Band Photography

[Donovan S.]

So my band is going to a professional photographer to get some good promos for a future release. This will be our first time ever doing photography. The pictures will be taken in a studio close to here. Got any good pointers to make the end result better?

Any What-not-to-dos or What-to-dos? Things we should bring with us? clothes or no clothes? etc.

 

[Branden Giraudy]

Don't wear all black/match. It's over-done.

 

[joelplagues]

Think a little about how you are going to stand. The crossed arms thing is TERRIBLE when every member does it. It's awkward but think about what the hell you are doing with your hands.

 

[SentencedToBurn]

the whole band standing and looking at the camera is very cliche. do something thats not cliche.... like all of you should be covered in kittens, and smiling joyously. or perhaps all of you could be playing a game of botchee ball?

 

[egan.]

Band photos are my least favorite part of being in a band. Everyone is telling you what's overdone but the truth is that it is difficult enough to get a good shot (of 5 people simultaneously) and an original idea that's actually good will be even harder to come by. Do talk about what you're going to wear. nothing is worse than showing up and one dude is dressed for a bbq while another is dressed for an S+M show. Just try to get a good shot that reasonably represents the mood of the music and don't photoshop yourselves infront of castles.

 

[joelplagues]

don't photoshop yourselves infront of castles.

No other advice is needed. please close thread from anymore posting and live by this advice hahaha

 

[ahjteam]

action or absurd shots are usually way cooler options than the "regular" bandphotos. Compare:

INTERESTING

VS BORING

But then there are also photos that are in the meeting point where you have to think are they absurd or not, because for example this Faith No More promoshot is absurd because it's in a Turkish steamsauna, but otherwise it's just a regular 16 in a dozen photo:

 

[Clockwork]

^^^Holy shit that first photo is brilliant, freaking hilarious. I think picking a theme can be beneficial like that, if you pick something people recognize then I feel like they pay more attention to the details. If everyone is wearing band tees or shirts with text people can get caught up in the clothing or the inconsistencies (such as everyone wearing different clothes). If everyone is dressed for the office then people just kind of grace over the clothes and pay more attention to the actual people and their surroundings.

 

[Gustavo_Loureiro]

Totally agree with Anssi

Mastodon have some great band photos

 

[Ashgarth]

 

[MKS]

 

[vikk]

 

[ahjteam]

Mastodon have some great band photos

Umm... When?

 

[Jarkko Mattheiszen]

I don't give a damn if those Mastodon shots are generic and cliché. Those guys look so badass they could be naked on ski trail and it would still be awesome.

 

[Derpsicle]

I love how everyone in the band have their arms crossed in one of the photos

 

[egan.]

I don't give a damn if those Mastodon shots are generic and cliché. Those guys look so badass they could be naked on ski trail and it would still be awesome.

I don't want to see them naked but I agree. Those pics all get the job done. I'd rather look like a dude in band than have my head 'shopped onto some chicks body just b/c it's "more interesting." Actually all of the shots Ahj thinks are good feature fake nudity or dudes in ties.....interesting.
The bottom line is a good shot is better than a bad one and half of the "boring" photos ahj posted are just terrible shots.

 

[Donovan S.]

Those Mastodon shots are great, imo.

Cheers to everyone for the advice! Lots of stuff for my band to think about that we would have otherwise overlooked. Keep it coming!

 

[Donovan S.]

Anssi, all of the shots you posted as boring are great, in my honest opinion. Exactly what we are looking for. 5/6 dudes who make music looking completely normal. The "action" shots are cool and all but we want pictures that represent us and our music. We don't make/play music in ties getting our dicks sucked, or around an outdoor grill

 

[Gustavo_Loureiro]

Umm... When?

 

[Jevil]

This was my band VALHALLA in the early 2000. WRONG!

This is my actual band. RIGHT! have to say that it is a funny/parody metal band

CD picture:

Xmas promo

Giving ourselves a double gold record for our 200.000 downloads.