Having shot a great many gigs, the recurring mistakes are rarely technical. Almost always, it’s direction and communication.
Leaving a client to figure out what to do with themselves, rather than directing constantly and gently, is the most common one, and treating every gig the same regardless of the brief runs a close second, since it skips the one question that actually shapes a good session: what the images are actually for. Going quiet after the shoot doesn’t help either.
None of these require more skill to avoid, just more attention to the person in front of the camera.
See also: Do I need to prepare anything before my gig?.
For everything this post didn’t cover, including current pricing, the Live Music page has the full picture, or reach out directly and ask.
FAQs
Straight answers below.
Can you shoot in low light without flash?
Yes, that is most of the job. Gigs and small venues get shot available-light wherever possible, so the atmosphere stays intact instead of getting flattened by flash.
Can you deliver images the same night?
For time-sensitive releases, yes. A small batch of selects can be edited and sent while the gig is still going, with the full set following after.
Further reading
More on this, if useful.