Ideas for non-cliché band promo shots?

[elbirth]

Long story short, this past weekend a friend of mine who does the sound design for a local band got me in to take some shots of the band while performing, and upon seeing the results, I was approached by the band about doing some promo shots for them.
For those interested, I posted some from the show on Flickr, here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/valduur/sets/72157622362225406/

My issue is that I haven't done posed group shots of this type before, so I'm trying to find some ideas of what to do that could be interesting and unique. They want to steer clear of the "cliché" band shots, like a group of guys standing on train tracks, and that sort of thing.
We'll be talking in the next day or so to figure out where we're going to shoot at, and I'm having trouble deciding where to go and what types of poses/setups to do. It's a group of 4 guys who have been in a rock band together for probably 10-15 years at least.

Can anyone help me brainstorm for some ideas? I've got a couple flashes with stands and umbrellas that I want to implement in at least some shots to work on my strobist side. If I was just having them stand around taking plain/boring shots (or even if it was just 1 or 2 people, rather than 4), it'd be no problem, but I want to do something different.


Also, does anyone happen to have a sample photo release for this type of thing? I want something that gives them permission to use it for their site, but not to just go out and do any and everything. They're willing to pay and we've talked about that already (being that I'm new to band photography and they were so lenient with me at the show, I'm not charging them much at all anyway), I just want to have something to sign to keep things a bit formalized.

[narlus]

why would we give away our best ideas? :D

[elbirth]

I didn't ask anyone to give me their absolute best cash-cow ideas, just for some help to point me in the way of possibly making my own.

Besides, this forum is here to discuss ideas and help one another out, as I've tried to do when I'm in a position to. If we're just going to hoard everything we've learned, what's the point of surfing the forum?

[narlus]

it was a bit of tongue in cheek, but i'll wait for the next person to chime in...there's a difference between talking technical details and creative details...

[Rock Photo Star]

I didn't ask anyone to give me their absolute best cash-cow ideas, just for some help to point me in the way of possibly making my own.

Besides, this forum is here to discuss ideas and help one another out, as I've tried to do when I'm in a position to. If we're just going to hoard everything we've learned, what's the point of surfing the forum?

There is a difference between technical and creative sharing :D

Also, no need for bells and whistles, if the band has a look or projects personality than simply a tight shot of the band "projecting their look or personality" is all that is needed.

Bells and whistles are what the alternative press bands have to do cause they all look alike ;)

p.s. Yes, don't do train tracks.

[elbirth]

There is a difference between technical and creative sharing :D

Also, no need for bells and whistles, if the band has a look or projects personality than simply a tight shot of the band "projecting their look or personality" is all that is needed.

Bells and whistles are what the alternative press bands have to do cause they all look alike ;)

p.s. Yes, don't do train tracks.

Thanks, these guys do have a personality of their own, in particular the lead singer. He has the "look" like he's some big name rocker with the long hair, eyeliner, tattoos, etc. I have some ideas that involve keeping him up front as a centerpiece.


As for the creative vs technical. Yes I understand many photographers are uptight about sharing creative ideas because they think if they share even the tiniest bit, someone else is going to somehow steal work away from them. If your ideas are so great, then surely you have enough work keeping you busy and making you money that you have nothing to worry about.

And besides- Take a look at the RAW processing forum. Post processing IS very much just as creative as it is technical, and there's no problem discussing ideas there. A creatively-laid out shot is worth nothing if the exposure and post processing fail.


Anyway I do appreciate the insight, and I've done a lot of brainstorming the last couple days and do have a few ideas that can be fantastic- most don't necessarily depend on the greatest location, but one in particular does require a certain time of day and a couple other specifics to make it work the best. I'll see how it goes.

[darosk]

non-cliché band promo shotsNo such thing :p

[Rock Photo Star]

Thanks, these guys do have a personality of their own, in particular the lead singer. He has the "look" like he's some big name rocker with the long hair, eyeliner, tattoos, etc. I have some ideas that involve keeping him up front as a centerpiece.


As for the creative vs technical. Yes I understand many photographers are uptight about sharing creative ideas because they think if they share even the tiniest bit, someone else is going to somehow steal work away from them. If your ideas are so great, then surely you have enough work keeping you busy and making you money that you have nothing to worry about.

And besides- Take a look at the RAW processing forum. Post processing IS very much just as creative as it is technical, and there's no problem discussing ideas there. A creatively-laid out shot is worth nothing if the exposure and post processing fail.


Anyway I do appreciate the insight, and I've done a lot of brainstorming the last couple days and do have a few ideas that can be fantastic- most don't necessarily depend on the greatest location, but one in particular does require a certain time of day and a couple other specifics to make it work the best. I'll see how it goes.

Glad that help give you some focus and confidence that you don't need great props, location, etc. to have a compelling shot if you got a band that has a look that already is compelling.

I will post by tomorrow [have to go look up] some promos I've done to help further illustrate you don't need huge props and maybe even post some examples of gimmicky promos and their strengths and weaknesses.

[elbirth]

Glad that help give you some focus and confidence that you don't need great props, location, etc. to have a compelling shot if you got a band that has a look that already is compelling.

I will post by tomorrow [have to go look up] some promos I've done to help further illustrate you don't need huge props and maybe even post some examples of gimmicky promos and their strengths and weaknesses.

That would be great, I'd really appreciate it. I feel that once we get together and start the shoot that I can get some really great photos. I've just never done *posed* group shots, so the idea of creating a shot instead of just spotting and capturing the spontaneous moments is what makes me less confident. Of course, that then leads to the train of thought of- why not just go out with them somewhere and let them do their thing and step back out of the picture and document what they're doing.

[alessandro2009]

...
As for the creative vs technical. Yes I understand many photographers are uptight about sharing creative ideas because they think if they share even the tiniest bit, someone else is going to somehow steal work away from them. If your ideas are so great, then surely you have enough work keeping you busy and making you money that you have nothing to worry about.
...

For pro that live doing photograph could be happen that problem but i think that for real creative idea there isn't possible help.

For example the cliché band promo, initially was creative idea, after a ton of similar shoot o many but little variant they became cliché.

You should capture the essence of the group, but it's only you that see the band in person, it's only you that should understand the feeling of that group, etc.

In essence, for a real creative idea, i think will be better accommodate the natural predisposition of the group, based on the different personalities of different components, and you should guide them as best you think, for example highlighting these differences.

Yes there is the possibilities that using this criteria you could obtain a
chaotic shoot but if you don't try ...

Yes there is always a "risk" when you want do creative shoot, and this is a promo shoots (don't a personal shoot), so in the end decide as you think is better for you.

Note:
Also i would like add a "bad thought" if you shoot a band and this band sell better even if you shoot was the worst in the world, immediately, that shoot became beautiful! :lol: