Starting to build up my collection of music and wanted to see what type of music do you prefer to listen to at a photo shoot? What specific artist and do you prefer more music with actual singing or the instrumental music?
I was once working with a photographer who I got great lifestyle images from, but who insisted on playing the raunchiest rap music I had ever heard in my life.
I always recommend to the models that they bring their own music. That usually ensures that they will have what puts them in a good mood, and I can listen to almost anything.
ForeverFotos wrote: I always recommend to the models that they bring their own music. That usually ensures that they will have what puts them in a good mood, and I can listen to almost anything.
Ditto. I tell them to bring their own and then I plug it into speakers. Since I pretty much tune out of whatever's playing while I'm shooting, I don't care what they listen to. However, on a recent shoot the model put on a 14-minute dub-step song and put it on a loop. By the time we wrapped up two hours later I was ready to beg her to let me put on some Led Zeppelin.
DavidCoward Photography wrote: Ditto. I tell them to bring their own and then I plug it into speakers. Since I pretty much tune out of whatever's playing while I'm shooting, I don't care what they listen to. However, on a recent shoot the model put on a 14-minute dub-step song and put it on a loop. By the time we wrapped up two hours later I was ready to beg her to let me put on some Led Zeppelin.
You should NEVER have to beg for Led Zeppelin.......EVER!
Classic rock, or dance. Depends on the shoot. If it's lingerie, trashy dance music I'd never otherwise listen to, will work. Otherwise though, I like the doors... zeppelin.. pink floyd.. skynrd
I love Sigur Ros for art nudes and AC/DC for glamour. Overall I don't really care, but what you're trying to achieve definitely speaks volumes (I am SO not sorry for that pun) about what music you might want on.
I adore electro-swing. I almost always play it on shoots. But if someone wants a particular mood or look, I tend to draw from the music, so whatever mood/ style you want. I always enjoy some Counting Crows, Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots, Brand New, Thrice, or countless others. As long as there is no Rap or Country, I'm happy.
I have a collection of international light jazz on my iPod that I play on shuffle. It is better then silence but is not overpowering. If a model brings her own because she feels it gets her going, I'd be happy to play that instead.
The Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Robert Palmer, ZZ Top, INXS, Marilyn Manson, Hendrix, Nirvana, Alana Morisette, Aerosmith, Ted Nugent, AC/DC, Sex Pistols, and the Semi Precious Weapons are all featured heavily in my 'shoot' playlist.
There's something about a bit of rock music that seems to help models get into the kind of vibe I like, even if they've never heard of half the bands that are playing.
Between sets I prefer something a bit less aggressive and non-intrusive, but when shooting fashion, rock is generally the best!
Having been a club DJ many years ago, I recognize the value of setting the right mood for different parts of a shoot to help underscore the attitude required. In general, house music offers a vibe without intrusion... it's ambient and upbeat without being distracting with sing-a-long lyrics. Buddha Bar type jazz is great for slicker, sophisticated moods. Avant garde jazz or progressive rock can work for edgy, alt images. In my MM port, one model I worked with went along with an idea to do a retro crooner image with an awesome sharkskin jacket, so out came the Bobby Darin... and the model got really into portraying the swanky, lounge kool kat. Personally, I like having the right music assisting and guiding the model where they need to be... and it works on me as well... helping to define my focus.
Another benefit of music is helping put folks at ease and filling in the silence when working with someone you don't know or don't know well. When working with a newbie, or someone just inclined to be apprehensive working with a new person, there may be some nerves to contend with... and sometimes that comes out with prattling on and on... trying to fill in the awkwardness of stilted silence. Music helps fill in the need to blather on and again, guides the model into the right groove.
So, to me, it's not about what the model or I like in music, it's what's appropriate for the shoot... like adding an accessory or prop that's never seen... except in the expression on the model's face and body language.
RKD Photographic
Posts: 2,989
Iserlohn, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Srefis Limited wrote: I've noticed dance music brings the best out of models.
Yep - I fill my iPod with the latest dance stuff and play it on a Bose docking-station in the studio...
I mix it up with other stuff that I actually like from time to time as well...
DavidCoward Photography wrote: Ditto. I tell them to bring their own and then I plug it into speakers. Since I pretty much tune out of whatever's playing while I'm shooting, I don't care what they listen to. However, on a recent shoot the model put on a 14-minute dub-step song and put it on a loop. By the time we wrapped up two hours later I was ready to beg her to let me put on some Led Zeppelin.
ForeverFotos wrote: You should NEVER have to beg for Led Zeppelin.......EVER!
Considering the age of most of the models I work with, I doubt they've ever even heard of Led Zeppelin.
I posted an inquiry recently about how to break the ice with new models and most agreed but qualified it with using music that THEY choose and bring with them, not the photographer's choice. I would be cool with most any genre except rap which would ruin my concentration and probably the session as well.
J Emma wrote: Classic rock, or dance. Depends on the shoot. If it's lingerie, trashy dance music I'd never otherwise listen to, will work. Otherwise though, I like the doors... zeppelin.. pink floyd.. skynrd
Richard Nolan
Posts: 100
London, England, United Kingdom
I ask the model. It's simple, I want an image of a certain genre and she tells me the music. Either I get it online because I like it, or, and this works a treat, tell her to bring her iPod,iPad, idevice. I don't care about music, I care about the image we get.
I have a huge mix of stuff on my Zune. llamas are welcome to bring anything they want, except rap. If I pick it it will be classic rock, with a few newer songs mixed in and it will tend tobe heavy with Van Halen.
ForeverFotos wrote: I always recommend to the models that they bring their own music. That usually ensures that they will have what puts them in a good mood, and I can listen to almost anything.
You're a better man than I. If I had to listen to a couple hours of dubstep, trance, industrial 'thump thump thump' my fingerprints would be indented into the camera.
I usually put on something melodic, upbeat and not offensive and at a level that isn't going to take over. Personally, I like older alternative stuff like Echo & the Bunnymen, Psychedelic Furs, New Order.
NIN, Tool, and a whole shitload of soundtrack compilations - mainly epic music from video games, and some The Last Samurai, Memoirs of a G, Blood Diamond, The Fountain etcccc
edit: mainly Hans Zimmer, John Williams and Clint Mansell stuff
I never let the model bring their own music! They usually have horrible taste and I just end up annoyed. I always have fast dance/hip hop on, a lot of jerkin re-mixes. Usually the model starts dancing and wants to download my playlist. Sometimes I start dancing and get a lot of blurry pics.
Huckleberry Images wrote: Starting to build up my collection of music and wanted to see what type of music do you prefer to listen to at a photo shoot? What specific artist and do you prefer more music with actual singing or the instrumental music?
I select music that evokes the appropriate responses from models, based on the overall theme/tone of the images.
"Collection of music"? How 20th century! I use a streaming service, like Pandora -- that way, the model can tell me her favorite and 10 seconds later it (and similar music) is playing.
ForeverFotos wrote: I always recommend to the models that they bring their own music. That usually ensures that they will have what puts them in a good mood, and I can listen to almost anything.
Michael Pandolfo wrote: You're a better man than I. If I had to listen to a couple hours of dubstep, trance, industrial 'thump thump thump' my fingerprints would be indented into the camera.
I usually put on something melodic, upbeat and not offensive and at a level that isn't going to take over. Personally, I like older alternative stuff like Echo & the Bunnymen, Psychedelic Furs, New Order.
Oh, did I forget to mention that if the model starts playing rap that the shoot normally lasts about 10 to 15 minutes.......that's my upper limit for that genre.
Pandora is great to use in these situations. If you just ask the model their favorite artist or music to get ready to, it should provide a pretty decent background soundtrack! For shoots, I personally prefer upbeat music that I would listen to while getting ready for a night out.
Huckleberry Images wrote: Starting to build up my collection of music and wanted to see what type of music do you prefer to listen to at a photo shoot? What specific artist and do you prefer more music with actual singing or the instrumental music?
I just tell models that I welcome whatever music they want to bring. I've had anything from Industrial to Country and Western. But, oddly, very little music for the last year or two. No idea why.
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