As the summer concert season heats up, capturing the electrifying energy of live performances becomes a thrilling pursuit for photographers. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or an enthusiastic beginner, having the right gear can make all the difference. We’ve tapped into the photography kits of four popular concert photographers to give you a glimpse of what it takes to capture those unforgettable moments on stage.
The A7R V & G Master Kit For Concerts
Alpha Collective member Mickey Pierre-Louis (@itchyeyephotos) is a music and portrait photographer with a passion for capturing raw emotion and storytelling through images. Her main camera? The Sony Alpha 7R V. She says, “The autofocus is so quick! 61MP gives me the ability to crop my images in post without losing quality. The flip screen addition is a personal favorite feature of mine for capturing high or low angles. I love the fully customizable options and settings I can get in camera to my liking.”
As for lenses, Pierre-Louis is all about the G Master series. In her concert photography kit you’ll find the Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master II, Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master II, Sony 135mm f/1.8 G Master, Sony 35mm f/1.4 G Master and Sony 50mm f/1.2 G Master. This solid arsenal of lenses allows her to bring the music scene to life from any angle. She also uses external flashes to control lighting on-location shoots, and a range of filters for creative effects. You can learn more about her complete kit in What’s In My Bag: The Ultimate Camera Kit For Music & Portrait Shoots.
The Triple Camera Kit For Concerts
Reginald Cunningham is a music and portrait photographer, and the creative force behind Pure Black Photography, a visual storytelling brand rooted in authenticity, culture, and power. He uses three different cameras for his music photography, all with their own special roles that he explains below:
1. Sony Alpha 7R V: This is my main photo camera. The autofocus CLUTCH! The 61MP sensor allows me to crop my images in post without losing quality to still produce high quality images. When shooting portraits, the high resolution gives so much detail! I love that this camera is versatile enough to allow me to do slower work like portraits and editorial, as well as fast-paced work like concerts and street.
2. Sony Alpha 7CR: This is the newest addition to my kit. I love how lightweight and mobile it is, while also having the same sensor as the A7R V. I love using this camera when I only use one camera and need to be super mobile. The articulating screen is helpful for different angled photos. I also love the placement of the viewfinder, which allows one eye to keep an eye on the action while I use the other to compose the photo.
3. Sony ZV-1 II: I love using this small camera to get quick shots, or record short video clips. It gives me the amazing autofocus features in a camera that fits in the palm of my hand!
He also packs the Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master II,, his favorite lens for concerts – especially when shooting outside of the photo pit. And the Sony 35mm f/1.8, a compact prime that he uses with his A7CR. Read more in What’s In My Bag: The Perfect Photography Kit For Concerts & Events.
The Lightweight Kit For Concerts
Multi-talented creator Jeremy Cohen (@jermcohen) calls concert photography his ultimate life hack and a perfect excuse to be up close to his favorite artists. His go-to camera for capturing music is the Sony Alpha 1. “The Sony Alpha 1 is the best camera I have ever bought,” he says. “It has a 50.1-megapixel full-frame sensor, and that with its incredible auto focus makes it the perfect camera to capture fast-moving performers with incredible accuracy! The image quality, low-light performance and dynamic range are impressive. Basically all of the specs of the Alpha 1 make for a great camera to capture concert moments with stunning detail and clarity, even in challenging lighting conditions.
Cohen also shares his tip for never missing a moment. “When you're photographing live music, I would recommend utilizing the Alpha 1’s high-speed burst mode for capturing those fleeting moments of excitement and energy, ensuring that you never miss a crucial shot. This has helped me capture those in-between moments where anything can happen.”
He also takes with him a pair of G Master primes – the Sony 35mm f/1.4 G Master, and then either the Sony 85mm f/1.4 G Master or Sony 135mm f/1.8 G Master. “I switch between these two as my go-to lenses. I usually bring one or the other when I'm trying to pack super light. These lenses provide a longer reach, allowing me to capture intimate moments on stage or focus on individual performers from a distance. They ensure outstanding low-light performance and crisp shots even in challenging lighting situations.” Read more in What's In My Bag: A Lightweight Kit For High-Energy Concert Photography.
The G Master Zoom Trio Kit For Concerts
Drew Hallé (@drewwhalle) is a freelance music photographer and videographer who started photographing concerts back in 2019. Capturing concerts started off as a hobby and eventually turned into a career over time. Since then, Hallé has covered multiple music festivals in Canada and the United States. In this concert photography kit you’ll find two cameras, the Sony Alpha 7 IV and Sony Alpha 7 III.
Hallé says, “I always have two camera bodies on me for the convenience of not having to switch lenses. Since you only have a few seconds to capture the moment at concerts, having two different setups with different lenses allows me to never miss these moments. The Sony Alpha 7 IV having 33 megapixels is amazing when I have to crop images while still retaining a high quality final image. The eye-tracking autofocus is extremely reliable and my shots are always in focus.”
Hallé also brings a trio of G Master zoom lenses for ultimate versatility in the music festival environment, explained below:
Sony 12-24mm f/2.8 G Master: This lens was my last addition to my kit and it is a great focal range for concerts. The wide range is perfect to capture the environment and get the entire crowd in one shot. I also love the result when shooting close up to the subject as you can still get a full body shot and have a lot of the background being shown still.
Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master: If I could only shoot with one lens I would choose the 24-70mm. It is the perfect mid-range zoom lens to own as you can get wide shots at 24mm and close shots at 70mm. The 2.8 aperture is perfect for low light situations.
Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 G Master: For larger venues, a telephoto lens is a must. A lot of the time for arenas and festivals, you will need to shoot further away from the artist and a zoom lens will be needed to get closer shots. The 70-200mm range is amazing as 70mm is wide enough to capture the whole stage and at 200mm, you can capture very close up details of the set.
See more of Hallé's work in What’s In My Bag: Two Cameras & Three Zooms For Dynamic Music Photography.
See inside more Sony Alpha photography kits at alphauniverse.com/wimb.
