How to Get an Artist Photo that Makes You a Star

1. Image Quality Is Essential

Your potential fans will first decide to engage with you based on your photo. If you have a poor photo people will assume you are a poor artist. That may not be true, but most people won’t take the time to find out. High resolution, print quality image, some of your images may be used in printed material, if you only provide screen shots from social media it won’t work.

2. Strike a Pose

Your primary photo should be chest and up (if you get to the stomach your frame is too large). This frame allows you to incorporate more style and personality. Music artist are more than your face (headshot); it’s your personality and style that matches with your sound to make you a super star.

3. It’s Your Brand, Have a Concept

Don’t just show up at a photo shoot, you may not end up with something that represents you. Come up with a few concepts, think about themes, colors and clothes. Look at other artists that you admire and look at their photos to derive your inspiration.

4. Bands and Width

If you have several people you need to get in a photo, you may need to get close. Keep in mind that promoters will need to squeeze your image in a variety of formats, if you only provide photos with everyone spread out, it won’t work—someone will get cut off the photo.

6. Photos Come in Packages

As an artist you always want to be presented in a way that makes you shine. Promoters, labels, or your team will need to promote you in may different ways. Build yourself a portfolio of pictures and when someone asks for your photos, send them a dropbox or link to a storage with multiple images. Let them choose the photos that work best for their use, that way you are always on point.

7. THINGS YOU SHOULD DO

Focus Frame: Your shot should be chest and up (if you get to the stomach your frame is too large). This frame allows you to incorporate more style and personality; artist are more than a headshot.
Background is Everything: Solid and gradient backgrounds are ok, use some creative license here, because this is helps you stand out. Try bright and interesting colors.
Do NOT Cover Your Face: Some artist don’t know what to do with their hands, and they decide to put them in their face. This is a major don’t covering your face always makes for an odd image. With that said you can place your hands in the vanity of your face, just don’t touch it (Do'n’t Vogue - it’s out).
No Words: Don’t write your name on the photo or anything else, this ruins the image for the marketers. They need flexibility.
Makeup or Nah?: Makeup is fine, just don’t over do it; fix your blemishes in photo shop.
Filters are Fine: A good filter goes a long way, choose carefully and send multiple options.
The Best You: It’s the 21st century, use technology to get the best version of you. Don’t be afraid to let your photographer touch you up.
Get Fresh: Solid color or simple pattern outfits are best when taking professional photos. If your patter has too many colors it distracts from you.
Angles: Angles are good. Don’t take a shot straight on, that’s good for actor headshots, but it’s terrible for artists. Show some style in how you position yourself. The angle is what shows your personality.
Bling: Be you and wear the jewelry, shades, or hat that represents your style. If you are more wholesome, show off your style though more natural add ons.
Don’t be too Cool for School: Dudes are usually guilty in this category. Remember artist like you because you make them feel good or emotional, if you look mean it’s a turn off.

8. THE THINGS NOT TO DO

You’re the feature: Don’t take a photo with a busy background, it distracts from you
No brick walls: Don’t take a photo against a brick wall
It’s ok to Smile, dudes are usually guilty of the mean mug photo. Remember, fans like you because you make them feel good; a mean mug is always a turn off.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Sometimes you can break these rules a little and still produce a great photo, but these guidelines will help you get a solid shot and then you can have some fun!

some photos we like & why

Frame | Style | Artist & Background Color Match

Style | Background & Outfit Complement

Expression | Clothes & Background Complement

Tight Group Shot Position

Filter | Bling (Glasses) | Style

Background | Outfit & Background Compliment | Filter

Style | Filter | Angle

Outfit Background Complement | Style

Background | Outfit | Style

Outfit & Background Complement | Style

Style | Outfit & Background Compliment

Bligh (Scarf) | Filter

Style | Angle

Angle | Style | Background

Angle

How to Get an Artist Photo that Makes You a Star

1. Image Quality Is Essential

2. Strike a Pose

Your primary photo should be chest and up (if you get to the stomach your frame is too large). This frame allows you to incorporate more style and personality. Music artist are more than your face (headshot); it’s your personality and style that matches with your sound to make you a super star.

3. It’s Your Brand, Have a Concept

Don’t just show up at a photo shoot, you may not end up with something that represents you. Come up with a few concepts, think about themes, colors and clothes. Look at other artists that you admire and look at their photos to derive your inspiration.

4. Bands and Width

If you have several people you need to get in a photo, you may need to get close. Keep in mind that promoters will need to squeeze your image in a variety of formats, if you only provide photos with everyone spread out, it won’t work—someone will get cut off the photo.

6. Photos Come in Packages

7. THINGS YOU SHOULD DO

Focus Frame: Your shot should be chest and up (if you get to the stomach your frame is too large). This frame allows you to incorporate more style and personality; artist are more than a headshot.

Background is Everything: Solid and gradient backgrounds are ok, use some creative license here, because this is helps you stand out. Try bright and interesting colors.

No Words: Don’t write your name on the photo or anything else, this ruins the image for the marketers. They need flexibility.

Makeup or Nah?: Makeup is fine, just don’t over do it; fix your blemishes in photo shop.

Filters are Fine: A good filter goes a long way, choose carefully and send multiple options.

The Best You: It’s the 21st century, use technology to get the best version of you. Don’t be afraid to let your photographer touch you up.

Get Fresh: Solid color or simple pattern outfits are best when taking professional photos. If your patter has too many colors it distracts from you.

Angles: Angles are good. Don’t take a shot straight on, that’s good for actor headshots, but it’s terrible for artists. Show some style in how you position yourself. The angle is what shows your personality.

Bling: Be you and wear the jewelry, shades, or hat that represents your style. If you are more wholesome, show off your style though more natural add ons.

Don’t be too Cool for School: Dudes are usually guilty in this category. Remember artist like you because you make them feel good or emotional, if you look mean it’s a turn off.

8. THE THINGS NOT TO DO

You’re the feature: Don’t take a photo with a busy background, it distracts from you

No brick walls: Don’t take a photo against a brick wall

It’s ok to Smile, dudes are usually guilty of the mean mug photo. Remember, fans like you because you make them feel good; a mean mug is always a turn off.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Sometimes you can break these rules a little and still produce a great photo, but these guidelines will help you get a solid shot and then you can have some fun!

some photos we like & why

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