Most musicians hate their publicity photos. And most hate having their photos taken.
I’ve spent years helping musicians get better results—through one-on-one advising, and through the Photo Cure mini-course inside my Get the Gig program. And my clients have gone on to get photos they’re genuinely proud of.
But here’s something I don’t often admit: even with all that preparation, about 1 in 10 musicians still walks away from a shoot without what they needed. And that bothers me.
So I kept asking myself . . .
What’s the essential roadblock to getting great photos?
Here’s what I’ve become convinced of. We’re all caught up in the stories we’re telling ourselves about who we are and how we wish to be perceived. This is all too often at odds with how others perceive us and what the camera picks up.
So you can take the course, prepare yourself, do all the things. And STILL be so stuck in your own self-consciousness and scarcity thinking that you might not get the results you desire.
So how do we deal with this? How do we get past our self-consciousness, our worries about being too (fat, old, wrinkly) or not being enough (smart, experienced, accomplished)?
How do we relax enough to let a professional photographer catch us in the act of being who we really are?
This is where working with the right photographer comes in.
What a portrait photographer actually does
To get great results, photographers need to be highly skilled at . . .
- people reading
- establishing rapport with strangers and
- helping clients be OK with letting who they really are show through.
The thing is, you have to do your part, too.
Too many of us go into photo shoots aiming to come across in certain ways. We want to look 10 years younger, 10 pounds lighter, or 10% more accomplished than we are. Or god forbid, we want to come across as looking “deep,” or “like an artiste.”
And so the poor photographer is stuck working with people who are “posing” and looking uncomfortable. Like they’re trying too hard to be something they’re not. Ouch. I’ve done that.
Instead of “trying” in the photo shoot, it’s much better to be fully present and centered. Relax and be human with the photographer.
For the record, I had new photos taken about a month ago and used them to update my website. I love my photographer, Matt McKee (that’s him in the photo above) and he also shot my previous photos in 2016. I recommend him highly to anyone needing a publicity photo in the Boston area. Although he doesn’t specialize in musician photography, he shoots publicity for a local theater company so he’s great with performing artists.
What my photographer Matt McKee does so well
Matt makes photo shoots easy on the client. He always gets me talking and telling stories so that I forget that he’s taking my photo.
While he’s shooting, he’s looking to catch clients when they’re not holding themselves, trying to look a certain way, or being self-conscious. He’s looking for the split second where he’s able to catch more of their unguarded self, in between gestures or when they’re in motion and caught up in a story or in responding to his comments.
Matt says it’s like we’re doing an improv exercise—he’s asking me to try things and seeing what comes from it and then we’re in dialogue and the time goes by fast.
Not every photographer works this way. Some may ask you to try specific poses and then ask you to think of your next performance, or a performance that you loved giving, or to focus on why you make music. They’re looking to get your energy up and your eyes and expression aligned with the message you want your photo to convey.
Here are a few of the photos from my most recent shoot with Matt. When I was needing to decide which ones to use, I was thinking very specifically of which pages on my website I wanted to use these for. And what kind of message I wanted the photo to help convey.
Learn how to “read” a photo
Matt says this is a good exercise to have musicians do before they look for a photographer or schedule a shoot. Look at a number of musicians’ publicity photos, and write down what you think each artist was thinking in that moment.
I love this exercise. It gets to the issue that a photo should communicate a sense of layers of meaning, that you’ve got more than one thought at play in your mind. And you want to come across as someone who’d be fascinating to talk with, and as a musician who has much to say through their music.
Unfortunately, in many of the photos I’ve seen musicians use, it doesn’t look like they’re thinking all that much. That might be fine if you’re working as a fashion model and the focus is meant to be on the clothes you’re helping to sell, but it’s not great for creative artists.
I don’t remember what was in my head when Matt took the shot that’s now on my home page. But I’m curious what you think the thought bubble above my head should read. Let me know.
Ready to Set Yourself Up for Your Best Photo Yet?
You can get help with all this in the “Photo Cure” mini-course that’s part of the Get the Gig program. It’s my most comprehensive training, covering every promotional piece needed to book more of the work you love.
From your performance bio to publicity photos, promo videos, designing an effective website, and writing email pitches that work, Get the Gig has you covered. Self-paced video lessons walk you through how to overhaul each promo piece step by step.
And the best part? You won’t be doing it alone.
A monthly live Zoom editing clinic is included, where you can get expert feedback on your drafts in a supportive community of fellow musicians.
If you previously purchased the mini-course Email Pitch Magic (that’s included in Get the Gig), email me and let me know you want to register. I’ll send you a discount code to use ($97 off the full price).
Learn more and register HERE.
Here’s to your better photos,
Dream Big, Plan Smart, Live Well
Related: What is Your Publicity Photo Actually Saying About You? and 3 Essentials for Musicians for a Great Promo Shoot
