Tips for Photographing Live Performers

Posted on 12 November 2009 by D. Travis North

This past weekend, Crooked_crow_004-finala friend’s band (Crooked Crow – an excellent ban) was in town and I was able to take a night out to see them live.  I hadn’t planned on shooting any photos that night, but was asked to shoot a couple of shots while the band was on stage.  As a bonus, I got to use my buddy’s camera, a Nikon D90, which isn’t too different than my own, the Nikon D80.  Well, I’ll admit that this was the first time I was shooting a live performance – especially one on a dark stage.  But I learned a lot, and I offer my findings here:

  • Stay Out of the Way – This is a performance, after all.  The audience will get annoyed if you keep getting in the way.  Stick to the edges, and make sure not to obstruct the views of on-lookers.  You don’t want to get in the performer’s way either.
  • Shoot Low and High – Straight-on shots are boring.  Try to get some unique angles by shooting from the floor, or from a balcony or cat-walk (if you have access).
  • Mind the Light Sources - There will be lights on the stage, even some behind the performers.  Be aware of these, but don’t be afraid to use them.  You can get some cool back-light effects, or get some great highlights.  Also be aware of the colors – they may blink on and off, so time your shots.
  • Flash? - Don’t use your flash unless you get permission from the performers.  Even if you do, use it sparingly.  Flashes can be annoying for guests as well.
  • High ISO – shooting a high ISO will allow you to keep that flash under control.  None of the shots on this page used a flash.  On the other hand, I was using that D90 which was shooting quite clear at ISO 1600.  (I was a little jealous of that – the D80 is not as clear at that ISO).
  • RAW – Shooting RAW allows you to pick up more detail.  The drawback is that you’ll need to do some post-processing to push certain ranges just a little more.  But the finished product will be that much better.Crooked_crow_005-final

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About the Author: D. Travis North

D. Travis North is a professional Landscape Architect, a Freelance Photographer and founder of Shutter Photo. Travis likes to photograph urban environments, architectural details and has a new-found interest in close-up photography. His work can be found at D. Travis North Photography. Follow Travis on twitter: @dtnorth.

 
  • Great blog looking forward to reading more from you.
  • Awesome tips for taking photos at a concert. And the Nikon D90 is an awesome camera. A little expensive, but totally worth it if you have the money.
  • I just noticed your site is buggy in the menu part, the pages is all out of alignment slightly I guess it happens sometimes when you cant check it in all browsers. Anyhow i thought i would pass it on
  • I assume you mean the alignment for "Photographer Spotlight"? It's a sub-category of Shutter Photo @ Flicker. That will become more apparent in the coming months as that menu expands a bit.
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