Get Good access
How to get the gig and land yourself a press pass
Gaining access to the press pit of a big artist’s gig isn’t something that will happen straight away. Higgs explains, “Most music photographers start by building up their skills and a portfolio of images by capturing live music at local pubs and clubs, as generally, you won’t need any special permissions to do so. Once you’ve got the basics down, you can then consider approaching regional publications and websites that cover the kind of music you’re into and offering them your services. Most photography access to larger shows is granted via an act’s management or PR agency, and they’ll be looking for what press coverage you can get their client in return for a photo pass. Press passes are usually quite limited, therefore the bigger the publication, website or agency that you’re working for, the better the chance you have of being one of those allowed to shoot the show.”
Once you’ve quite literally got the gig, make sure that you know exactly what your client is looking for. Talk to the artist, their manager, publicist and whoever you are working for. Knowing the wants and needs of everyone involved will ensure you are successful with the job and are likely to be commissioned again in the future.
In the beginning you might get a lot of rejections, but while you build up your portfolio with images from smaller gigs, make sure you don’t burn any bridges. Be polite, be courteous and always remain professional. Networking is also super important, so build relationships and make a name for yourself.