Starting a small Nashville bsed company... Looking for adcive!

Hello Everyone,

I have been interested in photography for a number of years now, and it feels like it is time for me to really step it up and make something happen. My major in school is Music Business, and I am moving to Nashville by the end of the year. As sort of a little side job/business to try and make some extra money since I will be out on my own, as well as for gaining experience and making contacts, I am really looking to combine my love of music and photography.

As of right now, I don't really have any interest in portrait photography, weddings, etc. (though I am not ruling it out). I want to start off by lending my services to up and coming musicians/established musicians. I want to start a small service that caters to the needs of musicians which includes design and photography. I also do concert photography as well.

On the photography front, I am looking for some help from you all. Has anyone ventured out on something similar? Is there one way to start out that maybe works better than others? What trials have you faced and how did you overcome them? What equipment should I absolutely start out with? Could this be potentially lucrative (Im not in it for the money, I just want to get by on doing what I love.)

I am open to hearing any and all suggestions as well as your stories of things you experienced and how you have found success in something similar to this.

I am definitely going to try and assist some established photographers in Nashville. I have already went through my little CD booklets and jotted down names of Nashville based photographers to try and contact Is there anything I should/should not say when contacting them?

I want to be able to go into a store on the release date of a new album and pick up the CD off the shelf that I photographed. I want to be able to go to a concert and look at the merchandise tables and see the photos I took printed on everything and see everyone walking around wearing those tshirts.

I know I am covered a broad range of things and that one simple answer can not be found on here. I do know that many of you have had experience and I am open to anything you have to offer.

(I want to apologize ahead of time for how amateur this post may sound, as I have so many scattered thoughts running through my head!)

First off equipment: Concerts
A 30D isn't going to cut it. You will need to upgrade to a camera that has a higher ISO setting and lower noise.
You will a lens that is "fast" and "long". That means $$$. I lucked up on a 70-200mm 2.8 IS II lens for 675.00. That's a 2400.00 lens.

What kind of training/background do you have?

*I know I spelled TONS of things wrong. I edited them, but it hasn't updated yet*

I've been around the industry working at concerts for the last few years.

Until now the 30D sufficed, but I am looking to step it up. With the 30D I have shot Carrie underwood, Taylor Swift, Lady Antebellum, Kelly Clarkson, David Cook, Selena Gomez and a bunch of others. I got great shots, but I know it's only because the shows I have done are lit extremely well. I will keep and eye out for that lense and any others that are suggested.

First, both links in your Sig failed.

Brandon James wrote in post #12787622
but I know it's only because the shows I have done are lit extremely well.

Good point. I had some good results with the f/4 before I upgraded to f/2.8. Now the 85mm f/1.8 is a nice lens to have when I can get close.

So you already know that new bands don't have, or don't admit to having any money?

Brandon James wrote in post #12787622
*I know I spelled TONS of things wrong. I edited them, but it hasn't updated yet*

I've been around the industry working at concerts for the last few years.

Until now the 30D sufficed, but I am looking to step it up. With the 30D I have shot Carrie underwood, Taylor Swift, Lady Antebellum, Kelly Clarkson, David Cook, Selena Gomez and a bunch of others. I got great shots, but I know it's only because the shows I have done are lit extremely well. I will keep and eye out for that lense and any others that are suggested.

^Have you been getting paid for these shoots? Id definitely invest in a new(er) body and glass if your going to open your own studio. 30D will be great as a backup. Like any type of photography/business its going to come down to how effectively you can market yourself. Hopefully you'll be able to work with some established photogs!

Thanks for all of the input

I last logged in about a year or 2 ago which is why the links no longer work. And I have not gotten paid for these shots, it was all freelance work for various music wesites and such. Is it possible to get paid for shooting at concerts?

Brandon James wrote in post #12795949
Is it possible to get paid for shooting at concerts?

Yes, but probably not by me as an assistant or 2nd shooter, because I would want someone who pays attention to the little details. For instance, your title has two typos, as well as the body of text in post #1. Also "I last logged in about a year or 2 ago which is why the links no longer work." Really? Two years & the links are still there in your Sig & I/we still cant see your work?

Do you see what I mean? The first thing a client will see is how you present yourself, & that's important to the client because that's what other people will see when you represent the client if they give you work. So if you're going into a service business, it's something that you should pay more attention to unless you like starting out with one strike against you.

The above issues were already addressed.

I typed the original from my iPhone. I explained that I tried to edit it (see the above posts) and it will not save my changes.

I joined the forums a long, long time ago and have not logged in for almost 2 years. That is when those websites were active. I logged in specifically to post this topic and to start being active on this website again.

This is a photography forum. It's not a paper I wrote for school. It's not a resume. It's a simple topic that I posted to get some feedback on. Lay off a bit.

Brandon James wrote in post #12787019
...and I am open to anything you have to offer.

I offered the view from my perspective. You are certainly free to ignore it.

PM'ed.

By the way, everything is a resume. Good luck!

Brandon James wrote in post #12802528
This is a photography forum. It's not a paper I wrote for school. It's not a resume. It's a simple topic that I posted to get some feedback on. Lay off a bit.

My advice is to first get some thicker skin; if the comments that were offered to you offend you enough to lash out, I can only imagine what will happen the first time you screw up during a paid event, and you get raked over the coals and if you don't think that you will ever screw up...

It's comical how often people will get offended and ignore the most important advice they may ever get. The photography business is all about attention to details. Unfortunately, you don't get to decide which details are important and which are not.

One other thing you have not considered, or I have not seen it mentioned. Do you have any contacts in the country music business? That business is dog eat dog in this town and also photographers seem to be a dime a dozen here in the greater Nashville area, just check on Graig's List for Nashville.

Good luck in your endevors.

Rocky Rhode wrote in post #12805402
My advice is to first get some thicker skin; if the comments that were offered to you offend you enough to lash out, I can only imagine what will happen the first time you screw up during a paid event, and you get raked over the coals and if you don't think that you will ever screw up...

I absolutely know that I am bound to screw up. Note taken... I will be working on that thicker skin! Thanks for offering input.

Steve Wintrow wrote in post #12809433
One other thing you have not considered, or I have not seen it mentioned. Do you have any contacts in the country music business? That business is dog eat dog in this town and also photographers seem to be a dime a dozen here in the greater Nashville area, just check on Graig's List for Nashville.

Good luck in your endevors.

I do have a contacts that I can move forward with. Some are country music related, some are other genres, but are Nashville based as well. And I assume from that point on it's building relationships and word of mouth.