Look Famous: Creative Band Photo Ideas That Make Musicians Stand Out

Calling entertainers of all kinds: DJs, rockstars, jam bands, soloists, singer-songwriters, and pop stars. If I could get your undivided attention and have answered these questions:

Are you tired of playing gigs where random folks in the crowd shout “Free bird!” for no reason? Do you want to play in major cities? Or start touring? Maybe have your band featured on a marquee with shining lights? If you answered “Yes” to all of these questions, it’s time for you to schedule a consultation for your upcoming photoshoot! You may ask yourself ‘why?’ The answer is simple: To look famous.

“it’s all happening” - Penny lane

“Music portraits,” “band promo,” and “publicity photos,” however you like to call them, are essential marketing tools submitted to talent buyers and booking agents with the intent to get hired for the gigs you ideally want to play, musicians you wish to perform with and drive sales to your concerts, and eCommerce platform.

There are various other factors in getting an artist hired for the job, but you must have marketable material to work with. This is your “first impression.” Why should your band representation be dull? I’m sure your musical act isn’t flat. Be vibrant! Look fierce! Channel your inner rockstar. Be YOU.

You have the opportunity to show the world who you are, and that train track or brick road photo your neighbor with a camera took in 2014 isn’t cutting it. If you want to be seen, you must stand out.

What’s more lucrative: an oversaturated image that appears to look like purple blobs of people or an almost effortlessly cool vibe to the band (with the band's identity in mind)?

Don’t let the idea of being photographed intimidate you; I am here to set you up for success before, during, and after your portrait session with me. You are worthy. My approach is straightforward, and I help build your confidence during your portrait experience. No previous modeling experience is required because I assist you with poses and creative direction. If you don’t like to smile? No problem! I can work around that. There is no pressure to be someone that you’re not.

Who will know how to take a band photo better than a music photographer? As an industry expert, I am an experienced concert, portrait, tour, and festival photographer.

I romanticize the serenity and chaos of live performances, touring, green room shenanigans, and the band’s branding using my digital, Polaroid, or film cameras. In other words: I’m around all the time, documenting the monumental and personal moments throughout an artist's journey.

Content is significant in staying relevant with your audience and potentially reaching new fans. Think about album covers, show posters, merchandising, social media posts, event invites, websites, press releases, and magazines. The list goes on. These pictures are meant to be seen everywhere. Why not release the best version of yourself? You’ve got this!

In this post, I share my tips to show how I create the most badass band photoshoot ideas possible. You don’t always need flashy locations to make an incredible photo. You can still achieve excellent results in a major city or the middle of nowhere. Your surroundings shouldn’t lead you to believe that you can’t achieve what you’re going for.

I will share my secrets about how I think outside the box about places and things incorporated into artist portraits. The best part about working with me is that it’s a collaborative effort. The first step is to schedule a consultation, and we will explore the brand identity of your music group.

Friendly reminder: Some areas, indoors or outdoors, may require a permit to take pictures on-site. I must research guidelines and the cost of taking photos at a particular location (where applicable) and get a confirmation to host my session here. It would be embarrassing and a complete waste of everyone’s time if I bypassed this critical step and we got kicked off the site.

1. go for a drive

This is my time when I have a ‘Carpool Karaoke’ moment and (ideally, bring along a friend who can drive) while I observe my surroundings. The windows are down, blasting music as the wind blows through my hair. I ask myself: What do I see? (Besides traffic).

Perhaps even a neighborhood that caught my eye. Ideas are all around me, and when I find inspiration, I geotag places I can revisit later. I love scouting locations! I call this adventure time.

2. go for a walk

Going for a walk sounds like a no-brainer because it is— once I started practicing this method to generate location ideas. Walking around and soaking in my environment, I observe the trees, flowers, street signs, staircase, etc. I’m paying attention to the things around me rather than physical places. Some of the most creative photographs come from an object that adds texture. The term “Texture” means it gives a feel to a picture.

3. DIY set design

As I mentioned, you don’t always need a flashy location to create a fantastic image. The pros: It’s ‘perfect’ for your session. Cons: The price tag. However, I can create a striking backdrop to make an excellent image. I call this: ‘Ballin on a Budget.’

During the pandemic, I had endless time in the world and asked myself what I wanted to create. I didn’t want to get rusty from shooting because I couldn’t get in physical contact with my peers and experienced the dilemma of a million ideas in my mind cooped up in my tiny apartment. I started taking self-portraits.

Initially, I started using materials and objects lying around my home. This includes chairs, plants, and throw blankets. The sky was the limit. I ordered props and seamless backdrops on Amazon within a few weeks of boredom.

If you’re unsure of what seamless paper is, it’s a solid backdrop you typically find in studios. It’s easier to deal with than Muslin backdrops, a fabric backdrop that needs to be ironed on a mild setting or steamed to get out the deep wrinkles. There are numerous brands for seamless paper, but my favorite is Savage.

If you’re wondering what kind of light setup I would need for our DIY set design, it depends on what we’re going for. Various factors include the allotted space for the musical act and set up lights and props. The intention of photography is light, and if the group or individuals aren’t well-lit, in most cases, the photo doesn’t come out well. The picture will most likely be ‘noisy’ in other terms, ‘grainy.’

Some light setups we can choose include a projector, ring light, flash photography, off-camera flash, soft boxes, and so on. We don’t have to use all of these options, but there are plenty to choose from.

At times ideas didn’t work out as I had envisioned, but that’s the beauty of practicing creating my set designs: trial and error. I would generate ideas using an inanimate object to make my photo enjoyable. I can do this everywhere.

Suppose you want the typical “been there, seen that” concept, then go for it. If you want something custom to the band’s interest, high-quality photos, coaching, AND a wardrobe consultant all combined into one person, challenge me. I guarantee I will find an ideal location setup based on your objective and produce an incredible photoshoot that will make you stand out from the other bands. I’m the best at what I do. I can make musicians look famous and help attract the work they want to do.

Remember that getting professional band photos a couple of times a year is strongly recommended. This includes live concert photos, studio sessions, special appearances, and tours. With the importance of social media, your band needs fresh content for relevance and up-to-date band members in your marketing material. Contact me directly, and let’s chat about what I can do for your crew.