What is HTBARP? 

My vision with How to Become A Rockstar Photographer is to inspire people start living their dreams as concert photographers.

The HTBARP community consists of thousands of passionate photographers from all around the world that help and support each other on their journey to become a concert photographer. 

What To Expect as a Concert Photographer?

I have 3 podcast episodes that are must-listens to anyone who wants to get up to speed quickly with their concert photography career. 

HTBARP fans tell me all the time how much these episodes helped them understand the music photography business.  I guarantee they'll help you too. 

If you love the episodes, be sure the subscribe to the HTBARP Podcast on iTunes to get new episodes or download my free HTBARP App here. 

What HTBARP is NOT

Let´s crush some myths about concert photography before we go any further. 

1. A professional photography school. Because, you don't need a professional photography training! It's not only about knowing your gear, as there are other aspects involved. How to behave in the photo pit? How to get press accreditation? How to not freak out when you have to take photos
   of your idols? You'll learn all of this by actually getting out there and shooting concerts and learning from other photographers. The good thing about it is that you can start right now.
2. I won´t tell you that you need the best equipment. "A lot of photographers think that if they buy a better camera they'll be able to take better photographs. A better camera won't do a thing for you if you don't have anything in your head or in your heart." - Arnold Newman. You can get awesome concert photos with a cheap entry level camera and the right lens even when you're on a budget. Don´t be fooled by people who tell you that the equipment makes the photographer.
3. A "Get a famous Rockstar photographer in 1 week" site.. Concert photography is one of the most challenging fields in photography. You can’t change your environment. The movement of the artist and the stage lighting is out of your control, the space you work in is limited, and the business side of things follows different rules than all other  professions out there. So, overnight success is a myth. You can not expect to shoot the big stars after you got your camera. You need to be in there for the long run and work hard to earn your recognition first.

Tools And Camera Settings

A camera and the right camera settings are the essentials when beginning your career as a concert photographer.

1. What camera gear should I get on a budget?
   There are some many camera brands out there and you don't know which model you should get? I wrote a blog post that helps you to get started here.
2. What camera settings should I use?. There are more than hundred camera settings that you can choose from on a digital camera. Read here which settings work best.
   

These are the most common questions beginners have when they decide to shop for a camera and get things going. The good news is, I wrote down a step-by-step manual that will help you kickstart your passion without wasting months of researching and reading reviews online.

Protect Your Health

Earplugs

When I was starting out as a concert photographer, I always thought it was cool to be in the photo pit without any earplugs or hearing protection. I loved the loud music, being in the pit in front of the speakers, but after the concerts, my ears were always ringing. This was far the biggest mistake I made. Tinnitus and hearing damage is not a joke and they can easily be avoided with the right earplugs. Read my earplugs review here.

My favorite earplugs for concert photography are the Eargasm (get -10% discount using the code: HTBARPEAR when checkout)

Camera Strap 

I always used the Canon (and later Nikon) neck straps that were included in the box with a new camera. I wasn’t concerned about the straps until I felt the pain in my neck and back after shooting more concerts. Back pain and neck pain are the most common ailments of photographers. The cause is simply using straps that fail to prevent injuries. Read my camera strap review here. My favorite camera strap is the Peak Design Slide.