SYWBAR Part 1: So You Wanna Be A Rocktographer?

It seems like I get this question all the time and to be honest, I hate answering it. So I decided to do something a bit different then give the same response by making this blog series about how one break's into the business and how to do it successfully. 

Shooting concerts can be fun and if you're a music junkie and a photographer, then it's even more rewarding. I have been shooting for over 4 years and have no reason to stop. My stuff has been featured in print publications such as Alternative Press, AMP Magazine, Hails and Horns, and I have even been published internationally in Australlia twice (Australian Hystera). I have shot shows all over the Pacific Northwest and have shot many big name festivals as well. As of recent I have expanded from shooting shows to doing band interviews, reviewing albums and even blogging about Pop Culture.

However there were a few times some shows didn't go as planned. There were times when a show would not have a photo pit (the security barricade that separates the fans from the stage and gives photographers safe spot to shoot for their three songs), bad lighting, or even some of the people at the show making your job harder than it needs to be. This can be fans (yes I have dealt with nasty fans), other photogs breaking the rules or the box office not giving you your credentials (I have had this happen as well). I have seen people give up because either they couldn't deal with the stress or couldn't follow the rules (which we will go over in part 2).

But there are always the good things that happen, like getting on with a big name publication, or getting your work featured in a publication and getting paid for it. Plus being able to see and shoot shows for free.

So that is why I have decided to create this blog series on Buzznet. I know many of you have wondered how does one become a concert photographer or how one makes it in the business. This series will help you learn the basics, however it is up to you to use the knowledge given and apply it. Stay tuned for Part 2!