How to Get Photo Passes as a Concert Photographer (Without Feeling Awkward or Ignored)

If you’ve ever stared at a blinking cursor, trying to figure out how to email an artist, manager, or venue for a photo pass… you’re not alone.

I’ve been there. So have literally thousands of concert photographers.

And here’s the truth no one really talks about:

Most photographers don’t struggle because they’re bad at photography.They struggle because they don’t know how to communicate professionally in an industry built on relationships.

The Real Reason You’re Getting Ignored

Early on, I thought getting a photo pass was about:

• Having better gear

• Knowing the right people

• Being “good enough”

But after photographing 2,000+ bands, working as an in-house venue photographer, and consistently landing access without a publication, I realized something important:

Your email is often your first impression — and most photographers are accidentally sabotaging themselves.

Common mistakes I see all the time:

• Emails that are way too long

• Over-explaining experience (or apologizing for lack of it)

• Sounding unsure, desperate, or unclear

• Not knowing who to email in the first place

And the worst part? You usually don’t get feedback. You just get silence.

That silence creates imposter syndrome fast.

Every one of these passes came from an email that worked!

What Actually Gets Photo Passes (From Someone Actively Doing This)

I didn’t learn how to pitch by guessing. I learned by:

• Sending hundreds of emails

• Getting ignored

• Getting rejected

• Getting approved

• And eventually getting requested back

Over time, I noticed patterns:

• Certain phrasing gets responses

• Clear, confident structure matters more than hype

• Professional doesn’t mean cold or corporate

• You don’t need a publication — you need clarity

That’s when I started saving my emails.

Not “perfect” emails. Real emails that actually worked.

Why I Created My Concert Photography Email Template Pack

I created this email template pack because I was tired of seeing talented photographers stuck at the same gate I once stood at.

This pack is for you if:

• You don’t know what to say when asking for a photo pass

• You’re tired of rewriting emails from scratch every time

• You want to sound confident without feeling fake

• You want to be taken seriously, even if you’re early in your career

These are the exact frameworks I still use today — whether I’m emailing:

• Artists

• Tour managers

• Publicists

• Venues

• Promoters

  
  

What’s Inside the Email Template Pack

This isn’t generic advice. It’s copy you can actually use.

Inside, you’ll find:

• Photo pass request templates

• Follow-up emails (without sounding annoying)

• Venue outreach emails

• Artist and management pitches

  
  

You can customize them to your voice — but the structure does the heavy lifting.

No more second-guessing. No more overthinking. No more “was that unprofessional?”

This Isn’t About Begging for Access

One of the biggest mindset shifts I had to make was this:

You are not asking for a favor. You are proposing a collaboration.

Your email should reflect that.

When you communicate clearly and confidently, the industry responds differently to you — even if you’re newer, local, or independent.

That’s what these templates help you embody.

If You’re Serious About Concert Photography, This Saves You Time (and Rejection)

You can absolutely keep guessing. Or you can start with language that’s already been tested in the real world.

If you’re ready to:

• Stop feeling awkward emailing artists

• Get more responses (yes and no — clarity matters)

• Show up like a professional before you even walk into the venue

  
  

👉 The Concert Photography Email Template Pack is for you.

Check it out here!

You don’t need permission to take yourself seriously. Sometimes, you just need better words.