Advice Appreciated: Shooting in a Recording Studio

[DesignVHL]

My friend's band is working on their second album and I found out they are recording this weekend...so I thought I would throw the idea out there to photograph them in the studio (yeah it's unpaid, but could be great experience for me, since I'm not exactly doing this as a career - more of a time consuming hobby)...so I was just wondering...any tips on shooting in there? I don't know how the lighting is going to be...the last time i was in a studio, there was a lot of reflective aluminum type paper all over the walls..(acoustic paper material perhaps)? AND it's probably ambient/low lighting...

I know I'm going to bring my tripod..but I also want these shots to be really high quality (as always of course)...but I'd still like them in the moment you know....so I may travel around w/out the tripod as well.

Anyone here ever shoot recording studios? Not sure what ISO to set on...Also thinking about borrowing my friend's wide-angle lense...

Anyways just appreciate any tips you may have to offer!

Thanks!
Valerie

[Steve Parr]

No recording engineer worth what he's paid is going to allow you in the studio to shoot while they're recording. More than likely, he'll only be willing to go so far as to pump the music out through the monitors while your friends lip-sync and strum their guitars to the recorded music.

If he allows you in the studio while they're recording, your friends should find a new studio...

[DesignVHL]

I'll call and ask about it..it's possible that the recording engineer is a friend of the band and will allow it. I don't think he would have asked me to come out if it didn't think I would be able to do this. I totally see your point about noise and distractions, however I would assume that I would be shooting the band when they are in between takes or like you said "faking" it.

Also, I have seen NUMEROUS cd cover Photography w/ music artists in the studio...so those artists obviously made time for that.

Aside from that, assuming I CAN shoot, any advice is appreciated.

[PhotosGuy]

Also, I have seen NUMEROUS cd cover Photography w/ music artists in the studio...so those artists obviously made time for that. I'll bet that they didn't use the "available darkness" that was there, either. This is the simplest lighting that I'd take with me.
Simple "every-day-emergency" location lighting (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=66358)

[Livinthalife]

My friends always go to a cheap studio to just play, not record, but jsut practice before a show and what not. When I was in their "studio" It had off white walls, small, flourescent lights. So al lmy pics came out strange from the awkward lighting. the flash usually balanced it well or me adjusting the white balance according to EACH photo.

It`s great expierence none the less, it`s hard to charge friends anyways. So enjoy it! Don`t forget to post the pics! I would love to see them!

[DesignVHL]

If it happens, I'll def. post some photos from it...I probably will go and do this, but am going to call my friend in the band to be sure it's all good. Regardless, yes it will be great experience for me....

I'll check out that link soon, thanks for the tip! :)

[nehpets]

hmm. i shot our band while we recorded. but we were lucky enough to have a tracking room with a glass window...so i could stand in the mixing room and shoot through the glass while our singer did his vocals...

this is the best shot i got from the whole thing:

http://www.deviantart.com/view/32631803/

my advice would be to always watch the band...they will do all kinds of things and you will get a lot of neat shots if you pay attention. let them get used to you taking pics first and after that they should act naturally (thats when the good stuff comes)

[DesignVHL]

sweet a deviant art member, a great site! :) Thanks for the tips...I've shot the band numerous times live so they are used to me. :) I really don't think the engineer will have any issues..tho i'm goign to call their sax player tonite to discuss that.

Your shots are really nice - a bit dark...but I know the lighting couldn't be that spectacular lol...I LOVE how you placed him in the frame, and the image is really clean & sharp. Did they end up using it?

[nehpets]

yes. we will use it when we start making album art :]

and thank you, i hope things go well with the shoot.

[DesignVHL]

thanks,much appreciated..ya know if you need a designer...I design posters, flyers, merch, cd/dvd artwork and more for the music/ent industry....photography is more of a hobby/side service i offer...PM me if interested! :) nothing wrong w/ a little shameless promotion right? :)

thanks again!