STRIKING THE RIGHT CHORD: WHAT EVERY BAND NEEDS TO KNOW BEFORE A PHOTO SHOOT

The imagery you use on album art, promo materials, editorial pieces and on social media can be the difference between making -or missing out on - potential fans who haven't heard your music.  Yet many young artists don't recognize the importance of well-composed, strategized imagery. 

IMAGE IS EVERYTHING.

I've photographed over five-hundred bands in my twenty-plus years in the music business, and I've noticed a few common traits shared amongst the subjects in my most successful shoots: All the bands showed up prepared and looking the part, presented themselves professionally, and I knew before we even took the first shot that we'd produce something spectacular together.

Unfortunately, I’ve seen the other side as well —bands who show up looking uncoordinated, lack confidence, and act unprofessional throughout the duration of the shoot. These often seem to be the bands that struggle to leave a lasting impression on the industry.

Whether you're shooting with me or another music photographer, one thing is certain: You're paying good money for your band to be photographed, so you should make an effort to ensure your images are top notch. Here are a few things to keep in mind as your band prepares for an upcoming shoot.

CURATE YOUR STYLE FOR EYE-CATCHING IMAGERY.

One of the most common mistakes I’ve encountered over the years is musicians who show up for a shoot looking sloppy, claim that their band doesn't have a "defined look," or that their public image is of little or no concern to them. And when a band says those words to me before a shoot, what I'm actually hearing the say is that they don't care enough about their band to make an effort.

Yet curating your group's look prior to creating the images that will represent your band for the duration of an album cycle is something to which you should give thought, even if you truly believe your band's style is too casual to have a defined conception of style. Remember: Your photos will end up on festival flyers and poster walls in music venues alongside dozens of other band posters, all of whom are vying for the attention of the same viewers. Your images should be the most eye-catching of them all; otherwise you'll be missing out on potential fans.

The Futurebirds present a casual, yet consistent image across all members

Whether your style is sharp and classy or sloppy and dysfunctional, it's essential that you curate your band's image precisely for the biggest impact. After all, your promotional images are one of the most affective marketing assets you have. Make them work for you.

Isaiah Richardson's well-composed image is the complete package: A perfect display of style, character, and confidence.

FLAIR BUILDS CHARACTER. USE IT TO YOUR ADVANTAGE.

In regards to style, the more you display, the more interesting and engaging your images will appear. Hats, scarves, jewelry, and other unique items are often eye-catching and can define an image, or even a musician themselves, especially during a specific era in their career (such as Cody Chesnutt's helmet in the first image). Use these ideas to enhance your own style and attract interest in your character. Conversely if your images look flat, they can speak volumes about your character (or lack thereof).

Bluegrass legend Doyle Lawson looks commanding in his hat, eye-catching red tie and colorful Nudie suit jacket.

Asheville's Firecracker Jazz Band works perfectly as a collective unit. Each member displays sharp individual character while contributing to the group's consistent overall appearance.

Group consistency is vital to the creation of powerful music photography. Coordinate your wardrobe with the other members in your band, and even consider an informal dress-rehearsal prior to the shoot, as helping each musician compose their own look should prevent any flaws in your band's collective appearance.

Brevard NC's Steep Canyon Rangers deliver a professional statement in tailored suits, presenting a crisp, formal appearance. The band switched to casual attire for a second look during our shoot, diversifying their group's image for added flavor and variety.

CONSISTENCY ACROSS ALL BAND MEMBERS IS CRUCIAL TO CREATING POWERFUL IMAGES.

The second most troubling issue I’ve encountered in band shoots over the years is a lack of uniformity amongst members. Nothing spells imminent disaster before a photo shoot like seeing three musicians arrive dressed like they're ready for a GQ Magazine cover, while the fourth member looks like he just came off a construction site.This lack of coordination creates unbalanced images that can do more harm to your band's image than good.

If a member of your group doesn't display consistent attire to compliment the other members, address the issue collectively before taking any photos and seek solutions that will elevate their appearance to meet the rest of band. (Hint: hiding them in the back as an attempt to cover up their mismatched appearance is not a long-term solution.)

Southern gospel group the Inspirations, photographed for the cover of their 2024 album 'The Legacy Continues,' spare no detail in looking the part.

Invest in your appearance and others will, too.

Valerie June owns it in a matching suit and stying gold shoes

IF YOU CAN AFFORD THEM, BUY NEW CLOTHES.

If it's within your budget, purchase new clothes before your photo shoot. Wearing new threads makes anyone feel good about themselves, which also boosts confidence in front of the lens.

Coordinate with your band members to create a powerful look. Effective tricks I've seen in past shoots include bands dressed in the same color while maintaining a consistent style, and even a few bands have purchased stylish items of clothing specifically for their shoot, only to return them the next day. (I'd never publicly advise this tactic myself, of course, but just know that's been well-employed in the past ;) Remember: You don't have to appear on stage in the clothing you wear to a photo shoot if it's not comfortable or doesn't fit your daily style; the number one purpose of promotional images is to attract attention. So plan - and buy - accordingly.

Will Hoge's confident, humorous expression makes this image. It's received tons of comments and praise from viewers over the years, and its power all lies in Will's poise.

Ty Segall and Fuzz' image evoke a collected coolness while not taking themselves too seriously. There's an ease in their confidence that makes it a perfect image.

The face of perfect confidence, Junior Brown

EXUDE CONFIDENCE LIKE IT'S YOUR JOB.

Another common shortcoming I see with younger bands is lack of confidence in front of the camera.

And I get it; very few people like hamming it up in front of the camera, especially for introverted singer-songwriters or a group of dudes for whom posing shoulder-to-shoulder can feel ridiculously awkward. But a lack of confidence in your expression and body language leads to boring images, and boring images don't draw out curious music fans looking for a new artist to follow.

Trust your photographer's guidance and advice, let your guard down and give it your best. The more a photographer as to work with in regards to expression and character, the more content you'll have to choose from in the end.   Fo

I loved shooting the Cleverlys. This five-piece bluegrass band clowned it up like no other before and after our shoot, but their professionalism when the camera was rolling was spot-on.

Killer style, composure, and confidence from the Jonathan Scales Fourchestra

Reverend Horton Heat giving the camera their full attention, and then some.

BE FOCUSED AND PROFESSIONAL WHEN IT'S TIME TO SHOOT.

There’s always plenty of laughter and joking during (almost) every band shoot I’ve done. But after five hundred-plus sessions, I can spot the pros from the amateurs in an instant. Pros know when to have fun, but they also know when to buckle down, take direction, and get in front of the camera with purpose.

Meanwhile, the obvious amateurs keep clowning around like they’ve never seen a camera before—and that gets old fast.

When I’m working with a band that has members who don’t act professionally, I’m left with two options: wait for the goofing off to stop or shoot anyway and hope for the best, knowing I’ll spend extra hours editing out wasted images of someone messing around.

When it’s time for the camera to roll, be prepared to take direction, act professionally, and let the photographer do their job without interference. Not only will this maximize your chances of getting great images, but your professionalism—whether on a photoshoot, in the studio, at venues, or anywhere else in the music industry—will strengthen your reputation. And if you want to be successful in the music biz, that reputation is everything.

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I'm an Asheville based photographer and website designer with over twenty years of experience creating imagery for hundreds of clients in Western North Carolina and beyond. My studio photography specializes in headshots for business and corporations, law firms, artists, entrepreneurs, models, and actors, as well as stylized theme portrait sessions for personal branding, maternity, local and regional musicians. Photo services are available throughout the south, including Raleigh, Charlotte, Winston Salem, Greenville, Columbia, Spartanburg, Knoxville, and Johnson City. Photo sessions are fun and easy, and consultations are always free, so drop me a line and let's plan something amazing together!