Press Kit Photos

[Old Timer]

Trying to do something a little different for me. Need a little help if you guys don't mind. I am working with a young singer/songwriter helping him get a pictures or two together for a press kit. I would appreciate a little feed back on these images and see if you think I am on the right track.

[Overbeyond]

Hello Old Timer
I have to say that all three are excellent in my opinion. Third one is my favourite but I would have preferred not to having him slightly leaning against the tree. Perhaps just walking through that puddle of water creating a little splash? These are really suitable as a press pack or for use on cd cover. All backgrounds are the right amount out of focus allowing us to see the environment which may also reflect the kind of music he writes. His facial expressions are perfect on them all.
Makes me want to hear his songs.
Tom

[readingr]

What sort of music are you promoting - from these I would say sad ballads, depressing folk, sad country.

My problem is that they give me a picture of an artist who can't get work or is severely depressed in the first two.

In the third, I would have said is the better for promotion; but rather than have the guitar in the case, get him playing it or at least the case open so you see the guitar.

I think you need to consider the market he is aiming at and try and present that view of the artist.

I agree with Tom about walking through the puddle or even playing the guitar leanign against the tree.

Hope I'm not being to critical for you, but these are the impressions I get from the photos.

Roger

[CLKunst]

I really like the second one best and the first one second! Either of these would make great bio shots for him. Nice work OT. You've done better than giving him a press shot, you've made him look timeless.

Cheers,

[Old Timer]

Thanks for the comments. We were going more for the man of mystery/brooding outsider look. He would best be described as an Americania artist (mix of country/folk/rock). The first two have noise in an attempt to help create the mood the third is a straight b&w convertion.

If you would want to get a little sample of his work try www.myspace.com/brianpepper .

Any other suggestion will be greatly appreciated.

[readingr]

Thanks for the comments.

OT

Forgot to mention that the all the photos are excellent from a photographic point of view

Roger

[CLKunst]

My problem is that they give me a picture of an artist who can't get work or is severely depressed in the first two.

To each his own. I see a traveling musician/bard between gigs. As to the can't get work and depression comment, you've just described half of my musician friends! It's a moody kind of business. ;)

A warmer weather and more up beat suggestion would be to have him out on a grassy hill under a big blue sky with the guitar out singing to the world. A "Hills Are Alive with the Sound of Music" kind of an idea. . . except NO Julie Andrews. He could still be an outsider and alone at least although probably not very mysterious. Just a thought.

[dmizer]

as for a simple press release shot, i think the third one is best. his entire face and eyes are clearly visible and i like the fact that his guitar is in the case in this particular shot ... it doesn't feel pretentious that way. something you might want to think about (at least in this shot) is the fact that you can see his wedding band ... might want to keep the ladies guessing.

that's probably easily remedied by reversing the shot left to right so it looks like he's leaning on his guitar with his right hand instead of his left. can take it a step farther and edit out the ring, but make sure it looks like his left hand is the one in his pocket, not his right. that is of course unless he wants to make it known that he's married.

the second shot really brings out the man of mystery look ... mostly because his eyes are shadowed over. but i'm with the others ... the shot feels staged with him leaning against the tree and holding the guitar case. guitar cases are heavy (i've carried a few in my time) and if i stop to think or rest or whatever ... first thing i'm gonna do is lean the case up against something. so i suggest walking and holding the guitar, or leaning against the tree sans case ... or find some creative way to work in a leaning case.

i am going to disagree about the guitar coming out of the case. to me, it adds mystery and i like it.

the first shot gives me a different impression of personality. the angle and tilt of his head, as well as the way he's looking at the camera feels a bit like he's scowling rather than brooding. i also feel like the crop is too low. i can see a little bit of his hand in his pocket, which makes me miss his other hand (which has been cropped). i suggest a crop at just below his right elbow, midway between his third and forth jacket buttons.

if you're going to do another session, i'd suggest trying a couple of different changes of clothing too. that will provide you with different textures to work with, and might bring up some new ideas too.

adding a necklace with some sort of small symbol on it will enhance the "deep thinker" feel too.

[julsoph]

OT...I like all three of these. I'm most partial to the third one because that seems to be the most natural pose...the other two seem like what you said, the trying for the brooding, etc. I like that he's not looking at the camera in #2, but his position is awkward to me...maybe I'm off here, but it doesn't look right to have him leaning on the tree on one side and holding the guitar in his opposite hand...? That could just be me though. I think that one would be better if maybe like someone else suggested, he were either walking, or had the guitar leaning next to him as well.
I like both shots of him looking right at the camera as well...and I prefer the added noise to straight b&w.

Emily

[Overbeyond]

Thanks for the comments. We were going more for the man of mystery/brooding outsider look. He would best be described as an Americania artist (mix of country/folk/rock). The first two have noise in an attempt to help create the mood the third is a straight b&w convertion.

If you would want to get a little sample of his work try www.myspace.com/brianpepper .

Any other suggestion will be greatly appreciated.

Had a listen on MySpace and he sure knows how to write good songs. Also some good guitar picking. Bit too much like Willie Nelson on the slow numbers for me.
Wish him the best of luck from me. My nephew is knocking hard on the door in Uk and Ireland so I feel for him

Tom

[swmdrayfan]

OT----I'm in agreement with everyone else. Lose the 2nd shot.....it doesn't look natural to me...he seems to be trying to maintain his balance there. As far as the 'look'-----he appears to be more depressed than brooding. Maybe if his head were tilted up towards the sky a little??? Or maybe looking at something in the distance?? Or how about looking back over his shoulder? Just an opinion.

John

[Old Timer]

Thanks to everyone for your comments and suggestions. I still have several more images form this session and some may fit your suggestions. I'll give them a look see and try to find something that will suit the artist and your suggestions. In the end as we all know the client is the one who will decide the winner.

[Lava Lamp]

Trying to do something a little different for me. Need a little help if you guys don't mind. I am working with a young singer/songwriter helping him get a pictures or two together for a press kit. I would appreciate a little feed back on these images and see if you think I am on the right track.

Ooh, those are good. Would you be offended if I said I didn't know you had these sort of pictures in you? #2 is my favorite. The puddle is really great and you have the whole "Waling in Memphis," or "Crossroads" kind of thing working. In tersm of critique: in #2, he might look a little too broad in the beam and in #3, he seems a bit slouched.

[LeeIs]

I like all 3. I like the first one the best, too bad he didn't have the guitar there. The second one is moody but the lean isn't natural. I love the suggestion above about him walking naturally through the puddle or that in area. 3rd one is another good one, I just don't like the position of his fingers in that one. I know I'm knit picking, but hopefully that's what you're looking for.

Please do share the others, I would love to see more of your shots.

[Old Timer]

Had a listen on MySpace and he sure knows how to write good songs. Also some good guitar picking. Bit too much like Willie Nelson on the slow numbers for me.
Wish him the best of luck from me. My nephew is knocking hard on the door in Uk and Ireland so I feel for him

Tom

Thanks, I'll past this along to him. He had an audition at the Blue Bird Cafe in Nashville on Sunday morning. Will have to wait and see if he gets a call back there.

[Old Timer]

Ooh, those are good. Would you be offended if I said I didn't know you had these sort of pictures in you? #2 is my favorite. The puddle is really great and you have the whole "Waling in Memphis," or "Crossroads" kind of thing working. In tersm of critique: in #2, he might look a little too broad in the beam and in #3, he seems a bit slouched.

Thanks Lava, not offended in the least. Give a listen to his Prize Fighter if you are into Robert Johnson or Muddy. His My Space that I posted earlier has 4 of his originals there that you can download.

[Old Timer]

I like all 3. I like the first one the best, too bad he didn't have the guitar there. The second one is moody but the lean isn't natural. I love the suggestion above about him walking naturally through the puddle or that in area. 3rd one is another good one, I just don't like the position of his fingers in that one. I know I'm knit picking, but hopefully that's what you're looking for.

Please do share the others, I would love to see more of your shots.

Thanks for the comments and suggestions. Kind of funny about #3, the hand and the ring. As soon as she saw the images his wife said she liked it the best. and I do have a few of him walking, but not splashing through the mud. We had to go back into his house after the shoot. Don't think his wife would have appreciated me bringing him back covered in mud.

[Asylum Steve]

OT, looks like a fun project to be working on. Shooting musician press kit photos can be exciting, yet challenging (as you've no doubt discovered). While you have quite a bit of leeway for shooting a creative portrait, in the end the shots have to communicate quickly and clearly with the folks that are going to see them.

Now, most everyone here has praised the pics so far, which is all well and good, but I think you want these images held to a slightly higher standard.

IMO, none of them completely work. The third one has a decent pose and expression, but it looks like you used a flash, and the bg is bad (even out of focus).

The second one might actually make a better CD cover, but for a press kit shot seems a little too dark and moody. Perhaps if his eyes were more open and looking at the camera...

The first shot is the closest to a traditional press kit photo. Good basic pose and expression. Good lighting and bg. But you need (again IMO) his guitar in the shot to identify the picture better.

A press kit photo (much like a model's composite card) is something that you have to assume will be SEPERATED from his song demo and bio letter at some point (or whatever else is in the kit), and may just be laying on some record exec's desk by itself.

It has to grab the viewer's attention and immediately tell you what this guy is about. Also remember that it's these photos that are used for newspaper and magazine stories about the artist, so the casual reader should be able to see at a glance who and what this guy is...

[Old Timer]

OT, looks like a fun project to be working on. Shooting musician press kit photos can be exciting, yet challenging (as you've no doubt discovered). While you have quite a bit of leeway for shooting a creative portrait, in the end the shots have to communicate quickly and clearly with the folks that are going to see them.

Now, most everyone here has praised the pics so far, which is all well and good, but I think you want these images held to a slightly higher standard.

IMO, none of them completely work. The third one has a decent pose and expression, but it looks like you used a flash, and the bg is bad (even out of focus).

The second one might actually make a better CD cover, but for a press kit shot seems a little too dark and moody. Perhaps if his eyes were more open and looking at the camera...

The first shot is the closest to a traditional press kit photo. Good basic pose and expression. Good lighting and bg. But you need (again IMO) his guitar in the shot to identify the picture better.

A press kit photo (much like a model's composite card) is something that you have to assume will be SEPERATED from his song demo and bio letter at some point (or whatever else is in the kit), and may just be laying on some record exec's desk by itself.

It has to grab the viewer's attention and immediately tell you what this guy is about. Also remember that it's these photos that are used for newspaper and magazine stories about the artist, so the casual reader should be able to see at a glance who and what this guy is...

Great response Steve! Thanks for the input. You have raised a couple of points that I had not considered. I have several other images and I will more than likely do a reshoot at some point. I have been trying to please the subject of course with these, but as I'm sure you would agree sometimes we need to point certain things out to them they may not be aware of or had not considered. Thanks again.

[Asylum Steve]

I have been trying to please the subject of course with these, but as I'm sure you would agree sometimes we need to point certain things out to them they may not be aware of or had not considered...

That's exactly what you have to keep in mind. You listen to what ideas they have, but in the end YOU are the one being asked to create the image, and that means giving the photos your stamp and style, and making sure they understand if something they want simply won't work.

And don't think it's just the talent that needs your help. Quite a few times I got calls from record labels excited about a new or established artist. They wanted me to shoot publicity photos, but guess what? THEY weren't sure what they wanted either.

It was like, "Just do something cool. We'll know if it's good when we see it"... ;)

Who says being a free-lance shooter is stressful???

[joshranwest]

Wonderful photos!! I enjoy the clarity and poses!

[Old Timer]

Thanks Josh! Something a little new for me. I think this type thing may be more down your alley. I did post one over on the gallery that I think will meet most of the criteria. don't have it here or I'd post it here too.