Band Photographer - Any recommendations?

[Linus27]

The band I am in are looking to get some proper photos done for promotion purposes. We want to pay for a proper job, not just some mate who is going to stick us in a field under a tree. We want a professional job. Anyone recommend anyone or used someone good? We are based in and around Surrey, Berkshire, London but don't mind travelling a bit.

Thanks for any help.

[OldGit]

[quote name='Linus27' post='531185' date='Jul 2 2009, 10:33 PM']The band I am in are looking to get some proper photos done for promotion purposes. We want to pay for a proper job, not just some mate who is going to stick us in a field under a tree. We want a professional job. Anyone recommend anyone or used someone good? We are based in and around Surrey, Berkshire, London but don't mind travelling a bit.

Thanks for any help.[/quote]

Forget the posed stuff and get live shots. They say so much more about you as a band
Pictures are so important in portraying your "image" that you have to choose what you use and be very, very picky . Then only publish the very good ones.

Here's a good guy:
[url="http://www.myspace.com/alanjonesdrummer"]http://www.myspace.com/alanjonesdrummer[/url]
Drummer and band photographer.
This is one of his

Edited July 2, 2009 by OldGit

[sdgrsr400]

Take a look at Christina Baldwin [url="http://www.christinajbaldwin.com/gallery_144695.html"]http://www.christinajbaldwin.com/gallery_144695.html[/url] and Lucy SM Johnston [url="http://lucysmjohnston.com/photos/photos.html"]http://lucysmjohnston.com/photos/photos.html[/url]

Edited July 2, 2009 by sdgrsr400

[Mr Fudge]

I took this one with one of our many plastic birds when we supported Phil Jupitus and The Blockheads ...

[Stylon Pilson]

[quote name='OldGit' post='531194' date='Jul 2 2009, 10:40 PM']Forget the posed stuff and get live shots. They say so much more about you as a band[/quote]

I understand what you're saying, but I think it's down to personal preference. I've been to the myspace page for Linus27's new band, and the music that they are playing is quite clean, refined pop. Not necessarily chart-friendly*, but certainly family-friendly. I think that if they are looking for promo photos then the professional route might be preferable.

S.P.

* I feel the need to append: I say this because of the nature of the charts, not because I think that Linus27's band aren't good enough. If anything, they are too good.

Edited July 3, 2009 by Stylon Pilson

[OldGit]

[quote name='Stylon Pilson' post='531392' date='Jul 3 2009, 09:04 AM']I understand what you're saying, but I think it's down to personal preference. I've been to the myspace page for Linus27's new band, and the music that they are playing is quite clean, refined pop. Not necessarily chart-friendly*, but certainly family-friendly. I think that if they are looking for promo photos then the professional route might be preferable.

S.P.

* I feel the need to append: I say this because of the nature of the charts, not because I think that Linus27's band aren't good enough. If anything, they are too good.[/quote]


Sure. Depends on the objective, I guess. I assumed they were a live, playing band looking to build a following or attract gig bookers.
What's the myspace?
I agree hiring a professional is the way to go.

Edited July 3, 2009 by OldGit

[chrisba]

This guy did some great band shots for some friends recently...

[url="http://basingstokephoto.com/About.html"]http://basingstokephoto.com/About.html[/url]

[Linus27]

[quote name='Stylon Pilson' post='531392' date='Jul 3 2009, 09:04 AM']I understand what you're saying, but I think it's down to personal preference. I've been to the myspace page for Linus27's new band, and the music that they are playing is quite clean, refined pop. Not necessarily chart-friendly*, but certainly family-friendly. I think that if they are looking for promo photos then the professional route might be preferable.

S.P.

* I feel the need to append: I say this because of the nature of the charts, not because I think that Linus27's band aren't good enough. If anything, they are too good.[/quote]

WOW, thanks Pete, feel embaressed now The music on our Myspace page are just rough demo's recorded at home and so, not very clear. We have recorded some better demo's which are being mixed but we plan to go into the studio soon to record some songs properly. I'm also not playing on any of those track, nor in any of the photos on the site, thus the reason for needing new ones.

Glad you said we are playing quite clean, refined pop. I have no idea how to describe the music we play. The best I can ever come up with is take Radiohead or Coldplay and add a latin drummer and its sort of like that but not really that close

[molan]

We used these people:

[url="http://www.mrmstudios.co.uk/"]http://www.mrmstudios.co.uk/[/url]

Studio is in Aldershot I think.

Very professional & nice guys too.

From memory I think we paid £200 for a live gig session & the main photographer must ahve been there for a good 3-4 hours.

We got 150+ photos for this, all uploaded to his main site & easily downloadable etc.

[Linus27]

[quote name='molan' post='531453' date='Jul 3 2009, 10:26 AM']We used these people:

[url="http://www.mrmstudios.co.uk/"]http://www.mrmstudios.co.uk/[/url]

Studio is in Aldershot I think.

Very professional & nice guys too.

From memory I think we paid £200 for a live gig session & the main photographer must ahve been there for a good 3-4 hours.

We got 150+ photos for this, all uploaded to his main site & easily downloadable etc.[/quote]

Do you have an examples of the photos he took of your band? Also, did you tell him what you want or did he just do his own thing?

[BigBeefChief]

We've used a really horny Swedish bird in London for live photos. Never paid much attention to the quality of the pics, but the chic taking them is smoking!

I'll try dig out her details if your interested. She's blonde, slim, probably early 20's. Lovely.

[Pete Academy]

If you want live shots then Tony Woolliscroft is your man. He was the Chilis official photographer for 15 years. His work is amazing...www.tonywoolliscroft.com. He has a book of Chilis photos out called 'Me And My Friends'. He's done virtually all the name bands over the years.

He's based on Stoke but will travel. I have his number if you're interested.

[Linus27]

[quote name='BigBeefChief' post='531464' date='Jul 3 2009, 10:39 AM']We've used a really horny Swedish bird in London for live photos. Never paid much attention to the quality of the pics, but the chic taking them is smoking!

I'll try dig out her details if your interested. She's blonde, slim, probably early 20's. Lovely.[/quote]

[b]SHALLOW MODE ON[/b]

Yes please and make it snappy

[b]SHALLOW MODE OFF[/b]

[Linus27]

[quote name='Pete Academy' post='531465' date='Jul 3 2009, 10:40 AM']If you want live shots then Tony Woolliscroft is your man. He was the Chilis official photographer for 15 years. His work is amazing...www.tonywoolliscroft.com. He has a book of Chilis photos out called 'Me And My Friends'. He's done virtually all the name bands over the years.

He's based on Stoke but will travel. I have his number if you're interested.[/quote]

I imagine he is going to be rather expensive. Just looking at the website now.

EDIT: The correct link is [url="http://www.tonywoolliscroft.co.uk/"]http://www.tonywoolliscroft.co.uk/[/url] The link provided took me to a wool making website. Had me very confused

Edited July 3, 2009 by Linus27

[Stylon Pilson]

[quote name='Pete Academy' post='531465' date='Jul 3 2009, 10:40 AM']www.tonywoolliscroft.com[/quote]

I think you mean [url="http://www.tonywoolliscroft.co.uk/"]http://www.tonywoolliscroft.co.uk/[/url]. The .com goes to something quite unrelated.

S.P.

[Linus27]

[quote name='Stylon Pilson' post='531480' date='Jul 3 2009, 10:51 AM']I think you mean [url="http://www.tonywoolliscroft.co.uk/"]http://www.tonywoolliscroft.co.uk/[/url]. The .com goes to something quite unrelated.

S.P.[/quote]

HAHAHA beat you

[Low End Bee]

I can recommend this chap. He's just getting back into band/music photography after spending a few years doing fine art still life stuff.
He was the CBS (and then Sony) in house man for years. Done 'em all from Alice Cooper to Celine Dion!
We had a huge laugh on the photo shoot with him and we're just waiting for the pics back from 'post production'. The few that I've seen are really top stuff.

[url="http://www.bakerimages.com/"]Baker Images[/url]

[Linus27]

[quote name='Low End Bee' post='531488' date='Jul 3 2009, 11:07 AM']I can recommend this chap. He's just getting back into band/music photography after spending a few years doing fine art still life stuff.
He was the CBS (and then Sony) in house man for years. Done 'em all from Alice Cooper to Celine Dion!
We had a huge laugh on the photo shoot with him and we're just waiting for the pics back from 'post production'. The few that I've seen are really top stuff.

[url="http://www.bakerimages.com/"]Baker Images[/url][/quote]

He looks pretty cool. Where is he based and how much did he cost?

[JPAC]

All climb in a Photo-Me kiosk or get a camera with a self timer.

This guy was on TV a while ago - [url="http://www.andyearl.com/music/music/archive.html"]http://www.andyearl.com/music/music/archive.html[/url]

[Low End Bee]

[quote name='Linus27' post='531504' date='Jul 3 2009, 11:19 AM']He looks pretty cool. Where is he based and how much did he cost?[/quote]

He's based in High Wycombe but isn't afraid to travel. Cost depends on what you want. But it's a lot more reasonable than you would expect given his portfolio. He's getting back into the swing of shooting people rather than objects so is willing to do a deal.
He's a top bloke with lots of good muso stories too.
Expect to bring lots of clothes, hats, sunglasses, etc. I changed me clothes more often than Kylie and was absolutely knackered at the end.

[Pete Academy]

[quote name='Linus27' post='531478' date='Jul 3 2009, 10:50 AM']I imagine he is going to be rather expensive. Just looking at the website now.

EDIT: The correct link is [url="http://www.tonywoolliscroft.co.uk/"]http://www.tonywoolliscroft.co.uk/[/url] The link provided took me to a wool making website. Had me very confused [/quote]


Oops, sorry! I think you might find he's not as expensive as you think.

[molan]

[quote name='Linus27' post='531463' date='Jul 3 2009, 10:36 AM']Do you have an examples of the photos he took of your band? Also, did you tell him what you want or did he just do his own thing?[/quote]

I'm afraid all of our pics were live ones - sorry, forgot to mention that bit!

[Apex]

This probably amounts to a shameless plug , but my son also does a fair bit of band photography. He's currently touring in France with the Bristol band The Hats.

A link to his website is below. I'm not really suggesting he is the man you need for this but I'd be interested in your views of his work.

Edited July 5, 2009 by Apex

[Cornfedapache]

[quote name='Linus27' post='531185' date='Jul 2 2009, 10:33 PM']The band I am in are looking to get some proper photos done for promotion purposes. We want to pay for a proper job, not just some mate who is going to stick us in a field under a tree. We want a professional job. Anyone recommend anyone or used someone good? We are based in and around Surrey, Berkshire, London but don't mind travelling a bit.

Thanks for any help.[/quote]

Guy I used to work with is a great photographer and working professionally for all sorts of people.
His name's Dave Flindall - google him and he pops up a lot!
www.delarge.co.uk or www.juxprose.co.uk

[dannybuoy]

I can put you in touch with the guy who took the photos of my friend's band Pushboxer if you like: [url="http://www.pushboxer.com"]http://www.pushboxer.com[/url]