The Complete Guide to Recording Your Band's Photos and Videos | Practical Guide to Shooting, Editing, and Saving: From Live Performances and Practices to Music Videos and Social Media Sharing, Starting from Beginner Levels

1. Why are photographic and video records of a band important?

A casual moment in the practice studio, a first performance at a live music venue, the sense of unity when playing with other bands—there are surprisingly many moments in band activities that you'll want to look back on later. However, in the moment, the feeling of "this isn't the time to record anything" takes precedence, and before you know it, many bands end up with almost no photos or videos. Having observed the activities of many bands myself, I've heard many people later regret that "there are no recordings or videos of that time left."

Photographs and videos serve five main purposes. Firstly, they serve as a record of the band's growth. From hesitant performances in the early days to stable performances after dozens of live shows, having videos allows you to objectively review your progress. Secondly, they serve as important material when recruiting new members. Performance skills, musicality, and the band's atmosphere are much easier to convey through actual performance videos than through written descriptions, and the presence or absence of videos is one of the factors considered by people considering applying through member recruitment services like Membo . Thirdly, they serve as material for spreading information on social media . Fourthly, they serve as a memorial that remains even after the band disbands or goes on hiatus. And fifthly, they serve to deepen relationships with existing fans and attract new fans.

This article provides a step-by-step guide to practical methods for easily continuing to document your band's photos and videos, from choosing equipment and shooting tips to using different editing software, saving methods, and copyright considerations. You don't need professional equipment. You can start creating valuable records with just a smartphone and a little ingenuity.

Keeping a record will also help attract more people to the next live show.

Photos and videos aren't just for looking back on the past. Posting past live performances and practice footage can also be used to promote upcoming shows and boost your social media presence. As mentioned in our complete guide to attracting audiences to live shows , having videos that convey the actual performance significantly changes the barrier to entry for first-time viewers. Developing the habit of taking photos and videos may seem like a roundabout way, but it's an investment that will boost your band's overall activities.

2. Choosing Equipment | From Smartphones to Mirrorless Cameras and Action Cams

"What equipment you use to shoot" depends greatly on your purpose and budget. First, let's understand the characteristics of each option.

What is "band photography equipment"? | How to acquire equipment based on its role

The term "filming equipment" encompasses a variety of components that combine to create a single recording. First, there's the "main camera" (a smartphone, mirrorless/DSLR, or action camera) that records the video itself. Next, there's the "sub-camera" (a spare smartphone or an old action camera can be used) to capture multiple angles simultaneously. Then there's the "handycam-like auxiliary equipment" for close-ups of the performer's hands and facial expressions. Furthermore, there's the "tripod/gimbal" to stabilize the video, the "microphone" to affect sound quality, the "light" to illuminate the subject in a dark venue, and the "monitor" to check the angle of view and exposure during filming. You don't need to acquire everything at once; it's more practical to prioritize and acquire the equipment gradually.

For beginners, the most realistic order in which to acquire equipment is: ① Main camera (a smartphone you already own is sufficient to start with), ② Tripod (can be purchased for a few thousand yen and is the most effective at preventing camera shake), ③ External microphone (sound quality greatly affects the impression of the video, so this is the next highest priority), ④ Light (consider this when you start shooting in dark venues more often), and ⑤ Sub-camera/gimbal (add this when you want to focus on multiple angles and smooth motion). This order is a realistic way to invest in equipment without overspending.

The option of a smartphone

The most readily available piece of equipment, and one that many band members already own, is a smartphone. In recent years, the improvement in smartphone camera performance has led to a decline in demand for compact digital cameras, demonstrating the steady improvement in image and photo quality from smartphones alone. For recording practice videos or short vertical videos for social media, a smartphone is more than sufficient. If you want to start the habit of recording something, a smartphone is a good first step.

The choice between DSLR and mirrorless cameras

If you want to capture higher-quality live photos or take low-noise images even in dimly lit venues, then a DSLR or mirrorless camera is a viable option. In recent years , mirrorless cameras have become increasingly popular, and because they use an electronic viewfinder or LCD monitor instead of an optical viewfinder, they tend to be lighter and more compact than DSLRs. With a larger sensor size, graininess is less noticeable even in dimly lit live venues, and by changing lenses, you can flexibly handle everything from wide-angle shots capturing the entire stage to telephoto shots capturing the expressions of the performers. If you want to take artist photos that represent the "face" of your band or photos for album covers, it's worth considering investing in a mirrorless or DSLR camera.

The option of an action camera

Wearable cameras (action cams) are ideal for recording the drummer's perspective, the guitarist's hands, or the vocalist's viewpoint as they move around the stage. Their main features are their small size, light weight, excellent shock resistance, and the ability to be directly attached to the body, microphone stand, drum rim, etc. GoPro 's HERO series is a well-known example, and the options are expanding year by year, with Chinese manufacturer Insta360 also releasing models that support 360-degree shooting. The unique, distorted field of view created by wide-angle lenses can produce a sense of realism that regular cameras can't capture, but it also has the drawback of making it difficult to capture subtle facial expressions, so it's recommended to use them in conjunction with a regular camera.

Alternatives to GoPro | Comparison with 360-degree cameras and DJI Osmo Action

The action camera market is no longer GoPro's exclusive domain. The Insta360 X4, released by Insta360 on April 16, 2024, is characterized by its ability to simultaneously shoot 360 degrees with two lenses, one in the front and one in the back. Because you can freely choose which angle to use as the "front" during post-production editing, you can create footage that looks like you've been following the performers, even in environments where it's difficult for the photographer to move around, such as a live music venue. According to the product specifications on Kakaku.com , the camera weighs 203g, supports 8K/30fps shooting, has a battery life of approximately 135 minutes, and has a retail price starting from around 50,000 yen. On the other hand, the Osmo Action 5 Pro, released by DJI on September 19, 2024, is a regular action camera, not a 360-degree camera, and is equipped with a large 1/1.3-inch sensor. According to the official specifications , it is waterproof up to a depth of 20m without a waterproof case. It also features a "Super Night Mode" with enhanced low-light performance, making it a strong contender among regular action cameras if shooting in dark live music venues is a priority. You should choose based on your shooting style: whether you prioritize the freedom of reshooting with 360 degrees, or the low-light performance and waterproofing of a regular action camera.

The necessity of a tripod/gimbal, microphone, and light.

Regardless of the equipment you choose, you'll want to consider peripheral equipment to stabilize your shooting as part of a set. Tripods offer the basic benefits of preventing camera shake and reducing arm fatigue during long shoots. In addition, camera tripods use a standardized 1/4-inch screw that conforms to ISO 1222 and JIS B 7103 standards, so you can use the same tripod for both smartphones and DSLRs by combining it with a smartphone clip holder. If you want to smoothly film while following a performer, a gimbal (stabilizer) that electronically or mechanically corrects camera shake is also an option. For audio, instead of relying solely on the built-in microphone, using an external lavalier microphone or shotgun microphone will help capture the sound of the performance more clearly. For shooting in dimly lit live venues, a small video light that brightens the subject's face is also effective.

Thorough Comparison of Photography Equipment | Choosing Based on 7 Perspectives

If you're interested in choosing equipment for your instrument, you might also want to read our introductory guide to band equipment and effects pedals . The same principle applies to both performance equipment and filming equipment: "acquire equipment gradually according to your budget."

3. Tips for live filming | Capture usable footage in dark venues

Live music venues are generally dimly lit, and the spotlights flash intensely, making them a completely different challenge from daytime outdoor filming. Here, we'll introduce the basics for capturing usable footage even in dark venues.

How to approach settings in dark environments

The brightness of a camera image is determined by a combination of three factors: ISO sensitivity, shutter speed, and aperture (F-number). In a dimly lit live music venue, increasing the ISO sensitivity will make the image brighter, but increasing it too much will make noise (graininess) more noticeable. For shutter speed, it's generally best to set it relatively fast (around 1/60 to 1/125 seconds) if you don't want to blur the movements of the performers, but increasing it too much will make the entire image dark, so it's also important to choose a lens that lets in as much light as possible by using a small aperture (F-number). Even when shooting with a smartphone, many models have a pro mode that allows you to manually adjust ISO and shutter speed, so if you often shoot in low light, it's recommended to check the settings screen.

How to choose a camera position

Filming from the front of the audience area allows for powerful footage due to the proximity to the stage, but it often results in an upward-looking angle of the performers, and audience members' heads tend to get in the way of the frame. Filming from the back of the audience area makes it easier to capture the overall lighting and stage production, but it's more difficult to capture the performers' facial expressions. If filming from the side of the stage is permitted at the venue, you can capture stable footage from a close distance to the performers without being bothered by the audience. If possible, it's best to check with the live house staff in advance about permitted filming locations to avoid any problems.

Audio Recording Concepts | Line Recording vs. Microphone Recording

While it's easy to get caught up in the video quality, sound quality significantly impacts the overall impression of a live performance. "Line recording," which connects directly from the mixer output to a digital recorder, captures clear sound without picking up venue noise, but it tends to miss out on audience cheers and the overall atmosphere of the venue. On the other hand, "microphone recording," which captures the venue's sound directly with a camera or external microphone, tends to create a sense of presence, but it's prone to sound bleed from PA speakers and muffled sound due to audience noise. Ideally, if possible, it's best to record the line-recorded audio and the venue's ambient sound separately and mix them during editing. For those who want to grasp the basics of PA and sound engineering, a beginner 's guide to band sound and PA systems is also a helpful resource.

Synchronization in a multi-unit configuration

If members and staff have free time, you can shoot with multiple cameras simultaneously and then cut the footage during editing to create a cinematic, immersive video. The easiest way to synchronize is "clap synchronization," where you clap your hands in front of all the cameras at the start of shooting to align the sound waveforms. Many editing software programs also have a function that automatically analyzes the audio waveform and synchronizes the camera footage, so even if you can't manage the timecode precisely, it can be synchronized to a certain extent automatically afterward.

4. Practice Shooting | Lightweight Setup for Review

While often overlooked compared to live performances, video recordings of practice sessions are the most practical way to record a band's progress, as they directly contribute to their improvement.

Why a smartphone and tripod are all you need

When recording in a practice studio, consistency is far more important than image quality. Bringing in fancy equipment can be a hassle to set up, and you'll gradually stop recording altogether. Simply attach your smartphone to a tripod in the studio (or on top of a music stand or amplifier) and start recording with a single touch at the beginning of your practice. No editing or processing is necessary.

Drummer's perspective, vocalist's perspective, objective perspective

The angle of your practice footage should be chosen according to your purpose for effectiveness. If you want to check the overall ensemble and tempo of the band, an objective viewpoint capturing the entire band from the back of the room is the basic approach. If you want to check the timing of the drums individually, an angle that shows the drummer's hands from behind or to the side of the drum set is effective. If you want to review the vocalist's facial expressions or vocal habits, a composition that shows the vocalist alone from the front is suitable. Rather than shooting aimlessly without a purpose, deciding "what I want to check today" before setting up the camera will lead to greater learning when you review the footage later.

The significance of sharing practice videos among members

The videos you take are only meaningful if you share them with your bandmates instead of just leaving them there. Tempo discrepancies and misunderstandings of arrangements, which might be hard to notice during a performance, often become clear when you objectively review the video. Bands that have a habit of sharing practice videos via online storage or chat tools tend to make smoother adjustments in subsequent practices compared to bands that don't. Filming is also a way of having a "mirror" for improvement.

5. Introduction to PV/MV Production | From Planning to Filming and Editing

For bands with original songs, creating a promotional video (PV) or music video (MV) is a great opportunity to convey the world of their music visually. You don't need to outsource to professionals; with enough planning and ingenuity, you can create a truly compelling video.

Planning | Song concept and storyboard

Before you begin shooting, first try to put into words the worldview and emotions the song wants to convey. Deciding on a direction, such as "It's a fast-paced song, so I want to use a lot of dynamic shots," or "The lyrics have a lot of descriptive imagery, so I want to recreate those scenes in live-action," will help you stay focused during filming. Once you have a clear direction, prepare a "storyboard"—even a simple illustration or memo will suffice—outlining what shots to shoot and in what order, according to the song's progression. This will make filming on the day much smoother. Organizing the song's structure and section divisions beforehand is similar to the process of creating a live setlist. For insights into song order and the build-up of each section , a setlist creation guide should be helpful.

Filming | Scene-by-scene shots and inserts

Filming an entire song using only performance scenes can easily result in monotonous footage. Inserting "insert shots"—close-ups of equipment, cityscapes, natural scenery, and close-ups of the band members' faces—between performance shots creates rhythm in the video. It's a good idea to film several takes of the performance scene so you can choose the best shot during editing.

Editing Basics | Cutting to Match the Song

The basics of PV editing involve switching cuts in time with the song's beat and the build-up of the chorus. Show the intro slowly with longer cuts, and then increase the speed of the cuts as you approach the chorus to create a sense of musical excitement in the video. You don't need to aim for perfect editing from the start. Begin by laying out the footage from the beginning to the end of the song and watching it through once.

6. How to Create Content for Social Media Sharing | Basics for the Vertical Video Era

Apart from promotional videos and live performance footage, short, vertical videos designed for social media sharing have become an indispensable tool for increasing a band's visibility.

Platform-specific formats

Instagram Reels, TikTok , and YouTube Shorts all use a 9:16 vertical video format as their basic format. In recent years, the maximum video length that can be posted has tended to increase on each platform. It has been reported that YouTube Shorts' limit will increase from 60 seconds to 180 seconds (3 minutes) in October 2024, and Instagram Reels' limit will also increase to 180 seconds in the first half of 2025. However, just because the limit has increased doesn't mean that longer videos are always better. If you're aiming for virality on social media, short, fast-paced edits of around 15 to 60 seconds tend to be more likely to be watched to the end.

Social media video engagement trends: A look at viewing trends in numbers

Knowing the actual numbers of views and engagements on social media videos makes it easier to formulate your posting goals. According to Hootsuite's research , the average engagement rate for Instagram Reels is 2.8%, while TikTok's is a low 1.5%. This shows that a large number of users doesn't necessarily translate to a high engagement rate; the "ease of growth" varies greatly from platform to platform depending on posting frequency and algorithm characteristics.

In terms of how easily viewers will continue watching, according to an article explaining TikTok's viewing data , a high completion rate of 70% or more is considered a benchmark for being highly rated by the algorithm. For a 30-second video, being watched for around 15-20 seconds is considered a "not bad" level, and conversely, if you can't capture viewers' interest in the first 15 seconds, many viewers will drop off at that point. This shows that editing band videos on social media to put the highlights of the performance or the climax of the chorus at the beginning makes sense from a numerical standpoint.

Attract them in the first 3 seconds

Because social media timelines are constantly being scrolled, if you can't convey "what this video is about" in the first few seconds, viewers will quickly leave. Effective strategies include starting with the most exciting chorus of a live performance, an impressive pose, or adding a catchy caption as text overlay.

How to add text overlays/subtitles

Since many users watch videos on social media without sound, displaying lyrics, dialogue, and comments during performances as on-screen text ensures that the content is conveyed to viewers in environments where sound cannot be played. Using the automatic subtitle generation function of editing software can automatically create subtitles from spoken content, reducing the effort of manually entering them from scratch. For more detailed information on general social media management strategies and how to utilize them for recruiting band members, please refer to our guide on how to use social media for bands .

Beyond virality: The flow from music promotion to merchandise sales.

Once your video has gone viral on social media, it's more effective to have the next step prepared. By posting a streaming link in your profile, you can guide people who are interested after watching the video directly to streaming your music. We've compiled instructions on how to get started with streaming in our complete guide to music releases . If the response to your live videos or music videos is good, many bands will take that momentum and move on to creating and selling original merchandise. For more information on merchandise development, please refer to our complete guide to merchandise creation and sales .

7. How to Choose Editing Software | Free or Paid - Which to Start With?

To transform your footage into a finished "work," editing software is essential. Both free and paid software have their strengths.

Free editing software to get started with

The smartphone app CapCut is strong in vertical video editing for social media, and its features such as automatic text overlay generation and abundant templates make it easy to use even for those new to video editing. If you want to do professional-level editing on your computer for free, DaVinci Resolve is a strong option. Developed by Blackmagic Design, this software includes features that are normally only found in expensive paid software, such as color grading and multicam editing, even in its free version, and is used in professional settings. For Mac users, the standard "iMovie" is also a convenient option.

Paid editing software

If you want to seriously engage in PV production or collaborative editing with multiple people, you should consider paid software. Adobe Premiere Pro is a standard software widely used in the video industry, offered on a monthly subscription basis, and its strength lies in its easy integration with other Adobe products (such as Photoshop). For Mac users, there is "Final Cut Pro" (formerly Final Cut Pro X), which is characterized by its one-time purchase pricing and fast processing speed optimized for Mac.

Actual evaluation and review trends

When choosing editing software, it's helpful to consider not only the feature list but also the evaluation trends of actual users. CapCut is highly regarded for the ease of use of its mobile app, and its ability to intuitively cut and add text overlays, even for those new to video editing, is highly praised. On the other hand, there are criticisms that the distinction between the free and paid (Pro) versions is unclear, and there are also complaints about the increase in the monthly fee for the Pro version. For PC editing software, Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve are often compared. Premiere Pro is often praised for its abundance of Japanese learning materials (books, video tutorials, online courses), making it easy for beginners to learn on their own. On the other hand, while DaVinci Resolve is praised for offering professional-quality features for free, some say that Japanese tutorials tend to be geared towards intermediate and advanced users, making it somewhat time-consuming for complete beginners to master on their own.

Comparison of editing software: learning difficulty and compatible environments.

For beginners, I recommend starting with CapCut, which allows you to edit short videos for social media on your smartphone, or the free version of DaVinci Resolve if you want to create more detailed videos on your computer. Once you become more familiar with these tools, you can consider upgrading to paid software as needed.

8. Preservation and Archiving Strategies | To Avoid Losing Valuable Records

The videos and photos you take are assets in themselves. However, it's not uncommon to hear stories of people losing these precious memories due to insufficient smartphone storage or computer malfunctions.

Cloud storage and external storage: their respective features

Cloud storage services like Google Drive, Dropbox, and iCloud offer the advantage of being accessible from anywhere and easy to share among members. However, free plans have storage limits, and storing large files like video data for extended periods may require a paid plan or the use of multiple services. External HDDs and SSDs, while requiring an initial investment, offer the advantage of being able to store large amounts of data in one place without monthly fees. However, external storage carries the risk of physical failure or loss, so it's best to avoid relying solely on them.

The concept of the 3-2-1 backup rule

One concept often introduced in the field of data preservation is the "3-2-1 rule." This is the idea that ① you should keep three copies of your data, ② two of those copies should be stored on different types of storage media (for example, an external HDD and the cloud), and ③ the third copy should be stored in a physically separate location (the cloud, or an external drive stored elsewhere). For band video recordings, simply distributing the data across three locations—the smartphone used for filming, a computer or external HDD for editing, and cloud storage—can prevent the complete loss of the recording even if one piece of equipment breaks down or is lost.

Separation and management of source material and master.

As editing progresses, it's easy for raw, unedited footage ("source data") and the completed "master data" (final version) to become mixed together. Organizing your footage into folders such as "source," "in editing," and "final version" makes it easier to find necessary footage later and prevents accidental deletion of unedited material. In particular, it's highly recommended to back up the final master data to multiple locations and to always keep a separate copy as an exported video file, in addition to the project file in your editing software.

9. Points to note regarding copyright and portrait rights

Before taking and publishing photos, it's essential to understand copyright and portrait rights. Publishing without knowing these can lead to problems.

Performing original songs is generally not a problem.

There are generally no copyright issues with filming and releasing performance videos of original songs that you have written and composed yourself. Since the members who wrote the lyrics and composed the music are the copyright holders, they can freely release the videos at their own discretion.

Points to note when performing cover songs

The situation changes if you're releasing a video of yourself performing another artist's song (a cover song). When performing, recording, or distributing a cover song, you need to be mindful of the copyright held by the lyricist and composer. In the case of songs managed by copyright management organizations such as the Japanese Society for Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers (JASRAC) , some major platforms such as YouTube have comprehensive licensing agreements, so in some cases individuals can post without applying each time. However, the treatment varies depending on the platform and how it is used. The relationship between cover performances and copyright is explained in detail in the basics of cover performances and copyright , so if you plan to use cover songs on social media or in live videos, we recommend that you be sure to check it before releasing it.

Considerations when audience members' faces are visible.

Live concert footage may include not only the performers but also the audience. When posting videos on social media or elsewhere that clearly show the faces of individuals who can be identified, it is necessary to consider their right to privacy. Some venues announce upon entry that "filmed footage may be used for promotional purposes," but if this is not the case, it is advisable to blur the faces of audience members, prioritize using shots of their backs or from a distance, or confirm with venue staff beforehand whether filming and posting is permitted.

10. Summary | Minimum setup you can start today

In this article, we've covered a range of topics, from why photographic and video documentation of a band is important, to equipment selection, tips for live and rehearsal filming, the basics of PV/MV production, how to create material for social media sharing, how to choose editing software, the concept of saving and archiving, and important points regarding copyright and portrait rights.

You don't need to get everything at once. If you're starting something today, this is the minimum setup you need: a smartphone and a small tripod that you can buy for a few thousand yen. That's all you need, so try turning on the camera at the beginning of your next practice session. You'll be surprised how clearly you can see any tempo discrepancies or misunderstandings of the arrangement when you watch it back on video. That one practice video will likely be the first record of your band's growth when you look back on it six months or a year later.

Furthermore, the videos and photos you've taken become powerful tools when searching for new members. There's no better way to convey playing skills, musicality, and the band's atmosphere than through actual performance videos. When posting a recruitment ad on Membo , including performance videos and past live photos will give potential applicants a more concrete image of the band. The Membo recruitment list features band recruitment ads for various formations and genres. If you're unsure how to use it, be sure to check out Membo's help page , user guide , app usage page , announcements page , and writers page. A single video you shoot today can help move your band's activities forward a little bit tomorrow.