The First Online Training Academy For Concert Photography

If you can overcome the most common obstacles, you can finally get access to shoot your favourite Rockbands, your photos will be published in magazines and by the bands and you will be able to live your passion...

The Best Concert Photography Course

Matthias Hombauer’s music photography course arms you with everything you need to go from newbie to concert photography pro in just 8 weeks. Just like these people did...

Like Richard Bolwell who wanted to pursue concert photography as a career, but didn´t know how... now he made connections with bands, got his photographed published for promo purposes and is going to live the life as a tour photog soon.

Or Daria Tuca who texted her mom "You know what? I think I found my dream job" after getting to know my project...now she landed a job at a radio station and she is going to shoot a Queen + Adam Lambert concert soon.

Or Martin Bone who found concert photography a real challenge... and now he is working for an online magazine and have the confidence to ask for photo passes and also understands the business/marketing side.

...And You Can Live Your Dream Too

I know how frustrating it can be to start out as a concert photographer.

First, there are all these technical challenges:

You have to decide which camera gear to buy. There’s Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fuji, Pentax, Panasonic, Olympus, Tokina, Sigma, Tamron, Samyang and many more manufacturers who claim to have the best gear for you. You can read reviews for months to find the best choices, but even then you’ll be overwhelmed with datasheets and MTF charts.

Once you’ve decided which camera to get, you have to figure out the right camera settings. Unfortunately, the automatic mode won’t work for concert photography. On an entry-level DSLR camera, there are more than 150+ individual settings and these cameras come with a user manual as thick as a novel which is not fun to read or easy to understand.

And finally, you need to know how to post-process your photos. You get home after a concert with 500 photos. It’s already 1 am and if you follow your normal workflow in Adobe Lightroom of Photoshop, you’ll be stuck in front of the computer for the next 2 hours at least. So, it’s getting pretty late or should I say early?

Second, there are the communication challenges:

Almost all concert photographers want to shoot for a big publication such as Rolling Stone magazine. Maybe you’ve already tried to get in contact with magazines, but even though you’ve put a lot of effort and money into your passion, all you get is a NO.

And it’s impossible to get in contact with bands. They don’t even reply to your emails, once you took all of your courage to reach out to them.

This is damn FRUSTRATING!

I had a time where I thought of simply quitting…

…but then I have seen people who have made it as music photographers!

Imagine what their life must be like… They work for magazines and get access to shoot the most famous Rockstars on this planet!

They work directly with bands and don’t have the hassle of stupid restrictions like only being allowed in the photo pit for the first 3 songs.

No! They can take photos of the complete show and are able to shoot exclusive pictures on-stage - an opportunity which 99% of all concert photographers never get. 

They tour with amazing bands around the globe to document the musician's life and become friends with their idols.

Imagine how it would be if you’re a successful music photographer.

Wouldn’t you be excited and happy when taking photos in front of your favourite Rockbands?

Wouldn’t it feel like this is exactly where you’re supposed to be?

Wouldn’t you be proud of yourself and have a WOW-moment when a band shares your pictures on Instagram or Facebook or a magazines publishes your concert shots?

Wouldn’t all this get you even more excitement than your normal day job? How cool would this be?

So the question is, what are these successful music photographers doing differently compared to others, who are stuck in their careers?

Is it the camera gear that they are using?

Special camera settings?

Or do they know other secrets which aren't immediately obvious?

To know these secrets and help you not lose years of struggling as a concert photographer would be nice, right? It turns out there’s a course that can help you do just that...

But first, I'd like to share my personal story.

My name is Matthias Hombauer and I grew up in the countryside in Austria/Europe (you know, the place with lots of mountains around). When I turned 13, I went to my first Guns ‘n’ Roses concert, which completely changed my life. For the first time, I felt a strong urge to become a Rockstar myself! Therefore, after this memorable event, I learned to play guitar and was looking to start my own band. I found some guys with long hair and skinny jeans and “Contempt”, my first death metal band, was born. Unfortunately, we didn’t achieve much success and, after a couple of years, we split up.

This was the first time, I failed at becoming a Rockstar.

In 2008 I opened a new chapter in my life and started my Ph.D thesis in molecular biology at the University of Vienna. I thought maybe I could become a Rockstar researcher. My aim was ambitious: winning the nobel prize! I was interested in how our body fights against viruses. Here’s a picture of me working in the laboratory.

Everything seemed set up for me with a bright future as a researcher, but unfortunately nothing turned out to be as I had dreamed. Long working hours in the lab (including weekends), projects were not running well and after some years I couldn’t resist the feeling that this job was not the right one for me any more. This job wasn’t setting my heart on fire with passion. I am sure you all know this feeling – it’s awesome when you do the things you really love and it almost kills you when you have to do a job you hate.

There I was, a frustrated 32 year old guy, with a Ph.D. degree in his hands, struggling to find his way in life.

I went back and forth, unsure as to what to do with my future. Quitting my career as a researcher was just a crazy thought! Who the hell studies for 9 years and then changes his mind? My parents and friends were skeptical and my colleagues shook their heads when I discussed my ideas about leaving the laboratory. I couldn’t find a way out.

This was the second time in my life when I failed at becoming a Rockstar.

I thought about it over and over again. “Maybe this is how life has to be. Everybody tells you that life is not easy. You have to make sacrifices and I don’t know a lot of people who really love their job. Go to work and live your hobby/passion when you retire”, was a common piece of advice people gave me. But these kind of suggestions even made my frustrations grow and the feeling being of being stuck with no options of breaking out was dominating my day-to-day life. I thought, “But no passion for my job means no enthusiasm, no dedication, no fire. I’ll be like a zombie for the next 40 years!”. I simply couldn’t continue like this.

But if I decided to quit my job as a researcher, what else should I do?

I was still a music lover and went to at least 2 concerts a month. Around this time, I got my first digital camera, a Canon 40D and I started to take photos of flowers, landscapes and portraits of my family and friends. To tell you the truth, I wasn’t very enthusiastic about my photos at all.

Then, one day, when I was riding my bicycle to work, something strange happened. This might sound a bit crazy, but a voice in my head told me, “Why not become a concert photographer?”. Why had I never thought of that before?

When I arrived at work, the first thing I did was Google, “How to become a concert photographer”.

Back then (it was 8 years ago) there was hardly any information about concert photography on the internet. I couldn’t find an easy step-by-step guide on how to start my career. I found some old books from the 80’s on Amazon and articles discussing technical issues about cameras and lenses in a language I didn’t understand (some quirky jargon). So this wasn’t helpful at all.

I started to think and questions like:

Which camera equipment do I need?
Which camera settings should I use?
How can I get access to my favourite bands?
Where do I even begin to shoot concerts? Started popping up.

I was overwhelmed and I started thinking “will I ever really be able to figure this out by myself?”.

I was just like you, and, like you, I struggled with the same problems.

So I started from scratch. In the beginning, it was impossible to get hired by a magazine. Magazines didn’t even reply to my emails, once I’d plucked up the courage to mail them.

If, by some stroke of luck, a band was willing to do a shoot with me, they wouldn’t pay for my work, even though I had spent my hard-earned money on my equipment and I was sacrificing precious time trying to make my dream come true.

I was almost at the point where I thought about quitting and getting back to my normal life. “Maybe this is how my life is to be”, I thought to myself. Get a proper job, work from Monday to Friday, 8 hours a day and not have the time to do what I love.

It wasn’t an easy time, but a feeling inside me kept pushing me further and further down the road to becoming a music photographer. When I decided to change my life completely, and gave up my day job, I was scared to death and overwhelmed by the whole situation. I had no idea how to get business as a self-employed photographer and didn’t know how to deal with the rollercoaster ride of success and frustration and all the rest from one day to another.

And then I found the solution...

Since then, it’s been an unbelievable journey for me.

Fast Forward To Now: I am a world reowned music photographer

I’ve shot concerts of more than 400 bands including the world’s most famous bands, such as Metallica, The Rolling Stones and Miley Cyrus.

I have worked exclusively for bands like The Prodigy, Iggy Pop, Fatboy Slim, Calexico, Skunk Anansie, Vintage Trouble, and many more and I worked with Instagram in 2015.

I have toured with bands such as Peter Gabriel. Elvis Costello, Fink, Shantel and Atlas Losing Grip.

My photos were used on album covers / in album booklets such as The Prodigy’s “The Day is my Enemy” and Fink’s “Wheels turn beneath my feet” and as tour posters.

My photos and interviews were published in magazines such as Rolling Stone Magazine, Metal Hammer, Digital Photographer Magazine UK, Capture Magazine, The Huffington Post UK and Digital Photography School.

My work was exhibited in Buenos Aires as part of the Highlights Exhibition in one of the most famous galleries, the Centro Cultural Borges.

I get sponsored by Instagram, Manfrotto, Fuji and Converse.

I also met a lot of great guys all around the world. I met up with my friend Todd Owyoung in Brooklyn and we had a great night out, talking about concert photography. I met Adam Elmakias in Vienna and we’re both shooting Metallica together in the photo pit! And I met Dana Distortion and Javier Bragado in Buenos Aires at our Highlights exhibition.

Following my passion was the best decision I ever made and finally, after years of struggling, I became a Rockstar myself!

After working with all those Rockstars, I eagerly documented everything I learned in the last 8 years.

And now I have a proven, repeatable, step-by-step process what I call 'Shooting The Rockstars'!

I am eager to share it with you, but first...

You should know that other people benefited form starting their career as concert photographers too.

These 4 People Started And Became Successful Concert Photographers

I am not the only one who is doing well as concert photographer.

Regular people are starting - and growing - their career as concert photographers...

..and they´re doing well.

What I find fascinating is this:

These people didn´t have a professional photography training

These people struggled with insecurity that they´re not good enough

These people didn't know anything about how the music business works

And yet...

They did it!

In some case it was their first attempt to becoming a music photographer.

And still, they´re doing well!

See for yourself:

Nici Eberl

When I moved to London I realised that Music Photography is what I really want to do. I kept watching the photographers in the photo pit and dreamed of being one of them, but never ever would I have thought that I´m really going to end up being there. My biggest weakness was my insecurity. I never felt good enough and was too shy to present my work. After completing Matthias' training I became the house photographer of the O2 Forum, got published in Kerrang! and the O2 Magazine and had over 300 bands in front of my lens.

The main problem i was facing was the business side of concert photography. I was photographing shows, but what next? What do I do with my photos? Who do I contact to gain access to bigger shows? As a result of this training, I will be going on tour with a band to shoot their new album launch & tour. The course gave me the confidence to sell myself and come over as a professional photographer.

Richard Bolwell

Martin Bone

My main challenge was getting press accreditation and working for magazines in order to get access to bigger shows. After completing the course, I became a staff photographer for 'Rock At Night', I have been successful in applying for press passes for festivals and since I got to understand the business/marketing side I gained a lot of new followers of my work and I connected to like minded people in the industry.

As I am currently a highschool student that got really sick of being forced to do stuff I don‘t enjoy, I was searching for some photo courses that would help me to improve my skills. After going through the training I only feel more convinced that this is my 'dream job'. I am now a staff photographer for a radio station. By becoming that, I managed to get my first photo pass for the upcoming Queen + Adam Lambert concert and some other festivals.

Daria Tuca

BUT there are so many ways to go wrong when you start trying to figure out how to become a concert photographer....

And therefore I want to tell you more about the mistakes I made when I started out (and those mistakes are still made today)

The 4 Concert Photography Beliefs That so Many People Fall Victim To - And How To Avoid Them

‘I don´t have professional photography training’

When I was starting out, I always heard that I needed professional photography training. Sure, I could have gone to a photography school and follow a course for 3 years, but I was already 32 years old and I didn’t have either the time or the money for a photography class. The fact that I had never held a digital camera in my hands before didn’t make it any easier. However, I accepted the challenge and wanted to prove all these people wrong.

Let’s start with 3 hard facts about being a music photographer:

I’ve never attended any professional photography training,

Guess how many clients asked me which photography school I attended? - If you thought zero, you’re absolutely correct.

I agree that you need to know the technical basics about photography that you’ll learn in school, but what will set you apart from the thousands of other concert photographers are skills that won’t be provided at a photography school.

A photography school won’t help you much if you want to become a music photographer. It’s not only about knowing your gear, there are other aspects involved. For instance, 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, etc. You’ll learn all of this by actually getting out there and shooting concerts. The good thing about it is that you can start right now. So there’s no-one and nothing holding you back from becoming a music photographer right now!

Once I realized that having a professional training wasn’t necessary to help me in becoming a concert photographer, I broke through and found a solution that helped me to get to the next level. More on that soon...

‘I can’t afford expensive equipment’

I hear this all the time from people who want to start out as concert photographers! There is this belief that we need the most expensive equipment to succeed. When did you hear this the last time? Was it a rich colleague who wanted to brag or compensate for his lack of talent with his camera gear? Or was it a TV commercial from Nikon or Canon suggesting that we buy the new D5 or DX1 for $6000?

For some reason, when we think photography, we envision that the more expensive the gear, the better the photos get.

Let’s crush this myth right now by a quote from the world-famous photographer Ansel Adams: ‘The single most important component of a camera is the twelve inches behind it.’ It’s all about the photographer! The photographer makes a great photo, the camera is just a tool.

I have to admit that I also fell into this trap when I was starting out. I saw photos on the internet that I liked and immediately wanted to buy the exact gear that was used to take the photo. One day it was Nikon, the next day Canon and the third day I thought I need a Sony. Fortunately, I couldn’t afford to buy the gear I had seen for $10.000+, which saved me from making a big mistake.

The one camera I could afford was the entry-level camera Canon 40D with a 17-85mm lens. This was the camera I used as I started getting interested in concert photography. Was it the best camera around? Definitely not. But it got me started and helped me build my portfolio.

By the way, I believe that building up your equipment should go hand-in-hand with learning photography. If you don’t know the basics of photography and I hand you a Phase One digital medium format camera worth $40,000, do you think you’ll make better photos than your neighbour who is a hobby photographer using an iPhone? I bet you won’t.

Therefore, don’t believe people who’ll tell you that you need the best equipment to get awesome shots.

This is one of my favourite photos from Vintage Trouble on-stage in front of 120,000 people. This photo appeared in the print version of several professional camera magazines and hung at one of the most prestigious galleries in Buenos Aires as a 120 x 80 cm print. Let me tell you a secret about this photo. I shot it using a $300 lens. Sure, you can get a similar lens for $2000, but will it be any better? You’ll see any difference! Don’t be fooled by people who tell you that the equipment makes the photographer.

‘I am not a good enough photographer’

I often hear people saying, “I don't think I’m good enough as a concert photographer” or “I wish I could make it, but there are so many excellent photographers out there that I'm afraid I'm not gonna make it”.

All successful concert photographers once started out with a camera in their hands with no idea what to do with it. And I am no exception. Once I figured out all the dials and settings of my camera, I still wasn’t able to get decent photos which looked like all the awesome concert photos I found on the internet.

Let me tell you a story that blew me away when I first heard it.

You’ll probably never have heard of a young guy called Conor McDonnell. I hadn’t either. A friend and guitarist in a small band from the UK told me that this Conor guy wanted to take photos of their gigs. So they just invited him and gave him the opportunity to learn and shoot for them. My friend told me that the pictures turned out awful and they couldn’t even use any of them. So, you would expect that Conor McDonnell would give up, frustrated with photography and would’ve just walked away. Instead, it seems he still believed in himself and stayed in the game. Some years later, his name flashed up in the news, because he was the one (instead of Annie Leibovitz) who shot Kayne West and Kim Kardashian’s wedding!

What can we learn from this story? Everyone starts out small, as a beginner, as someone facing challenges, dealing with drawbacks, getting up again and fighting for the things that they love doing most. So, don’t get stressed out - everyone started out small. It’s just about how you continue down your path.

‘What are you talking about? I just have to illegally sneak into concerts with my camera’

What about all these people who promise that you just have to sneak into concerts and festivals by replicating the wristbands and press tickets? How cool would this be to take photos on-stage and backstage of your favourite band? Pretty easy, eh? They promise that this is the way to do it. MTV even made a fake documentary about one guy who builds his career on this assumption. If it’s on TV than it has to be true, right? Even David Hobby (The Strobist.com) agreed with me when he twittered: ‘Hombauer saying XXX is bullshit”.

Sorry guys, the truth looks different.

And here’s why: In order to shoot the Rockstars:

you need to know how to get access to shows (press accreditation)

you need to know your gear and camera settings

you need to know the rules in the photo pit

you need to know how to build contacts to bands/management

you need to know how to market your work (there are thousands of other concert photographers who will compete with you, why should a band want to work with you?)

you need to learn how to do business as a photographer (otherwise you won’t succeed and you might even hurt your reputation).

There is a lot of knowledge you’ll have to know and it took me 9 years to find a proven way on how to get to the next level and getting my name known within the concert photography business.

Let me explain.

Then I Discovered The Solution

Most people believe they need professional photography training or the best equipment or they have to be the best photographers in order to shoot their favourite bands.

Instead, I‘ve discovered that building your portfolio is far more important if you want to get access (press accreditation) to shoot your idols.

I started from scratch without any professional training with a cheap, entry-level camera and my photos sucked big time!

Every time I took my DSLR camera with me to a concert, the security guard turned me away, telling me I couldn’t enter with the camera.

It was only later I realized that in order to get access to shoot bands, I would have to change my strategy. Once I had this realization, all my problems started fading away. (And it was not the ‘sleazy sneaking in’ option!)

I realized that there is a proven way of how to build your brand as a concert photographer.

I‘ve discovered that building your portfolio, starting out in small clubs first, is far more important if you want to get access (press accreditation) and shoot your idols.

It’s funny — once I made sure that I focused on building my portfolio, all the stuff I used to worry about fell right into place.

Because once I had put together some great concert photos, magazines and bands were keen to work with me and provided me with press accreditation, because they could actually see my work.

So, why am I telling you my story? I’m telling you this, because I know all of you can walk this same path. I had no professional photography training, I was 32 years old and I had never attended any photography school. But, what I have is the passion for music and photography. And I guess passion is also your motivation to be a concert photographer or else why the hell would you work on a sunday night for a couple of hours in a dark venue, post-process the pictures afterwards and go to bed at 3 am (and probably not get paid for it!)?

Let’s get this straight. Yes, you can definitely find your own way to become a concert photographer.

You can go out there and find out about the stuff you need to know in fora or on the internet, sorting through the good information and the bad information.

But, I have already done the work for you.

I spent the last 8 years of my life finding out what works and what doesn’t. I read all the books and watched literally all the Youtube videos that are available on this topic, I talked to other concert photographer leaders such as Todd Owyoung, Adam Elmakias and Ross Halfin (the Metallica photographer). I did extensive surveys with 4000 community members and worked through hundreds of questions about what concert photographers are struggling with the most.

As a former researcher, I love data and experimenting and the surprising result is that all photographers struggle with the same problems. It doesn’t matter if you’re from the USA, UK or Indonesia. (by the way, my Facebook followers are from 100+ countries). Therefore, my proven way to become a successful concert photographer will work for you as well and it will save you years of struggling.

You can also just keep doing what you’re doing. As long as you’re happy with it. Not everyone wants to shoot the big stars, not everyone wants to freelance for a magazine and not everyone wants to go on tour. I totally get this.

However, if you want to skyrocket your career as a concert photographer and bring it to the next level, then you might be interested in what I have to offer.

Now I would like to show you my proven step-by-step blueprint I use to do it.

The 8-Weeks Online Academy

What makes Shooting The Rockstars different?

Have you ever watched YouTube videos or read a book about concert photography and felt like, 'Okay there is a lot of information here...but I don't know what I need to do first!".

That´s because often people just share one piece of the complete puzzle. Yes, it´s valuable information, but knowing the best Autofocus Technique won´t help if you need to know how to get into concerts first.

The best training break things down into manageable chunks that you can take action on immediately.

And that´s exactly what Shooting The Rockstars does for you.

You´ll never need to figure anything out, even when you have never had a camera in hands before.

Shooting The Rockstars is a 8 weeks course and every week you´ll get access to a new module.

if you're just starting out as concert photographer, Module 1 will cover everything you need to know for buying your first camera equipment to shooting your first concert and building your portfolio, your working asset. If you’re working on getting press accreditation and perfect Composition, Module 2 is the right one for you. You want to work with bands directly or go on tour with them? Module 3 will be your best bet. If you want to know how to do marketing so that your photos get shown to the right people, watch Module 4. If you want to make money with your photos and understand the music business, take a look at Module 5.

Now let me walk you through, in detail, everything I'll cover inside this training program:

Module 1 - Beginners

You need the most expensive equipment to become a concert photographer, right? WRONG! Plus 4 other myths debunked to get you started.
My toolkit to get your mind ready. Including 7 proven "mind-hacks" that will help you start your project, stay committed and deliver the best work you can.
Why you need to know about aperture, shutter speed and ISO and how to use them to get awesome photos.

Overwhelmed with all the camera equipment options? No problem, I´ll teach you which camera and lens you should get first...even if you´re in a tight budget.
The easy-to-follow-roadmap to shoot your first successful concert. And the must-have tips to make this event an enjoyable one.
My 10 proven camera settings for starters that gets you better photos than 99% of all other guys with a camera in the audience.

The step-by-step blueprint when, why, where and what to do during your first concert.
The exact process to build your portfolio (incl. set up your own homepage) and the 3 mistakes why most concert photographers fail at it.

Module 2 - Advanced

My step-by-step guide on how to get a photo pass/press accreditation which gets you access to the Rockstars, including the exact email template I use to get in contact with magazines and bands. And it works!
16 tips on how to master the coolest spot in the the venue: the photo pit. In addition, I´ll give you my advice on shooting from the crowd, seated venues and the soundboard
Always wanted to know exactly what Canon or Nikon gear the pros use? I´ll give you the answer and explain why 90% of all photographers are using them.

The 10 camera settings that helped me to build my career as a concert photographer...and easy explanations why.
Struggling with blurry and out-of-focus concert photos? I´ll teach you my advanced autofocus technique which helped my students to get tack sharp photos...even in ultra low light situations
The truth about getting awesome concert photos not only of the lead singer, but also of the guitarist, bass player and drummer.

My 10 favourite tips on composition and framing to make your concert photos stand out...average photos are for losers.
Are you tired of sitting for hours in front of your computer, post-processing your photos? I´ll teach you my exact step-by-step protocol (Lightroom)...you´ll love it!

Module 3 - Shooting For Bands

Always wanted to have access to your idols? The truth about the Access All Area Pass and the 4 steps to easily get one.
Your dream is to get backstage and take photos of the band in this intimate place? No problem, I´ll show you the pitfalls and I´ll teach you the basic when shooting band portraits.
99% of concert photographers will never make it on-stage. My proven 8 survival tips when shooting on-stage, including a case study when I was working with Fatboy Slim in front of 50 000 people.

The 'Hands-On-Experience' Technique: A little know secret that will skyrocket your 'YES, we want to work with you' email responses from managers/bands.
You need to be the best photographer to go on tour? Wrong! I´ll talk about my experiences as tour photographer and the best ways to prepare for it.
Is it really possible to become friends with your favourite bands? The is answer is yes, and I'll show you my 3 success factors that helped me to establish my name within the music industry.

Module 4 - Marketing

There are millions of concert photographers worldwide struggling to get noticed. You need to know how to get your work seen and in this is exactly what I´ll teach you in this lesson
Facebook? Twitter? Pinterest? Linkedin? Instagram? Flickr? Tumblr? 500px? Behance? Google+? I´ll show you which social media channels really work...the good news: you´ll need only 3!
My 8 proven Facebook Marketing Tips and how I generated 700 likes, a publication offer and a "great shot" from a photography leader with 1 concert photo overnight.

4 must-have automation tools that will save you hours in front of your computer...and the best thing about them: they're free!

Module 5 - Business

How to never give away your photos for free, but still build your name as a professional music photographer and get respect from musicians.
Most famous bands make you sign a contract before you can take photos. I´ll teach you about music contracts and how to read them, which ones you can sign and which ones you MUST avoid.
What strategies really work when you you want to make money as music photographer? I tested them all and I´ll show you which ones work best and why.

Afraid of becoming a freelance music photographer? My 5 pro tips on how I built my business and how you can too.

AVAILABLE BONUSES

BONUS 1: Secret Facebook Rockstar Community

Since concert photography has become very popular during the last few years, you’ll find a lot of dedicated groups on Facebook. Search for ‘concert photography’ and you’ll find them. The problem is that there are so called “experts” in these groups who are bashing other people. It happened to myself as well as to a lot of colleagues who left these groups again. In my opinion, these ‘haters’ are just frustrated losers who envy others that are more successful. And what’s the result? Your questions are getting bashed publicly by a bunch of idiots, you’re ashamed and you’re scared to ask any more.

Therefore I built my own exclusive group with 320+ active concert photographers. Read what members have to say:

'I have to say that joining the exclusive Facebook community have truly inspired me to move my 'hobby' to the next level. With the help of this community I even started my own online music magazine 'Rock At Night'. I truly am grateful!' - Chyrisse Tarbone

'I find Matthias Hombauers' Facebook group very helpful and it´s DEFINITELY the best Concert Photography group online I´m a member of!' - Duncan Everson

'I just wanted to say that having been accepted a member of this group for only two days now, I am LOVING it. The people here are friendly, enormously talented, full of wonderful knowledge and are happy to share their experiences, photos and answer any questions.' - Mark Moray

You can get into the front line with people who are just starting out shooting their first concert, shooting for magazines or selling their work. They are having success and you can learn from their success too. It doesn´t matter if you actively participate or if you just read all the comments and learn from others.

BONUS 2: Lightroom Presets Bundle: Color + Black&White

Lightroom Presets Color Shooting The Rockstars

Lightroom Presets BlackWhite_Shooting The Rockstars

The complete Rockstar Lightroom preset bundle: 5x Color and 5x Black&White Lightroom Presets for making your RAW files rock with one click! These are exactly the same presets I use for my concert photos all the time.

'I`ve been using these presets now for a little while and they are simple outstanding. Not only have they helped me to speed up my post processing workflow, but they'll help you turn you photos into awesome concert shots!' - Mat Allan

'I tested Matthias B&W LR presets on multiple red, green and blue overcasted images. Final results was awesome and needed no extra slider tweaking. I can totally recommend the Lightroom presets!' - Anja Ivanovic

'These presets made my post production a lot easier. I really like the tones. Just perfect! I can highly recommend them!' - Pasi Eriksson

And If You Get Stuck - I Am Here To Help

Every single member will get email access to my support team and we are here to troubleshoot any issue you may encounter while implementing my tactics.

Got a specific question what camera to buy? What to include in your email when you apply for a magazine job? Need help figuring out the price when selling your photos?

You´re one email away from the help you need.

Plus, you´ll gain access to my secret Rockstar Facebook community of other concert photographers who are like you. You can ask for feedback, ask for specific recommendations on editing your photos, or share your work so that you can get a second set of eyes.

This is important. When you´re working on a problem, and you just can't figure it out, the support of likeminded people can be the difference between continued struggles - and lasting success.

I am so confident that Shooting The Rockstars can help you to get to the next level...

Therefore I want to offer you a NEW satisfaction guarantee:

THE 30-DAY “TRY THE ACADEMY” 100% MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE

Your investment in this training is backed by a 30-Day “Try The Academy” Guarantee.

Here’s how it works:

When you enroll in the course today, you have a FULL 30-days to go through the course 100% risk free. If you feel that Shooting The Rockstars just didn’t work for you, email my support team, show us you did the work (building your portfolio, reaching out to outlets,..), and we’ll issue a prompt and courteous refund where you’ll get 100% of your money back.

Why do I offer such a lenient guarantee?

I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that this course works.

You see, some people put together a bunch of content that seems haphazard. “An idea here” and “an idea there.” But Shooting The Rockstars is different in one MAJOR way:

The entire course is a step-by-step guide.

That means, if you're just starting out as concert photographer, Module 1 will cover everything you need to know for buying your first camera equipment to shooting your first concert and building your portfolio, your working asset. If you’re working on getting press accreditation and perfect Composition, Module 3 is the right one for you. If you want to know how to do marketing so that your photos get shown to the right people, watch Module 4. If you want to make money with your photos and understand the music business, take a look at Module 5.

I made the system so easy to follow that I believe ANYONE can do it. And that’s why I put my money where my mouth is: You can go through the course for a full 30 days, and, if you don’t get results, email my support team, prove that you did the work, and you’ll get 100% of your money back.

So, join hundreds of Shooting The Rockstars graduates, and I’ll show you how to become a successful concert photographer and live your passion.

But I Have A Word Of Warning…

If you’re just starting out as concert photographer, and you think you’re going to work on-stage with The Rolling Stones or Iron Maiden for your first concert, you’re out of your mind.

I don’t know why people think they only have to get the most expensive equipment and then the camera will do all the magic. A $6000 camera should be better than a $350 camera, right? NO. This is absolute BS.

Here’s an example of a conversation I had with someone:

Delusional Dreamer: ‘I bought a Canon 1D X Mark II, a 24-70mm f2.8 lens and the 70-200mm f2.8 lens. It cost me $10.000. As I now have the equipment, I’m ready to start shooting all the famous bands in the world. The camera will do the job for me. I’m just waiting to get the right jobs.’

Brutally honest Matthias Hombauer: ‘If this is your approach to concert photography, you should throw in the towel right now. Start learning the basic of photography first. (By the way, you can do this with a used $100 camera as well). Then shoot concerts in small clubs and build your portfolio. Work up slowly. Thinking that you can become a successful Rockstar photographer overnight is simply ridiculous.’

Now, if you’re like that Delusional Dreamer, I highly suggest you leave this page right now. I can’t work with people like you because you’re looking for a magic button that will make you instantly successful, and I have news for you, that button doesn´t exist.

As a matter of fact, there is a whole slew of reasons why you should not join Shooting The Rockstars. Here are a few of them:

If you do not intend to take action and think all you have to do is wait until a band manager calls to shoot your idols, please do not enroll. I know this course can help people start - and grow - their career as concert photographers. I also know that I provided the exact step-by-step roadmap to do it. But guess what? I could provide you a guide, but if you refuse to do anything with it, that’s not my fault. That’s your fault. And I rather save myself the time and frustration that comes along with working with you. So, don’t join Shooting The Rockstars, if you’re not willing to take action.

If you need to make money right now or else you’ll find yourself on the street, please do not enroll. It’s vital to get a job and care for your family and for yourself first. Music photography won’t pay your rent - especially in the beginning. I’ll give you step-by-step strategies that can help you become a successful concert photographer in the long-term, but if you say, “I need money right now or I’ll die.’, please do not enroll. Read my free material, go to a job interview and I wish you all the best for your future.

If you’re already a concert photographer, and you’ve been struggling with it for years, you must be willing to change the way you do things. I will provide you with a step-by-step roadmap you need to get to the next level, but you must be open to learning and incorporating my tactics and strategies. Even if they’re different’ from what you’re currently used to. If you don’t have an open mind, do not join Shooting The Rockstars.

That being said…

There are many reasons why you should join Shooting The Rockstars!

As a matter of fact:

If you can say ‘YES’ to any of these questions, I believe you’re the perfect fit for Shooting The Rockstars

I already showed you the proof: regular people are becoming concert photographers (as a hobby or as a semi/professional) and finally living their dream. And now, if you’re thinking this ‘academy thing’ could be right for you, I have great news. I designed Shooting The Rockstars for people JUST LIKE YOU.

When I dug through hundreds of survey results and personal emails from people who wanted to become a concert photographer, it became clear to me that everyone’s struggling with the same problems. It doesn’t matter how old you are, which professional background you have or where you live. There was a pattern of questions that arose all the time and people started saying ‘I wish there was a course that showed me how to start living my passion as a concert photographer, step-by-step, piece by piece”.

And for some reason, when I looked around, a course that was as specific as this just didn’t exist.

Sure, there were plenty of Youtube videos, blog articles or some books that discuss the topic of concert photography, but it was more of a “pot luck” of information that left the students “trying to figure out” what to do with it.

But Shooting The Rockstars is different.

I know how overwhelming everything can be in the beginning. Photography basics, camera gear and techniques, post-production of your photos, marketing and understanding the music business.

It was simply too much for me when I was starting out and therefore I can understand exactly how you’re feeling right now.

When I put together Shooting The Rockstars, I kept these frustrations and feelings in the back of my mind and focused on building a course that is taught in a way that everybody can understand (even if you’ve never had a camera in your hand before).

Now, this doesn’t mean the work is going to be easy. It never is. But I promise you this: You’ll never be left thinking about what to do next. Shooting the Rockstars is a step-by-step guide and you’ll know what to do next and when to do it. And if you ever get stuck, I will personally take care of you and try my best to help you out.

That said, if you can say yes to just ONE of the following questions, I believe Shooting the Rockstars is PERFECT for you.

Question #1: Are you looking to start concert photography as a hobby or semi-professional and want to live your dreams? (with an easy to follow step-by-step system)

Questions #2: You want to become a concert photographer but you don’t have a professional photography training (And you don’t want to spend 3 years in school)?

Question #3: Do you want to become a concert photographer, but you don’t have the money to invest $1000’s for camera equipment?

Question #4: Do you want know how the pros get their awesome shots (camera gear, settings, composition,…)?

Question #5: You’re stuck in your concert photography career, but you want to reach the next level?

Question #6: You’re looking to get press accreditations to shoot your favourite bands?

Question #7: You want to work as a concert photographer for magazines as a freelancer?

Question #8: Do you want to shoot for bands directly (backstage and on-stage)?

Question #9: Do you want to go on tour with bands and learn what the best way is of achieving that?

Question #10: You want to learn how to use marketing in order to get your photos seen exactly by the right people? (e.g. Bands, Managers, Magazine Editors, huge Brands)

Question #11: Do you want to know how concert photography pros using Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and how you can get the best out of it?

Question #12: Are you struggling with the business side of concert photography and you want to learn how sell your photos?

But don´t take my word for it

Here are direct quotes from other students who have bought Shooting The Rockstars: