Band photo ideas

[tafkathundernotes]

OK, I'm at a loss for ideas. We need to shoot a band photo soon, but with a name like "Discount Gigolos", we can't be lookin' all "badass" in front of a brick wall or on the railroad tracks. Nothing like this: http://www.rockandrollconfidential.com/hall/index.php

So anyway, I'm fishing for themes that would be in line with our tongue-in-cheek, "don't take yourself too seriously" style. If you were in my shoes, what might you try?

So far I have;

• Under a cheap run-down motel sign
  
• Sitting at a bar wearing cheap polyester suits
  
• On a streetcorner, wearing same suits (danger of brick wall background there)
  
• Hanging out in the lobby of a women's gym
  

I'm not super-thrilled with any of these ideas so far, but let me know if you think any of them could work.

That's where you HFC comedians come in!

[LordOfTheThighs]

Maybe the cheap suits, in a seedy hotel lobby, with some cheap fat women

flashing cash at ya's.

[quimby]

I know a band who has a couple of awesome band shots.

One is looking down on the members as they sit around a las vegas poker table. At least two have guns drawn...it looks like caca is about to hit the fan.

Another one is of the band at a bar looking up at a woman in fishnet stockings. The only part of the woman you see is the legs.

Just a couple of other ideas along the lines of the motel/bar ideas above. IIRC correctly they were wearing matching suits...probably polyester.

[Willie G. Moseley]

Matching suits, matching instruments. If you wanna slick back yer hair, K-Y jelly is preferable as it's water-based.

[BCR Greg]

Why not all set up in front of a thrift shop?

[El Kabong]

Solo shots of each member all gacked out, yet passed out, pants down, while taking a dump in a public stall, each holding a 3/4 empty 26er; understated, yet classy.

[killerteddybear]

All of the band members, stacked like cordwood on a table in a dollar store, priced accordingly...

[MCChris]

Try and cop a Rick James "Street Songs" vibe.

[Jeff R]

Check out line at Wal-Mart.

[Steve Haynie]

Go to a professional photographer, not a portrait studio, and have an image created that will put you in the big leagues. If you hire professionals to do your sound and lights, hire a professional to do your photo.

Think about who you are trying to target, too. Is your photo trying to get people to book your band or get people to come to your shows? You may need to think about a package. One photo to grab the attention of a club owner, and another that looks cool to people trying to figure out what to do with their night off. There are two kinds of photos: good and bad. If it looks "sort of" good, it is bad.

[MCChris]

Go to a professional photographer, not a portrait studio, and have an image created that will put you in the big leagues. If you hire professionals to do your sound and lights, hire a professional to do your photo.

This is excellent advice. Only downside of pros is that I'm convinced they're the ones who instituted this "hold your respective instrument" policy for band photos. I hate that. As bad or worse than brick walls, train tracks, etc.

One of my favorite band photos of all time is the one of the Stones on the inner sleeve of "Sticky Fingers." Mick yawning, the other Mick laughing, Wyman partially obscured, Richards acting the fool: obviously snapped during a candid moment at an otherwise orchestrated session. Wish I could find a picture of it on the web.

[Jones]

I agree with MCChris - try to keep it candid. The best photo I ever was apart of was when a photographer snapped a picture of us standing around shooting pool and BS'ing.

On the flip side - its been done too many times, but the ol' "go to Walmart photocenter and get the family portrait" thing is always good for a coupla laughs.

[tafkathundernotes]

Great ideas so far. Keep 'em coming!

The photo we're in need of is for our agent's website. I guess potential customers can see the names, photos, and listen to some MP3's of each band. We want to convey the fun image, so we don't want a sterile picture.

[seeker]

You think you can pull this one off?

[Steve Haynie]

The photo we're in need of is for our agent's website. I guess potential customers can see the names, photos, and listen to some MP3's of each band. We want to convey the fun image, so we don't want a sterile picture.

Keep it simple. You are not selling an album, so there is no need for an elaborate set-up. How do you guys dress on stage? That is what you need to show. If the promoter is hiring guys based on a photo, the band better look consistent with the photo. If you are not wearing suits with open silk shirts when you play, do not pose that way. Are you a bunch of posers or a bunch of comedians? Your photo really needs to show your personality more than a setting or a theme. A plain white background puts the focus back on your band. Any stories to be told, must be made known by your appearance.

If you have members of significantly different height make sure that someone is standing on a box or bending his knees so that all the faces are at about the same level. The band needs to look like it belongs together-- clothes, attitude, hair, etc. You can make it clear that some guys are taller/shorter or vary in weight and hair volume, but de-emphasize it a little.

[SirDouglas]

wear some 60s plaid suites with high waters and Dr Dentons having fat broads oogling and fawning over you... you are "Discount" Gigolos right?

i like the walmart checkout line idea.. or hangin outside 7-11 eatin hot dogs and nachos...damn im hungry now.. like they said be yourself be casual... dont be all posed and stuffy... enjoy yourself as you enjoy playing your music

Randy

[HamerHokie]

Brick wall, people!!

[robbie]

I'm thinking a Polaroid photo may suit your purposes due to the discount thing and all...

A long while back my band did Polaroid self photos and we drew in funny additions (sideburns, missing teeth) with sharpy and made a collage... I liked the way that looked.

Speaking of brick wall, my band was coming out of a "load in" at a local bar recently and a friend took some shots while we were standing around having a smoke... nice brick wall behind us... nice shots but kinda hard to do anything serious with those considering the bad rep brick walls get now-a-days...

[ac15]

That "hall of douchebags" has been one of my favorite links for years. I've looked at tons of those photos and never come to the end. There must be thousands. I wonder what it must be like to be a band and find out you made "the hall of douchebags."