Salup's Guide to Better Stage Lighting

1. Ask for better lighting on stage – The key to good photography is good lighting. My take, don’t be afraid to ask. Most lighting guys are more than happy to cooperate and make sure you get good images. Some important factors:
 
Intensity – Crank it up! Ask for brighter lights. Brighter lights allow the photographer to use a higher shutter speed and capture motion without blur.

Savage Master - No editing on this picture

Ask for the right color – Blue, green and orange are great for photographs, they allow the camera sensor to capture more detail and are sharper lights. Red is awful. Different photographers have different theories as to why, but red light produces slightly out-of-focus pictures with not much detail in the highlights

Overdose - No editing on this picture - Awful pink/red light

Lucifer - Great blue light - No editing on this picture

Position your lights correctly- a bit of a back light, coming from backstage, helps tremendously in making you pop from the background. It also gives you that dramatic “fringe” around the hair, clothing, etc.

Eunoia - Great back lighting - No editing on this picture

2. Dress distinctively – Nothing worse than a great group on stage, sounding great, with obvious chemistry… then dressed in slacks and a shirt or something. The pictures will not do justice to the sound. If it is your look then it is your look, but, if not, consider dressing a bit more distinctively and with more character, the pictures will look way better. One of the great things about metal, rock and similar bands is their whole persona: they dress the part, act the part and live it up. That makes for some really dramatic shots.

The Burnouts - Tribute to Radiohead

Ralph Arana and Manic Office

3. Don’t move continuously -- I know… it’s hard but, if you stay in a position for a couple of seconds, it makes it much easier to focus and compose and the pictures look amazingly good afterwards. And, as long as we are talking about movement, don’t be afraid to be a bit dramatic on stage… just count to two.

The amazing Mariela Muerte and Faetom

4. Play to every side of the stage – there are photographers everywhere, make sure you give them the opportunity to get a good shot. And, while we are at it, don’t be afraid to look at the photographer and even interact with him or her, the pictures will be more emotional and memorable.

Mariela Muerte

5. JUST.LET.GO

Crazy Ray with Muddknuckles

You want way way better band pictures? Hit me up.