Catching the Perfect Moment on Camera

Originally Posted August 6, 2019

Over the years, I feel that pulling out your phone to film during a concert has been looked at as more and more of a negative thing, and every time a new concert approaches that I am interested in, I feel the topic pops back up again. In part, I believe it’s because most people have a very set and definitive stance on the issue. Still, I feel the appropriateness of trying to capture these moments in time on camera forever can vary depending on the concert and the individual person attending.

That being said, before I go further, I do want to make it clear that you do need to respect those around you if you are choosing to take photos at a concert. Catching that perfect shot should not distract from your or other's enjoyment of the show.

Now getting down to it, the choice on whether or not to pull out your phone or digital camera really does depend on the circumstances of the concert and your own personal preferences. For example, there have been instances where artists have highly emphasized that they don't want photos taken, and when this happens, it should be respected. One example in particular that comes to mind was when Halsey had her premier performance for her song Nightmare in May. In this case, she personally asked fans not to use their phones because she wanted to interact with the crowd more personally as this would be a one-time experience for both her and her fans. She also chose to live stream the event and posted the replay up later so that people could still have video evidence without having to be on their phones themselves.

In other concert situations where the artist hasn't expressly stated not to record, I feel like you have to know yourself. If you know that by trying to get the perfect picture you will be distracted and not living in the moment and that this is something you feel you might regret, then keep your phone away. But, if you're like me and enjoy taking pictures at concerts and don't think that it distracts you, then I say go for it. I know I am still jumping around and singing my heart out regardless. I literally have one video from the most recent BTS concert that is almost solely Jimin's arm as I had forgotten I had my phone in my hand because I was lost in the moment.

Personally, I enjoy the unique challenge of catching the perfect shot at a concert, and while I will likely continue taking concert photos, I did realize something recently. While there are exceptions (BTS, for example), I've noticed that after a few days go by and I have sorted through and posted my favorites, I never really go back and look at the pictures. At the time, it felt absolutely necessary to capture these moments forever on camera, but this makes me wonder if it was essential. While I still don't feel like I ruined any of my concert experiences by taking photos, maybe there are times in the future when I can take a step back and consider not pulling out my phone and instead just live in the moment.

Anyways, I hope you can all enjoy your concert experiences and make the choice when it comes to whether or not to pull out your phone, which is going to leave you the happiest after you leave the venue.