Festival season is slowly, but surely approaching. Ravers are hitting the gym and the craft stores to prep for some of the best weekends of their lives. Everyone wants a sick picture taken by a professional photographer at a festival or show. You’re looking good, you’re in the zone vibing out with your friends. There are things you should and shouldn’t do make this happen. Let our crew of photographers and fellow festival goers give you some hints.
1. Do Wear a Creative Costume
Photographers walk past hundreds of thousands of people at a festival. Wearing a creative costume is an awesome way to stand out from the crowd. Think beyond rave bras and fluffies! A lot of photos are taken while walking between stages, so be on the look out.
2. Don’t Yell For a Photographers Attention
Yelling “HAY! HAYYYYYYYY!! PHOTOGRAPH MEEEEEE,” eloquently put by one of our photographers, is a great way to let photographers know to avoid you. If you encounter one in passing who isn’t shooting something else, politely asking never hurts! Just don’t be obnoxious. It’s all about making a picture worth taking.
3. Do Make It To the Front Row or Up On Shoulders
Photographers are constantly gong in and out of the pit so being in the front is the perfect place for a sick group shot. Don’t be rude making your way to the front, though. Photographers can pick up on the vibes of you and the people around you. Shoulder surfing makes for great photo composition. Get on up there and show us your bass face, but not for the entire set – the people around you want to see too.
4. Don’t Make Vulgar Expressions or Condone Drug Use
Middle fingers, sexual gestures, stupid faces, excessive cleavage and the Miley Cyrus tongue look are all great ways to not get photographed. Shirts, hats, backpacks or anything suggesting drug use will 100% be rejected. Here’s another tip: you look the opposite of cool in your “where’s mollly” cut-off. Photographers often send photos to management and promotion companies. They will absolutely not associate their business with pictures like this.
5. Do Have a Sign or Flag
This is another way to stand out from the other festival goers. We love to see funny signs, waving flags and extravagant totems. Hold ’em high and proud, but don’t cover your face! They make for good photo composition, but remember once again we won’t shoot anything vulgar or drug related.
6. Don’t Be On Your Phone
We want people who are totally in the moment. Being on your phone is the opposite of that. It’s a buzz kill and often covers part of your face. Basically, it totally ruins the shot. And when the beat drops, so will it.
7. Do Be Active
Jump, flip, groove, and get the funk down. We want photos of people having the time of their lives. Remember, promotional companies will use these photos to sell their event. Would a photo of a chick standing with arms-crossed make you want to go? What about a 3 man piggy-back with 2 chicks kart wheeling on the sides? Having fun is the best way to get photographed.
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