Music Photographer Discovers Samsung's Festival Photo Secrets

Festival Photo Hacks

When attending a concert or festival, capturing the perfect shot can be challenging. However, there are several clever photo and filming hacks that can help you get the best results. Whether you're using a smartphone or a dedicated camera, these tips from Kadesh Beckford, Samsung's Smartphone Specialist for Mobile Experience, can make a big difference.

Utilize Golden Hour Rules

One of the most effective techniques is to take advantage of the golden hour. This is the time just after sunrise or before sunset when the light is soft and warm. Using portrait mode on your camera phone can help blur out distractions, allowing you to capture those glowing crowd shots with ease.

Ultra-Wide for Atmosphere

Switching to your phone's ultra-wide lens is another great way to capture the full scale and essence of the stage and crowd. This setting is perfect for showing the sea of hands in the air, as well as the artist performing on stage.

Go Low for Drama

Kadesh suggests holding your phone lower than eye-level when shooting the stage. This not only creates a unique point of view shot but also makes the artist look larger than life. It adds a dramatic effect that can enhance the overall visual impact of your photos.

Switch Off the Flash

Stage lighting should be sufficient for photographing a concert, so using flash is generally unnecessary. In fact, it can wash out your subject and ruin the shot. As a photographer, it's important to follow the "first 3, no flash" policy, which means no flash and only capturing the first three songs of an artist's setlist.

Keep It Steady

While carrying a tripod can be cumbersome, it's essential for long exposure shots of lasers or fireworks. Alternatively, you can rest your phone on a barrier to keep it steady, achieving the same smooth effect without the need for additional equipment.

Concert Videography Tips

Shooting high-quality video at concerts requires some specific techniques and settings. Here are some expert tips to help you create professional-looking clips.

Shoot in 4K at 60fps (UHD60)

If your camera phone supports it, shooting footage in 4K at 60fps provides crisp, smooth footage. This allows for greater flexibility during editing without losing any quality. You can then share the clip across social media in the highest resolution possible. However, keep in mind that 4K consumes more battery power, so it's wise to pack a portable charger or one of the best power banks.

Turn HDR On for Concerts

Enabling HDR (high dynamic range) in your camera settings can help balance out stage lighting. This feature ensures that highlights are not blown out and faces are not left in shadow, resulting in a more balanced and visually appealing shot.

Ensure Super Steady Stabilization is OFF

This tip might be controversial, but turning off Super Steady stabilization can actually improve the quality of your footage. When filming live music, the energy comes through in the crowd, and you want to capture that naturally rather than having your phone fight the movement.

Lock Your Focus and Contrast

Focus the camera on your artist and adjust the contrast slightly using the on-screen slider. Then, lock these settings in place by tapping the lock icon. This prevents blown-out spotlights or auto-adjusts from ruining your clip.

Stick to Pre-Set Zooms, Not Pinch-and-Zoom

Using pre-set zoom levels on camera phones, such as 2X or 5X, keeps your videos sharper. The custom pinch-to-zoom method can result in grainy footage, so it's better to stick with the pre-set options.

Elevate Your Audio

For Samsung users, the Audio Eraser feature is a game-changer. This built-in AI sound tool can strip out unwanted noise, such as wind, crowd chatter, or even a drunk fan singing along to a song. After filming, head into the Gallery app, tap the Galaxy AI icon, and enjoy crisp vocals and music as if you had a backstage pass.

Kadesh also recommends investing in an external mic for better sound quality. A small clip-on mic can elevate the audio in your concert clips, providing a more professional finish.