Behind the Mic: Band Photos Done Right

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If you want to be perceived as a professional musician, it’s crucial to present a corresponding image through your band’s photos. One of the fastest ways for record labels, booking agents and potential fans to tell if a band is serious about their career is to look at their Web sites. If a band’s primary photo looks like it was taken by a friend or if the band doesn’t appear put together, some people reviewing your page may quickly go elsewhere.

To avoid driving people away from your band’s page before they even hear your music, here are some tips for getting band photos done right.

Find a professional photographer. Keyword: professional. Though it will cost more than having your friend take the pictures, in the long run, it will be well worth the money. Remember, your pictures will be associated with your name all over the web, so you want the best image possible. Photographer Dan Gonyea of FutureBreed.com recommends viewing portfolios before you send an e-mail or make a phone call. “Always check out a portfolio of their work with portraiture or live shots,” says Gonyea. “If the portfolio is all stills or just one or two bands, they don’t have a diversity of work to show off. Also look to see if they are photoshopped badly. Keep an eye out for bad filters and coloring, blurring that ends in the middle of an object, etc.”

Do your research. Look at other bands’ photos and see what you like and don’t like. Do you want your photos to be artsy or simple? Black and white or color? Outdoors or indoors?

Plan ahead. Work out the details with your band and the photographer. Make sure the photographer knows when and where you would like the pictures done and what they will be used for. Is the shoot for promotional photos? Album artwork? Live shots? Discuss ideas and pricing with your band BEFORE talking to the photographer to avoid any confusion.

Keep it simple. Try to plan a shoot that will be creative without being overly complicated. You don’t want to look like everyone else, so think of a theme that will make you stand out from the crowd. “Promos against brick walls or on staircases are very overdone,” warns Gonyea. “Live shots involving your band and the crowd are more marketable because they show you can draw as a band. ”

Consistency. You should also make sure your band has a consistent image. You don’t need to match your outfits perfectly, but be clear on whether they should be wearing blazers or jeans and a t-shirt. Talk about color as well, so that you don’t show up wearing clashing clothes. You should do this for a live show as well.

Chances are your band members are not all models on the side. Make sure you encourage your photographer to give directions on where to stand or sit or lie down, where to look, what to do with your hands, etc. These may seem like minute details, but they can make a world of difference in a photo.

When the shoot is done, gather together and pick out the best shots with the photographer. Be sure to get both a headshot of each member and a few full band portraits. “Have the photographer send you shots through email,” says Gonyea. “Flickr, MySpace, and Facebook all compress shots and screw up the sharpness, color balance, and quality of the shots.” When the pictures are posted, always include the photographer’s name and Web site in the caption of the photo.

Remember, first impressions are cheap auditions. Follow these tips and plan ahead to make a professional and lasting impression on your audience.