A [Brutally Honest] Survival Guide to Music Photography
BIG BULLIES turned one recently. Within the past year, I learned a ridiculous amount, mostly by first doing things incorrectly. If I could go back and warn beginner-me, I probably could’ve saved myself some stress, money, and maybe a couple of brain cells. But since I can’t, here’s a list of things I wish someone had told me before I launched myself into the pit.
Gear doesn’t matter, but having the good stuff does help.
No, this doesn’t mean you need to sell your organs on Craigslist just to get started. But investing in your gear is non-negotiable if you’re serious about making photography a career.
My first camera was a Canon EOS Rebel T7 with a kit lens gifted to me by my grandparents when I graduated high school. I’ll keep it forever because it’s sentimental, but realistically, it’s not something I’d take to a shoot now. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a fantastic starter camera and great if you’re balling on a budget (which I most definitely like to do).
That said, I’ve always been a “buy once, cry once” kind of person. Since I want to do this full-time after graduation, I have to decide if it’s worth investing the money now to set myself up for later. Spoiler alert: the answer is usually yes. So remember: cry once, shoot forever.
2. You have to make an effort if you want to stand out.
Anybody can grab a camera, point it at something, and call themselves a photographer. Congrats, you pressed a button! That’s why the field feels so oversaturated. If you actually want people to hire you, you’ve got to do more than just exist with a DSLR. The time and effort you put into yourself is what separates you from the sea of “photographers” who never move past auto mode.
For me, that meant teaching myself software like Lightroom, Photoshop, and Premiere Pro. I’ve torn through every camera setting, figured out how to fake “cinematic” video, and watched enough YouTube tutorials to qualify for a degree in Low-Light Panic. I created a website, for crying out loud!
Now, am I a “professional” by anyone’s definition? Probably not. But I’m putting in the hours now that’ll pay off later, and that’s more than most people can say.
People forget photography is literally a form of art. So treat it like one. Throw a ridiculous edit on a photo. Try a double exposure. BOOST THE ISO FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THINGS HOLY! Do the weird stuff everyone else is too scared to try. Because the second you start obsessing over what people will think, you’ve already handed your creativity its death certificate. Be yourself, and the right people will find you.
At the end of the day, most of this isn’t easy, and it’s not supposed to be. If you want it bad enough, you’ll work for it.
3. There won’t be much paid work (if any) starting out.
I know it may sound obvious, but you’d be shocked at how many people ask me, “So how do you make money doing this?” Believe it or not, you probably won’t at first. I lucked into my first paid portrait session about a month in, and the guy turned out to be a massive jerk. Silver lining? I quickly realized portraits weren’t going to be my “thing.”
Fast-forward six months, and I finally booked my first two paid shows, back-to-back, thanks to word of mouth from some photographer friends. I was a nervous wreck, but I pulled it off and walked away with my first real paycheck from live music photography. From there, people started paying attention, and the gigs started to trickle in.
Moral of the story: Patience is a virtue. Nothing happens overnight, and the work that’s meant for you won’t pass you by. It just takes time… and maybe a little unnecessary suffering.
4. What you know and who you know are equally important in this industry.
Plenty of photographers are doing things I dream of, like going on national or international tours. And honestly, I have to constantly remind myself that some things just take time. Again, what’s meant for you will come to you.
But here’s the reality: many people who land those gigs don’t always have the most talent or experience. What do they have? The right connections. They’re in the right rooms, with the right people, at the right time. And yeah, it can feel unfair. You start spiraling, doubting your skills, maybe even growing bitter about it.
Here’s the thing, though. This industry is basically a giant game of telephone. People hear about photographers through word of mouth. If you’re not talking to people, you’re invisible. So go to shows. Say hi. Swap socials. Slide into bands’ DMs and ask for a photo pass. Half of it’s talent, half of it’s knowing a guy who knows a guy.
Because like it or not, closed mouths don’t get fed, and no one’s out here handing out golden tickets to the photo pit.
5. Do NOT be afraid to stand up for yourself.
One of the first lessons I learned is that people will try to take advantage of your kindness and mistake it for weakness. DO. NOT. LET. THAT. HAPPEN.
You’re allowed to set boundaries. In fact, you should. If someone’s reaching out to you, it’s because they like your work. That means you have the leverage, not them. Don’t forget that. (And no, this doesn’t mean turn into a diva. It just means don’t let people walk all over you.)
If you have rules, stick to them. Pricing, crediting, turnaround time – whatever it is – don’t fold just because someone bats their eyelashes and says “Can’t you just…?” No. I’ve had to put my foot down more than once, and the world didn’t end.
And let’s be real: if someone doesn’t respect your boundaries, they don’t respect you. Period. The same goes for work that doesn’t align with your morals and values. Be kind and professional, but remember that not all money is good money, especially if it costs you your integrity. There’s always another opportunity. It’s okay to let it go.
6. You don’t need to be an influencer to gain a decent following.
This might ruffle some feathers, so I’ll say it carefully. You need to create content, but you don’t need to become a “content creator” to succeed in this industry.
I’ve seen plenty of photographers flooding their pages with TikTok-style clips and trendy short-form videos because they think it’ll bring more traffic. And hey, for some people, it does. But when I tried it, it felt forced. It could be because I’ve never wanted to be an influencer, and deep down, I know I’d never give it 100%. I just want to share cool photos, not my “day in the life of a quirky creator” routine.
Influencer culture has become so normalized that people feel it’s the only way to get others to see their art. Well, I’m here to tell you it’s not. And to be clear, there’s nothing wrong with people who do thrive in that lane. I’ve seen plenty of creators make it work and get their work in front of way more eyes.
Here’s where I land: I’ve never made short-form content, and I’ve gotten this far. So if you don’t want to do it, don’t. Your work can stand on its own without the trending audio and the jump cuts.
DISCLAIMER: NOTHING HERE GUARANTEES SUCCESS! As I said before, I’m not a professional by any means. I’m still figuring things out as I go. So if you take nothing else from this, remember that what works for me might not work for you and vice versa. When I first started, I tried copying every single tip and trick people threw at me. Some of it helped, some of it flopped. That’s just how it goes.
Confidence and consistency matter more than anything. Share the work you’re actually proud of, not what you think other people want to see. If you’re a perfectionist like me, that can be tough. But here’s the reality: you can’t post once every three months and expect your account to grow. Start small, maybe once a week, once every two weeks. Just be consistent.
Don’t expect success to hit you in one massive wave. For most of us, it’s a bunch of little wins that add up over time. If you’re serious about photography (or any creative field), stick with it. Put in the work, stay dedicated, and you’ll see results.