Earlier this month, I had the pleasure to document Governor’s Ball — one of the biggest festivals in New York City of the year —for Vevo. It comes packed with a full three-day line up that starts around 12pm and well past 10pm. That being said, documenting a three-day festival with thousands of people (and teenagers hitting puberty for the first time) can mean an anxiety attack waiting to happen. Especially if you are not prepared.
So after years of being the young one in attendance, to documenting festivals for clients, I have a lot of insight from both perspectives.
There are several factors that I try to balance in order to have an overall successful photography experience at a music festival. With so much happening, and the amount of people you have to navigate through, being prepared and aware of your surroundings is paramount.
One of the key recommendations I can give you is to bring comfortable shoes. Honestly, having the right footwear will take you a long way. You will walk a guaranteed six to seven miles minimum each day. It doesn’t pay trying to be trendy.
As far as my gear goes, my go-to festival set up includes the Sony Alpha A9 with the 70-200mm lens, and the 50mm or 35mm lens. The Sony Alpha series is made for situations like festivals. Being able to use prime lenses, and capture clear images in dark settings on the fly is just too clutch. With the light weight, it’s not a hassle to bring with you all day as well.
The crop sensor feature is really handy for situations where you are working with one lens. It may be pricey, but renting during a three-day festival is your best friend.
If you are working on a bit of a budget and have to go with one lens, the 85mm lens is a good go-to. At the end of the day, it is all subjective, but making your situation work for you, and being satisfied with your results, is key. Just remember that having versatility with your lenses will save you a lot of grief later on.
The art of the finesse is not to be taken lightly. When it comes to getting access and extra time in the photo pit, a lot of it boils down to being personable and building connections with the staff working at the festival. It sounds trivial, but I’ll be the one to say it. Bringing over a bottle of water to a security guard, or just simply having a little conversation with one of the workers, will go a long way.
Being aware of your surroundings also means, knowing which one of your friends will be attending. I can’t count the amount of times that knowing someone at a festival has helped me. Whether its passing over a photo pass, helping get into an artist area, or just having someone to connect with in a place full of strangers, having a friend has been vital.
I strongly suggest that if you haven’t experienced photographing a festival, to try it at least once. For me, having a street photography foundation, it’s always refreshing to just interact with all of the energy there. It’s worth it for at least one weekend. Just make sure you get a full night’s rest.
