1. What did you think about concert photography BEFORE enrolling in Shooting The Rockstars?
Before Shooting The Rockstars, I thought concert photography was quite difficult to approach. I was really interested but I didn't really know what lenses to use or how to shoot in manual. I was seeing all these cool photos, but I didn't even know how to try to achieve that result. I thought only people with a really expensive gear could do it, and I thought it could only be a hobby for me.
2. What did you think about concert photography AFTER going through the training?
Through the course I learned that you don't necessarily need a 3000€ camera to do the job. Yes, that would surely make a difference, but the most important thing is to know your gear first, because starting (and struggling) with what you have, challenge you. I learned how to shoot in manual and that improved my work a lot! The things I knew before the course were just small tips I've found in random websites, and weren't enough. After the course I can say I am more comfortable with myself and my gear and knowing all those things make me feel more confident. Now I think concert photography could be more than just a hobby!
3. What big problem were you facing BEFORE Shooting The Rockstars? What from Shooting The Rockstars helped you solved that problem?
Talking about technical stuff, before the course I sort of knew how the single settings work (ISO, shutter speed, aperture) but I didn't know how to make them work together to take the best shot. I didn't know how to shoot in manual. Through the lessons I learned properly how every setting works and how they are interconnected. In a couple of lessons I learned the theory and I was ready to test my knowledge in the field. The technical stuff could be difficult, but what I loved the most about this course is how well the most tricky parts are explained. Talking about the 'conversational aspect', the most useful lessons were the ones that explained how to get a photo pass and how to properly build a portfolio. We all know concert photography is a competitive field, and knowing how to behave and show your work is really important, especially when you're starting out!
4. What specific results have you achieved as the result of this training?
This course taught me a lot. I already knew some stuff before I started, but these lessons changed everything. The greatest achievements for me would be knowing how to shoot in manual, how to properly ask for a photo pass (here I didn't even know where to start), and how to build a good portfolio (which I'm currently doing). For now, to me, photo passes and portfolio are still in the making, but I (finally) know what to do and how to do it.
5. What would you tell another “new student” of Shooting The Rockstars? What words of advice would you have now that you’ve gone through the program?
My advice would be...don't rush things. You don't need to build a portfolio/website in one week, so take your time. Once you know your gear, the only thing you can do is go out there and shoot concerts. It doesn't really matter if you have a pass or not, just bring your camera and do your best (be safe though). The more you'll shoot, the more you'll improve. The more different things you'll try, the more variety of photos you'll have. Be patient and to the best you can!
Andrea Massazza