Advice & Tips

Don't Rush

I have seen new photographers asking how to score the big gigs like stadiums and concerts. My short answer to this DON'T RUSH. What I mean by this is to build up your resume'. It's not about what you shoot it's about who you shoot. Keep practicing, do the circuit, build up you your reputation and your relationships with artist, bands and companies. Who knows what can happen in the future. Read my last point at the bottom of page about being inspired and relationships with bands.

Reach Out

Photographing can only get you so far. If no one knows about your photo, who gives a crap. This is where social media and contacting comes into play. Tagging venues, bands and touring companies help spread your work arounds the internet. When I photographed the Weeknd, I didn't realize how much his die hard fanbase had an impact and influence on others to go check out your social media pages, even the artist themselves. Reaching out is great obviously the way to get noticed and to grow your reputation. You gotta be in it to win it. It's a little pinch of self confidence when a band reaches out to you instead of you reaching out to them, especially when they mention they were told about you from word of mouth.

Be Yourself

I wish I had this advice when I started off. When I photographed Alice Cooper in April of 2024, it was me vs 11 other photographers, pretty squashy. All the photographers with pricey cameras and lenses that could stop a bird flying its tracks, while I was there with my Nikon ZFC and handful of lenses. My advised to you is you don't need expensive equipment. "The most important piece of equipment you own is your reputation" Chris Cuffaro said in a Q&A I went in Darlinghurst. Be yourself while respecting others. There are other photographers trying to make a name for themselves. While we are on the subject, never compare yourself or work to others. This will lead to jealously and self doubt. You are unique. Your camera and lenses do not define you, your eye and creativity does.

Be Inspired

What inspired you to become a photographer in the first place? Was it the love of music, film, art? For me it was abit all 3. Photography in itself is combination of all things. You can hear the music being played in an image despite what your teacher says. Directors and cinematographers have to have eye for photography to appeal to the on lookers. A book that helped be to be inspire was 12 Notes: On Life and Creativity by the music legend Quincy Jones. Another piece of inspiration came from meeting American photographer, Chris Cuffaro. I met him during his greatest hits exhibition back in December of 2022 with Behind The Gallery. The gallery displayed iconic music images and portraits of musicians during the 90s including Michael Hutchence, George Michael, George Harrsion, No Doubt, Nick Cave, Nirvana, Eddie Van Halen and Slash. I probably went to that exhibition every single day during that week. Having some of the influential musical artist and legends photographed by 1 man was inspiring enough. During our lengthy conversations, I admitted to Chris I didn't know whether I should continue on with music photography for I was photographing a majority of the local pub bands at the time and saw no progression. He pulled me aside and said "when I first started taking photos of local bands in Seattle in early the 90s, I didn't expect those local bands to become Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden. I was in the right place at the right time. The pictures you take of your local bands, they might be important one day and need those images to tell the story." After leaving the gallery, I felt positive, proud of the work I was doing and an urge to keep going. Thank god I did otherwise I'd photographed the legends.