Send bookers and press at least three photos: a landscape, a portrait and a live shot. Supply each as an sRGB JPEG at least 2000 pixels on the short edge and 3000 or more on the long edge, so the same file works on a website and a printed poster. Put your artist name and the photographer's credit in every filename.
The shots bookers ask for
A flyer needs a tall image, a website banner a wide one, and a feature article wants something with character.
| Shot | Orientation | Where the shot ends up |
|---|---|---|
| Main press photo | Landscape | Website headers, event pages, social banners |
| Portrait | Portrait | Posters, flyers, festival line-up tiles, Instagram |
| Live shot | Either | Articles, reviews, venue listings |
| Close-up | Portrait or square | Interviews, profile pictures, small listings |
| Alternative | Either | A different setting or outfit, for repeat coverage |
Three photos cover most requests. Five give journalists a choice when two outlets cover the same show.
Sizes and formats
- Resolution. At least 2000 pixels on the short edge. Print usually targets 300 pixels per inch, so an A4 page needs 2480 by 3508 pixels and an A3 poster needs 3508 by 4961.
- Format. High-quality JPEG. Every device opens one.
- Colour profile. sRGB. Other profiles shift colours on most screens.
- File size. 2 to 8 MB per photo. Bigger files slow down the press kit download.
- Web copies. Offer copies around 1600 pixels wide for bloggers who post straight to the web.
Convert iPhone HEIC files to JPEG before you upload. Plenty of Windows machines still struggle with HEIC.
Leave room for text
A flyer designer puts your name, the date and the venue on top of your photo. If your face fills the frame, the text lands on your face.
- Shoot some frames with space to one side or above your head.
- Keep faces away from the edges, since designers crop to fit their layout.
- Use a plain or soft background for at least one shot. Busy backgrounds fight the text.
For event banners, put yourself on the left third of a landscape shot and leave the right side open.
What makes a press photo usable
Editors and bookers turn photos down for the same few reasons:
- Eyes in focus. A soft face looks amateur, even with good lighting.
- Recent. Use photos from the last two years. A different haircut or a former band member confuses everyone.
- The whole band. A four-piece shot with three people forces the venue to explain.
- No filters or heavy edits. Editors want a neutral image to adjust to their own style.
- No watermarks. Credit the photographer in the filename and caption instead.
- No logos or text baked in. Designers need the clean image.
Live shots
Live photos prove you play out. A packed room behind a DJ tells a promoter more about your draw than any line in your bio.
Pick a frame where your face is visible and the crowd shows. Skip shots lit only by red stage lights, which smear faces on most screens. If your local venue has a house photographer, ask before using their shots and get the credit right.
Name and credit every file
Promoters download your photos and forget where they came from, so name each file with the credit:
artist-name-press-landscape-photo-by-jane-doe.jpg
Repeat the credit in your press kit text: "Photos by Jane Doe. Free to use for promotion of [artist name]." Check your agreement with the photographer first. Some license images for press use only, and some ask for a credit on every use.
Getting photos on a small budget
You don't need a full studio day.
- Book a short session. Plenty of local photographers offer one-hour shoots with a handful of edited images. Ask for both orientations.
- Trade with a photography student who needs portfolio work. Agree on credit and usage in writing.
- Ask venue photographers. Many clubs have someone shooting every night.
- Shoot in daylight. Overcast outdoor light flatters faces and costs nothing.
On your own phone, use the rear camera, go outside in daylight and keep the background simple.
Where to put your photos
Show two or three photos on your EPK page and offer the full set as a download from the same page. A Google Drive or Dropbox folder works until permissions expire.
The EPK checklist shows where photos sit among the other sections, and the EPK examples show how a few invented artists use them.
Photos on Artist Kit
Every Artist Kit page includes a press kit zip generated from the page. Pro adds a photo gallery for your full set of press shots, plus a custom press kit upload if you want a designed file in the download.
Upload your landscape, portrait and live shot, check them on a phone, and send your link. See what goes into the press kit download or start your EPK.