bands, you'd be surprised at how many musicians love pictures like #1. I include at least two or three of each musician like this in every shoot. It seems that musicians don't have the connection between their face, their instrument, and the music they make; the faceless image of them seems to really speak to them. Publicists, newspapers, and art designers hate them. Weird, but true.

[willy]

I don't shoot bands as much as I'd like to. This band hired me to do all of their shows. I worked with them for 2 yrs until they broke up last summer. The guitarist has since formed a new band and I'm shooting them, but, unfortunately, the venues where they play have been even smaller than the other ones and they don't play as often as the original band did. But it's fun and I would love to do more. Thanks for the compliments, BTW, and the constructive criticism. To be honest, the 4th pic was from the very first time I tried this type of photography. I didn't really know what I was doing so I asked them if they would mind me taking their shots (no charge) for practice and they didn't mind. It was a lucky shot but I like it and the band liked the pics enough to ask me to keep coming back. Each time I shoot the band, I learn something new (which is a good thing). But again...I just don't shoot enough. Still trying to drum up more opportunities. As someone who shoots alot of bands, how did you initially expand your opportunities, if you don't mind me asking?

[jfrancho]

I just started showing up at shows with my camera. Being a local musician myself, I know at least someone from most bands. So I ask, and they don't mind. There are a couple of bands that I use as guinea pigs, and I always shoot them non grata. I hadn't been out in a while, but I did get out to shoot a synthesizer band last night. It was challenging because they really didn't move at all, and the light was really dim. As far as expanding, I think showing up at local clubs, early, and asking if it's OK to shoot is a start. I have posters in the local music stores that advertise my services. Finally, as much as I hate it, myspace works pretty well for this stuff too. Some of the bands I shoot have the same poster on their myspace site, and that has netted three confirmed "hits". Like any other business, you have to develop a presence in your customer base. As a business model, though, shooting bands is a poor proposition. I don't charge that much, and bands usually don't have any money. I don't make anything doing this, but I do enjoy it, and as I said, I know many of my subjects. The money is just keep them from taking advantage of me.