A gig runs more smoothly with a small amount of planning done in advance, most of it simple once it’s written down in order.
Book early enough that your preferred date and location are actually available, particularly if timing matters. Confirm exactly what you’ll need to bring, outfit changes included. Share the brief in writing beforehand rather than explaining it all on the day, so nothing gets missed under time pressure.
On the day itself, build in more time than you think you need either side of the session. Rushing in or straight out afterwards is the easiest way to lose the relaxed atmosphere that makes for better images.
See also: Booking a gig in Shoreditch: what to know.
The Live Music page covers pricing in full. Get in touch for anything specific to your situation.
FAQs
Some quick answers here.
Do you cover full sets or just a few songs?
Either. Some bookings only need the pit for the first three songs, others want the full set covered, including crowd shots and the wider room.
Do you work with venues as well as artists?
Yes, on both sides: artists and labels wanting performance shots, and venues wanting a library of room and crowd images for their own marketing.
Further reading
A few more posts worth reading.
- Hidden costs to ask about before booking a gig
- What to wear for a gig, and what to avoid
- What a lot of photographers get wrong about a gig
The steps
The short version, step by step.
- Book early. Confirm your preferred date and location while both are actually available, particularly if timing matters.
- Confirm what to bring. Outfit changes, props, anything specific to the shoot. Sort this before the day, not on it.
- Share the brief in writing. Put it in writing beforehand rather than explaining it all on the day, so nothing gets missed under time pressure.
- Build in extra time on the day. More time than feels necessary either side of the session avoids rushing in or straight out afterwards.