What was the first show you ever shot, and how did it go?

I’m pretty sure it was for a Wigan band called Harry and the Ukes at Mortimers on King St! Not really a punk gig but it was my first time shooting a gig. It was pretty nerve racking to be honest if I remember correctly, it was my first time learning to react fast and watch out for moments that occur and snap ’em before the moments gone. It was also my first time using a Flash Gun too ahah! I remember loving the photos at the time, but looking back they are technically not great at all, but I suppose that’s what it’s all about, you’d be pretty lucky to shoot your first gig perfectly!

What’s in your camera bag for a typical gig?

For me it’s a wide angle lens and a flash gun. I love being able to get a lens up in someone’s face with a bright flash, you can get some amazing moments like that and it gives you a sense of being in that moment with them. I do use a 24-70mm F2.8 lens also for gigs with bigger stages not allowing me to get up close.

How do you handle low-light conditions in small DIY venues? Any must-know settings or tricks?

A flash gun is a great way to combat horrible lighting in smaller gigs, but sometimes its not always an option if the venue says no or a band member has a condition that involves being sensitive to flashing lights. If that’s the case, using what lights are on the stage to your advantage is a good trick, I.e moving around the room and lining up the lights with the band members to create a silhouette effect or a side light! My tip is try your best to get it right physically before trying to save it in editing, could save you hours of time. If you have no option physically, crank the ISO up on your camera and don’t be scared of grain on your images, it can make for great character to your photos especially for punk bands.

What are the biggest technical challenges when shooting high-energy gigs?

It’s probably timing, if timing is off then your photos won’t be there regardless of settings and lighting. Best way I tend to combat that is shooting from the hip, leaving looking through the view finder for the slower moments that can occur.

Are there any specific moments you always try to capture during a gig?

I think it’s important for a band that a photographer should try and get a wide shot from the back of the room to show the crowd too if it’s busy! Because I am in a band also, I shoot with that in mind thinking how would I like to be shot in my band, and stuff that shows a big crowd or all the band in one frame is a must for their socials and usually because they are a really cool photo to take.

What advice do you have for photographers trying to build relationships with bands or venues?

Hang out with people, chat with the bands and venue owners, exchange emails and instagrams etc, You will get 10x further in photography, and down most avenues, if you take time to chat to people and see what they are about, what they have coming up etc!

What’s one piece of advice you wish you had when you started shooting?

Not to feel awkward or cheeky with agreeing a fee to be paid before a shoot. While a hell of a lot of music photography is unfortunately done for free especially at its grass roots level, if you are spending time and effort creating images for someone, if they have a budget they should pay you, whether that’s in money, or some merch, or even a pint!

Keep up with Jim’s work via the following platforms:

Website: https://www.jimtaylor.work/
Instagram: jimtaylorphoto
Facebook: jimtaylorphoto