Breaking Into Concert Photography: Your First Gigs

Breaking into the world of concert photography isn’t easy, but with persistence, creativity, and a bit of hustle, you can carve out your niche. It’s a competitive field, and you’ll need to start small before you work your way up to the big leagues.

Start Small, Think Big

Begin by shooting local shows, even if they’re at tiny venues or community events. These gigs are great practice and a chance to start building your portfolio. Offer your services to local bands and venues—often, smaller acts are thrilled to have someone capturing their performances, even if you’re doing it for free or cheap to start.

Don’t be discouraged by small venues or unknown bands. Some of today’s biggest artists started in tiny clubs, and those early photos can become incredibly valuable over time. Plus, smaller venues often offer more intimate access and fewer restrictions than major concert halls.

Networking is Everything

Networking is your best friend here. Get to know the local music scene, connect with bands, and build relationships with venue owners and event organizers. Attend as many shows as you can, introduce yourself, and let people know you’re available to shoot.

Over time, these connections can lead to bigger opportunities. The music industry is surprisingly small, and people remember photographers who are professional, reliable, and passionate about their work.

Building Your Online Presence

Don’t underestimate the power of online networking, either. Reach out to local newspapers, music blogs, and online magazines. Offer to shoot concerts for them—many smaller publications are always in need of fresh content and may be open to working with new photographers.

Keep your social media accounts active, share your best work, and engage with followers. It’s all part of building your brand and making yourself visible to potential clients and collaborators.

Approaching Venues and Publications

When you’re ready to start reaching out to venues and publications, make sure you have a solid portfolio to show. Write professional, concise emails that highlight your experience and include links to your best work.

For venues, emphasize your reliability and professionalism. For publications, focus on your ability to capture the story of the event, not just pretty pictures.

Handling Rejection Gracefully

Let’s face it—rejection is part of the game. Whether it’s not getting the gig, having a pitch turned down, or just not getting the response you were hoping for, it’s going to happen. The key is not to let it discourage you.

In a competitive field like concert photography, resilience is essential. Every photographer, no matter how successful, has faced rejection at some point. The important thing is to learn from it and keep pushing forward.

Building Your Reputation

Once you start getting regular work, focus on building a reputation for professionalism and quality. Always deliver what you promise, meet your deadlines, and maintain good relationships with everyone you work with.

Word of mouth is incredibly powerful in the music industry, and a good reputation can lead to opportunities you never would have imagined.