This past weekend, I had the opportunity to step into the exciting world of live concert photography. Shooting for my friend’s band, Inside the Hollow, at the Austin venue Come And Take It Live, was an incredible experience full of learning moments and creative breakthroughs. From fine-tuning my settings on the fly to editing in post-production, it was a night I’ll always remember.

The Venue and the Atmosphere

Come And Take It Live is a staple in Austin’s live music scene, known for its eclectic mix of local and touring acts. The venue’s intimate setup and dynamic lighting created an electrifying atmosphere that was both thrilling and challenging to capture on camera. Bright, flashing stage lights, along with a dimly lit crowd, pushed me to experiment with my gear to find the best settings for crisp and vibrant shots.

Inside the Hollow at Come and Take It Live - Photo by Dalton Mitchell

Gear and Settings

For this shoot, I used my Nikon Z6II paired with a 50mm f/1.8 lens. The fast aperture was a lifesaver in the low-light environment, allowing me to let in as much light as possible while maintaining sharpness. I decided to use auto ISO for the night, giving me flexibility as the lighting shifted rapidly during the performance.

However, shutter speed proved to be the most critical setting. After experimenting, I found that 1/400s was the sweet spot, fast enough to freeze the motion of the band members without introducing too much noise from higher ISO levels. While some shots required minor tweaks, sticking to this combination yielded consistently clear images.

The Challenges of Concert Photography

Shooting live music presents unique challenges:

Rapidly Changing Lighting: Stage lights can shift dramatically from one second to the next, creating exposure challenges. To counter this, I stayed ready to adjust my shutter speed or let auto ISO take over.
Motion Blur: With the band constantly moving, I needed a fast enough shutter speed to freeze motion without compromising the quality of the shot.
Crowded Space: The packed audience and limited mobility added a layer of difficulty. I had to get creative with angles and compositions, often shooting over shoulders or finding small openings in the crowd.

Post-Processing in Lightroom

After the show, I went into Adobe Lightroom to polish the images. My goal was to preserve the authenticity of the performance while enhancing the vibrancy and detail. I made minor adjustments to:

Color Temperature: To balance the warm and cool tones from the stage lights.
Highlights and Shadows: Bringing out details in both the brightly lit areas and darker backgrounds.
Clarity and Contrast: To add depth to the photos without making them overly processed.

This light touch allowed the images to retain the raw energy of the night, and I was thrilled with the results.

The Results and Sharing with the Band

Out of several hundred shots, I narrowed down about 50 strong images and then further reduced that to 19 final edits that I shared with the band. The collection included a mix of wide shots, close-ups, and candid moments, each telling a part of the story of the night. The band’s reaction made all the effort worthwhile—they loved the images and felt they captured the essence of their performance.

Takeaways from the Night

This experience taught me a lot about adapting to new challenges as a photographer. Here are some key lessons:

Preparation Is Key: Knowing your camera and experimenting with settings ahead of time can save valuable moments during the shoot.
Stay Flexible: Conditions can change quickly in live environments. Be ready to adapt your approach to get the best results.
Enjoy the Process: While concert photography can be stressful, it’s also incredibly rewarding. Let the energy of the music guide your creativity.

Final Thoughts

Shooting my first live concert at Come And Take It Live was an exhilarating experience. It pushed me out of my comfort zone and gave me a new appreciation for concert photography. If you’re considering diving into this genre, my advice is simple: grab your camera, be prepared to experiment, and immerse yourself in the music. You might just surprise yourself with the results.

My First Live Concert Photography Experience at Come And Take It Live