Comments on: Interview with Music Photographer Barrie Thompson http://www.digital-photography-school.com/interview-with-music-photographer-barrie-thompson Discover how to use your digital camera with our Digital Photography Tips. We are a community of photographers of all experience levels who come together to learn, share and grow in our understanding of photography. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 12:45:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Avangelist http://www.digital-photography-school.com/interview-with-music-photographer-barrie-thompson/comment-page-1#comment-40382 Avangelist Sun, 18 Jan 2009 22:53:02 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/interview-with-music-photographer-barrie-thompson/#comment-40382 A really nice interview which was clearly done by emailing a questionaire and it getting filled out. Regardless, it is really nice to see someone being interviewed in this field. I have spent the last year trying to get into it myself, have shot 2-5 gigs a night for an entire 12 months, burnt myself out, got paid 3 times and had a few things on webzines but no print. Now I am trying to push into promo work in the hope that it will give me more contact with bands, and that they will use them for press. The problem with live work is it expires after 24hrs. Although it looks awsome on your cv and you can build a huge stock, it is completely useless unless somebody asks for it. A really nice interview which was clearly done by emailing a questionaire and it getting filled out.

Regardless, it is really nice to see someone being interviewed in this field.

I have spent the last year trying to get into it myself, have shot 2-5 gigs a night for an entire 12 months, burnt myself out, got paid 3 times and had a few things on webzines but no print.

Now I am trying to push into promo work in the hope that it will give me more contact with bands, and that they will use them for press.

The problem with live work is it expires after 24hrs. Although it looks awsome on your cv and you can build a huge stock, it is completely useless unless somebody asks for it.

]]> By: Alex Ramon http://www.digital-photography-school.com/interview-with-music-photographer-barrie-thompson/comment-page-1#comment-39229 Alex Ramon Tue, 30 Dec 2008 02:53:03 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/interview-with-music-photographer-barrie-thompson/#comment-39229 Thank you sharing this interview, it is both educational and inspiring. I've just started getting into music photography and loving every minute (see my site). I can already see how this isn't going to pay well (it's actually starting to cost me a fair bit) but it is just so fun and challenging trying to capture musicians in low light. Festivals are my favorite, there are so many great people to meet... I can't wait until the next gig! Thank you sharing this interview, it is both educational and inspiring. I’ve just started getting into music photography and loving every minute (see my site). I can already see how this isn’t going to pay well (it’s actually starting to cost me a fair bit) but it is just so fun and challenging trying to capture musicians in low light. Festivals are my favorite, there are so many great people to meet… I can’t wait until the next gig!

]]> By: Tim http://www.digital-photography-school.com/interview-with-music-photographer-barrie-thompson/comment-page-1#comment-37200 Tim Fri, 14 Nov 2008 09:12:55 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/interview-with-music-photographer-barrie-thompson/#comment-37200 I'm also a concert photographer luckily my music style is not mainstream, making it easier to get passes all pics I take are still for free - but when you can see some awesome bands for free in return, who am I to complain :) just launched my new site by the way - have a look .. I’m also a concert photographer
luckily my music style is not mainstream, making it easier to get passes
all pics I take are still for free – but when you can see some awesome bands for free in return, who am I to complain :)

just launched my new site by the way – have a look ..

]]> By: Ollie Millington http://www.digital-photography-school.com/interview-with-music-photographer-barrie-thompson/comment-page-1#comment-37188 Ollie Millington Fri, 14 Nov 2008 02:12:38 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/interview-with-music-photographer-barrie-thompson/#comment-37188 Barrie has hit the nail on the head here. One thing he doesn’t mention that is a real problem at the moment in live music ( not at the higher levels but more at the daily bread-and-butter un-signed band level) is the rise of the amateurs who will happily allow bands to use photographs free of charge. Not so much the ones that give a shot or two with watermarks so they get some advertising and build a relationship with the bands, I’m referring to the ones that give away their entire set free of charge. I don’t think they realise how much damage this does to the industry. Like I said this isn’t a problem when you deal with more experienced bands who know the benefits of good photography but it can be annoying when you get a band saying " We Love your photographs from X Festival but we have had some free ones from another photographer there that day, why do you charge when there's are free?"... Its rarely malicious, but definitely annoying ! I photograph at least 1/2 gigs a week with a Fairley equal mix of Unsigned and famous bands. You can view my work at www.flikcr.com/olliemillington/sets Ollie Millington :) Barrie has hit the nail on the head here. One thing he doesn’t mention that is a real problem at the moment in live music ( not at the higher levels but more at the daily bread-and-butter un-signed band level) is the rise of the amateurs who will happily allow bands to use photographs free of charge. Not so much the ones that give a shot or two with watermarks so they get some advertising and build a relationship with the bands, I’m referring to the ones that give away their entire set free of charge. I don’t think they realise how much damage this does to the industry. Like I said this isn’t a problem when you deal with more experienced bands who know the benefits of good photography but it can be annoying when you get a band saying ” We Love your photographs from X Festival but we have had some free ones from another photographer there that day, why do you charge when there’s are free?”… Its rarely malicious, but definitely annoying !

I photograph at least 1/2 gigs a week with a Fairley equal mix of Unsigned and famous bands. You can view my work at http://www.flikcr.com/olliemillington/sets

Ollie Millington :)

]]> By: Network23 Photography http://www.digital-photography-school.com/interview-with-music-photographer-barrie-thompson/comment-page-1#comment-37143 Network23 Photography Thu, 13 Nov 2008 09:27:04 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/interview-with-music-photographer-barrie-thompson/#comment-37143 A few things I can ad to anyone who plans to do it... no flash, or very little, I will bounce it off the ceiling if it isn't too high, too many flash pics will piss off the band that is the last thing you want to ever do. Remember the band isn't there for your shots, don't piss off the crowed be aware of standing infront of people, also if you check your display after a shot, keep it low, even camera phones have gotten to annoy me at shows. I try to think of myself as a ninja, move around, stay out of the way of the band and the crowed. What I need to do more of is shoot the opening bands, those are ones that may become popular even if your not a fan of their music. I always give the bands the photos and just ask for a link. Patience and persistence will pay off. A few things I can ad to anyone who plans to do it… no flash, or very little, I will bounce it off the ceiling if it isn’t too high, too many flash pics will piss off the band that is the last thing you want to ever do.
Remember the band isn’t there for your shots, don’t piss off the crowed be aware of standing infront of people, also if you check your display after a shot, keep it low, even camera phones have gotten to annoy me at shows.
I try to think of myself as a ninja, move around, stay out of the way of the band and the crowed.
What I need to do more of is shoot the opening bands, those are ones that may become popular even if your not a fan of their music.
I always give the bands the photos and just ask for a link. Patience and persistence will pay off.

]]> By: Mandy http://www.digital-photography-school.com/interview-with-music-photographer-barrie-thompson/comment-page-1#comment-37082 Mandy Tue, 11 Nov 2008 21:29:41 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/interview-with-music-photographer-barrie-thompson/#comment-37082 Thanks for this interview it's good to hear from someone who is making a living with photography and shares both sides of the story... I want ot hear more! Thanks for this interview it’s good to hear from someone who is making a living with photography and shares both sides of the story… I want ot hear more!

]]> By: Coco Martin http://www.digital-photography-school.com/interview-with-music-photographer-barrie-thompson/comment-page-1#comment-37053 Coco Martin Tue, 11 Nov 2008 00:51:10 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/interview-with-music-photographer-barrie-thompson/#comment-37053 Very artistic, wish to see more work though! Wonder how long is that takes to get to such a professional successful stage. I am new in Photography world, but extremely passion and hard working. Last Saturday we had a chance to work with Underage Records at they concert in San Francisco. You can see the results at: http://www.photobiz.com/slideshowbiz/slideshow.cfm?slideshowID=35650&photographerID=7191 CocoMartin martinography.com Very artistic, wish to see more work though! Wonder how long is that takes to get to such a professional successful stage. I am new in Photography world, but extremely passion and hard working. Last Saturday we had a chance to work with Underage Records at they concert in San Francisco. You can see the results at:

http://www.photobiz.com/slideshowbiz/slideshow.cfm?slideshowID=35650&photographerID=7191

CocoMartin
martinography.com

]]> By: Ray From Texas http://www.digital-photography-school.com/interview-with-music-photographer-barrie-thompson/comment-page-1#comment-37051 Ray From Texas Mon, 10 Nov 2008 22:27:53 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/interview-with-music-photographer-barrie-thompson/#comment-37051 This was very cool. I am an amateur working with several local bands and having fun doing it. I have also gotten lucky to get in to major events to document them and add them to my portfolio. I am still trying to learn all I can since inside a dark hall with not-so-great lighting is hard to work with. I have not had too many problems with venues or security since I try and make sure I have all the appropriate contacts and badges/passes before hand. But being in a live venue with a huge crowd and the lights and music and the vibe is worth every minute of it! This was very cool. I am an amateur working with several local bands and having fun doing it. I have also gotten lucky to get in to major events to document them and add them to my portfolio. I am still trying to learn all I can since inside a dark hall with not-so-great lighting is hard to work with. I have not had too many problems with venues or security since I try and make sure I have all the appropriate contacts and badges/passes before hand. But being in a live venue with a huge crowd and the lights and music and the vibe is worth every minute of it!

]]> By: Thomas http://www.digital-photography-school.com/interview-with-music-photographer-barrie-thompson/comment-page-1#comment-37050 Thomas Mon, 10 Nov 2008 21:43:02 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/interview-with-music-photographer-barrie-thompson/#comment-37050 Wow. Those are great photographs. Not only is he talented, but he's really lucky to have had the opportunity to photograph such well known musicians! (Okay, I'm a little jealous, too.) Wow. Those are great photographs. Not only is he talented, but he’s really lucky to have had the opportunity to photograph such well known musicians!

(Okay, I’m a little jealous, too.)

]]> By: Alan Nielsen http://www.digital-photography-school.com/interview-with-music-photographer-barrie-thompson/comment-page-1#comment-37047 Alan Nielsen Mon, 10 Nov 2008 18:25:47 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/interview-with-music-photographer-barrie-thompson/#comment-37047 I do some concert photography. Very hard market to get into. You can't just walk into an arena show and shoot. You really have to start at the bottom and work your way up. Make lots of friends and do lots of pro bono work at the beginning. It's all about networking in this business. -- Alan Nielsen http://www.ninelivephotography.ca I do some concert photography. Very hard market to get into. You can’t just walk into an arena show and shoot. You really have to start at the bottom and work your way up. Make lots of friends and do lots of pro bono work at the beginning. It’s all about networking in this business.

–
Alan Nielsen
http://www.ninelivephotography.ca

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