Taking photos at a gig or concert is a difficult subject, because everyone has their own, personal rules that they think are correct.
Also, these rules are almost never the same as anyone else’s, which means no one can actually agree on anything.
Some people think that photos should be left to the professionals and you should leave your camera/phone in your pocket or at home.
These people are stuck in the past and will never be happy.
While others think it’s okay to take photos/video for the entire gig.
These people are profoundly annoying and no-one likes them.
So what rule works? What rules should you follow?
Well, just to throw my own hat into the ring and confuse the issue even more, here are my personal rules that I follow about when to take a photo at a gig.
The Rule I Follow
You can use your phone to get one good photo per band that is playing.
You may need to take a few shots to get a decent one, but once you get your one good photo, your phone goes away. That photo is going to go on social media, and you don’t need more than one picture for that.
Of course there are exceptions to this rule:
- As I said, one photo per band, so you can take photos of the warm-up acts and the main band. Your phone can come out again if the warm-up acts join the main band onstage later on.
- If anything interesting and unexpected happens, like the singer comes into the crowd or there’s unexpected pyrotechnics. One photo per unexpected event is allowed.
- If you are at the back of the venue and there is no-one around you, the rules become a little more lax, and you can take more photos if you want. Also, if you want to take more than one photo, try to move somewhere like this, so you don’t annoy the people around you.
This system works for me because it means I am not taking photos for 20 minutes, which always used to be my problem.
As good as the photo you have is, it could always be better!
So having a limit of one decent shot means that once I get that picture for Twitter and Instagram, I can put my phone away and enjoy the gig.
If you agree or disagree and have some other rules, feel free to let me know on Twitter, and we can discuss it!
Now, my own rules will go against other peoples rules, but here are some real examples of people taking photos at gigs that I’m sure everyone will agree are terrible!
Worst experiences
- SnapChatters
I once stood behind a girl at a festival, who was sat on a guys shoulders. Nothing wrong with that; pretty standard.
But then she went and SnapChatted the entire set. That’s like double obstruction of my view!
And I can guarantee that whoever she sent those videos to, did not sit and watch the entire show through her Snapchat!
- iPad photographers
iPads have cameras, yes.
That does NOT mean they should be used as cameras though. Ever.
They definitely shouldn’t be taken when you’re at the front row of a punk gig.
And they ABSOLUTELY shouldn’t be THEN used to check facebook!
Seriously, that guy ruined my entire gig.
- Artist Rules
People are autonomous. We can make decisions for ourselves.
This list is just meant to help people look at their own rules for gig photography and see how it affects other people.
I once saw the rap artist Kate Tempest (who is GREAT and I am a big fan of) and she started with a big speech about not using your phone and instead to try and live in the moment.
I totally get where she’s coming from, but when an artist tells me what I can or cannot do with my phone, I get annoyed.
I made a point to get more than one photo that gig. It may have bugged people around me a bit, but it was a matter of principles.
- When Everyone Is the Issue
I saw System of a Down at Download festival in 2017, and it was great.
Looking out amongst the crowd, there were consistently a dozen camera screens or so, which is fine.
It was a big crowd watching a headline artist at a music festival.
When the band played Toxicity however, the crowd was LIT UP by phone screens! Thousands of people stood and recorded the ENTIRE song!
Who are you recording it for?
No-one wants your shaky video with bad audio!
*image of lots of phnes?*
Conclusion
I am sure there are times when I have been the frustrating gig-goer, annoying people behind me as I awkwardly try to put my phone in the air and get that perfect shot of the lead singer.
I probably will continue to be in the future, but that’s part of going to a gig.
My personal rules for phone photography just mean that I can limit the amount I am frustrating people, and hopefully make their experience less crappy.
So even if you disagree with me here, but when you’re next at a gig, consider just how much you’re annoying the people around you, and just how important that photo or video is to you.
