The Art of Music Photography

I am always encouraging artists to really pay attention to the photos they're using and most of the time I ask them to "get new photos." It's not a dig or meant to hurt anyone's feelings, it's just that I understand that there is an ART to music photography and that a single image should not only communicate your brand, it should compliment your artistry.

While it starts with conceptualizing and setting up a photo shoot, then relaxing enough to help the photographer capture the image, it ends with that photographer cropping, cleaning and color correcting the final photos BEFORE they go public.

I've had the pleasure of meeting some incredible music (and other) photographers and am pleased to recommend the following:

Diana Levine (New York City)

Rayon Richards (New York City)

Jim Bennett (Seattle)

Terry Creighton (Seattle)

The Fabb Group (Los Angeles)

Spencer Leamer (Seattle)


Check out this great article The Art of Music Photography from MusicianCoaching.com

Jason Gardner is a professional photographer who primarily shoots musicians. He has photographed artists like Manu Chao, Gogol Bordello and Antibalas and captured live performances by Bob Dylan, Dave Matthews, Willie Nelson and Neil Young. His photos have appeared in periodicals like Rolling Stone, Spin, New York Magazine and Time Out among many others.

Ever since someone forwarded me a link from Rock and Roll Confidential’s Hall of Douchebags that features some of the most uninspired band photos ever I knew I had to locate a music photographer to discuss how the pros do it. Please note that no band or photographer mentioned or with a photo credit here has anything to do with such Douchebaggery…

http://musiciancoaching.com/music-career/music-photography/