Band Promo Photo Shoot

dave lackey

dave lackey

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As soon as the cold weather subsides, I will be scouting the area around Little Five Points in Atlanta for appropriate on-location photo opportunities that will work with an up-and-coming local rock band.

I would love to hear your ideas on doing this. So far, we (another photog friend) and I have discussed using a Leica M8, M3, Nikon DSLR and maybe even an X-Pan in the funkiest part of Atlanta.:)

Maybe an early Sunday morning since there will be fewer people on the streets? Better light than in the mid-afternoon...

So, any thoughts? Love to hear 'em.:D
 
If they are not paying you then use this opportunity to experiment like a mad man. Have fun, watch the shadows and highlights, and with any luck... photograph a future rock star!
 
Make sure that if a couple of them wear coats (for the weather) that they all do. I've seen far too many publicity photos where two of the guys are looking right sharp, and there is the one odd-ball in short sleeves and j'orts.
 
mwooten said:
Make sure that if a couple of them wear coats (for the weather) that they all do. I've seen far too many publicity photos where two of the guys are looking right sharp, and there is the one odd-ball in short sleeves and j'orts.
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j'orts????

Good point!

Memphis, love the tip on Masquerade, they have actually played there so it would be a natural.

Okay, anyone up for posing suggestions?:confused:
 
alternative, eh? then a little grit would be appropriate. i'd go black and white with some grain or very saturated color, depending on what the band members typically wear. does the band have a logo or other device that is peculiar only to it? if so, then it needs to show, perhaps in a quirky way ...
 
a) stay away from train tracks, brick walls and don't let them strike weird macho/evil poses (this icludes the \m/ gesture).

b) if they want to pose with their instruments somewhere outside where there's no electricity and no amps, tell them not to. or make it look humorous, like in this video:


The whole abandoned buildings/junk yard stuff is really iffy, IMO. I mean, do these guys actually live in abandoned buildings? Do their fans reside in junk yards? These kinds of settings might be appropriate for an antisocially-inclined 80's punk band like this (see 3:45 for some hammered action) but not so good for a modern rock outfit. Do they want to be known primarily for rebelling against all of humanity or for actually making good music?

Other than that, try to get them to actually do something. The world needs no more band photos that depict four dudes standing in a dark alley looking kinda menacing.
 
The most important advice is to avoid the two biggest visual cliches in band promo shots: brick walls and train tracks. I never realized just how prominent they were until I came across this site a few years ago:

http://www.rockandrollconfidential.com/hall/index.php

The gallery is meant to be funny, but if you are looking for what to avoid so that your photos will come out well, take some time to scan this gallery.
 
ottluuk said:
a) stay away from train tracks, brick walls and don't let them strike weird macho/evil poses (this icludes the \m/ gesture).

b) if they want to pose with their instruments somewhere outside where there's no electricity and no amps, tell them not to. or make it look humorous, like in this video:


The whole abandoned buildings/junk yard stuff is really iffy, IMO. I mean, do these guys actually live in abandoned buildings? Do their fans reside in junk yards? These kinds of settings might be appropriate for an antisocially-inclined 80's punk band like this (see 3:45 for some hammered action) but not so good for a modern rock outfit. Do they want to be known primarily for rebelling against all of humanity or for actually making good music?

Other than that, try to get them to actually do something. The world needs no more band photos that depict four dudes standing in a dark alley looking kinda menacing.
Click to expand...

Ha! Looks like we had the same idea. I second everything in this post. I know it was always frustrating whenever any band I was in needed promo shots and the photographer showed up without any good ideas except "OK, let's try one where everybody jumps at the same time." Yikes.
 
I've been on the road with bands, early Sunday morning? They will not look their best. I recall early Sunday morning being something like 2:45 pm... or getting in the van at 10 am and passing back out.
 
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