Photos That Tell the Story

You don’t need a camera crew to capture something powerful. You need awareness of light, of energy, of timing. A photo is a mirror of how present you were in the moment. The more real the moment, the stronger the image.

When we talk about the story, we mean the truth of what’s happening. Who you are, where you are, and what it feels like to be there. Every photo should give someone a sense of your world. The crowded stage. The tiny room. The soundcheck glow. The laughter between songs. Those small, honest details say more about you than any posed picture ever could.

Photos like this give life to your electronic press kit and help your social media content feel authentic. They remind people that music is human, and that what happens on stage is real, not filtered or overly polished.

If you’re having someone else shoot - a friend, a family member, anyone with a steady hand - tell them that you’re not chasing perfection, you’re chasing feeling. Ask them to look for "in the moment" movement, connection, expressions that are unique and engaging. Share the guide below for tips, ideas, and simple set up information.

Photo Guide for the Show

Before the Show: Quick iPhone Setup

• Turn on the grid: Settings → Camera → Grid → On. Helps line up the shot using the rule of thirds.

• Turn off the flash: Keeps lighting natural.

• Turn on HDR: Balances bright lights and shadows.

• Turn on Live Photos: Captures a few seconds of motion before and after each shot.

• Clean the lens: Wipe gently with a soft cloth or shirt.

• Set video to 4K at 30fps (if filming): Settings → Camera → Record Video.

• Lock focus and exposure: Hold your finger on the subject until “AE/AF Lock” appears.

During the Show: Taking the Photos

• Shoot during songs. Capture energy, movement, and emotion while the music is happening.

• Hold steady. Use both hands or rest your elbows on something solid.

• Try both wide and close shots. Get one that shows the whole stage and others that focus on the performer’s face or hands.

• Use the grid. Line up the artist slightly off-center using the rule of thirds.

• Watch the light. Let the stage or ambient light shape the photo. Avoid flash, it flattens everything.

  “The trick to taking great concert photos on your phone is to work with the light, not fight it. Let the stage lighting shape the photo instead of trying to overpower it with flash.”-Joey Hadden, Business Insider

• Tap to focus. Tap the screen on the performer to adjust exposure and keep the image clear.

• Take many photos. Keep shooting. You can sort later.

  “You can take a hundred photos and maybe three will have the spark. That’s the beauty of digital - you can keep shooting until the energy feels right.”-Randy Gunter, Medium

• Anticipate moments. Watch for jumps, smiles, and glances between songs and shoot just before the peak.

  “The best live photos come from anticipation. Tap the shutter just before the moment happens - the instant before a jump, a lyric, or a spotlight shift.”- iPhone Photography School

• Capture emotion, not perfection. Look for moments that feel alive - a laugh, a glance, a big note, the crowd reacting.

  
  

After the show, pick the images that make you feel something. The goal isn’t a perfect picture, it’s to capture the energy that made the night memorable. Those images are more than memories. They are the heartbeat of your EPK, your electronic press kit, and your social media content. They help people see who you are for promotion and connection.

When you upload them to your EPKit.ai page or include them in your free electronic press kit, you give festivals, venues, and fans a window into your presence not just your music, but your energy, honesty, and connection.

About EPKit.ai

EPKit.ai gives artists a clean, professional home for their work that is simple to build, easy to share, and true to who you are. Each electronic press kit includes space for music, photos, video, and press quotes, plus an automatic QR code for quick sharing of their EPK with fans or venues. It’s completely free to use, with no subscriptions or fees, so you can focus on creating and getting your music heard.