wear earplugs

Ask any band photographer about their essential kit items, and chances are that earplugs will feature near the top of the list. You’re often right next to the stage, shooting in front of powerful amps, and even if you love the music, it’s not worth a perforated eardrum or a lifetime of tinnitus. So take precautions and bring along earplugs. Cheap earplugs that are little more than bits of foam will do the job, but if you plan on shooting a lot of gigs it might be worth investing in a better pair, or even specialist musician’s earplugs that cut out the dangerous noise levels while preserving the sound quality of the music.