Anderson Grove Band Portraits

I did my first ever band portrait shoot a couple weeks ago for Anderson Grove. They are our church’s worship band..great musicians and all around great guys. They are in the process of recording a record, CD, Mp3′s..or whatever you call’em these days

As this was my first shoot, I’d love to get your comments and thoughts about some of the images I was able to make.

As I said, this was my first band shoot, but not only that, it was also my first real group portrait shoot. Many people don’t realize there is a huge difference between shooting concerts and something like this.  For a concert you have to photograph what your given. All the lighting is already set, the performers move in whatever way they choose… you can’t just tell the lighting guy.. “Need More Light” or a performer… “Stop and don’t move”… although it would make for kinda a funny show if you could..

In the portrait environment the band is looking at YOU for direction at every single step. I spent the whole day before scouting locations.. some worked some didn’t.. You have to research band posing… it’s gotta be a cool pose right.. Here I am so thankful for Lee Steffen! He is the Creative Director at Penguin Creative in Nashville. He’s shot people like the Chris Tomlin band, Family Force 5, Toby Mac, Building 429.. and just about every other Christian band on the planet. I met him on Twitter some time ago and asked him a few questions about this shoot. He couldn’t have been kinder and gave me a lot of tips.. THANKS LEE!

Then you gotta figure out lighting..I went for using as much available light as I could. I’m still a little nervous about using my hot shoe flash though it’s a pretty good one. The whole project was for sure a challenge. But sometime’s you just gotta jump right in and go for it… So I did and these are my favorite shots.

I would certainly love to get your feedback and thoughts on these images!

Do you have a favorite? Why?