As much as I'm one to preach “live in the moment,” I’m also a photographer and videographer, and I will ALWAYS have at least 3 cameras on me at every festival taking way too many photos and videos so I never forget a single moment (whenever i’m not shuffling or riding the rail of course). Whether it’s my phone, a GoPro, a digicam or a polaroid camera, I make sure to capture every moment I possibly can that leaves an imprint on my soul and that is constantly happening at festivals so how could I not?

Here are some tips + tricks to getting the perfect rave and festival photos!

Know The Festival Policies

Make sure to first and foremost read up on what the festival does and does not allow. Most festivals don’t allow professional cameras but will allow smaller cameras such as EDC Orlando which allows “Non-professional flash/still cameras, handheld video devices under 6″ (Sony Action Cam, GoPro, Polaroids, etc.)”

Charge Up

Next, make sure you have all the batteries, cables and chargers you need to get you through the festival. A portable charger will absolutely save you if you enjoy taking lots of photos and videos throughout the night–bonus points if it’s a solar powered charger with multiple ports. 

Storage

Save yourself the stress and backup your photos and videos before you head out! Make sure you have enough storage on your phone to withhold all of your photos and videos or set a system in place to offload the content from your phone to either a cloud storage like Google Drive or Dropbox or a hard drive!

Bring a Lens Cloth

I cannot stress this enough! LENS WIPES SAVE LIVES (ok fine they just ensure your photos will be clean and clear) and take about two seconds to take out and use. You’ll be happy to get the smudges and grease off your lens so you can look back on some decently high quality images. Sure, you could use your rave outfit to wipe your lens but if you’re wearing anything from our closet you might want to reconsider! Sequins and lenses do not mix.

Phone Cameras

Don’t want the hassle of carrying around extra electronics? Your phone is probably just as good as any other digital device you could bring. Whether you’re shooting on iPhone or Android, it all comes down to your personal preference. Make sure to back up your phone, bring a portable charger, and an external hard drive or cloud system set up to make sure you don’t run out of space in the middle of the festival.

Bring a lens wipe to make sure you get the cleanest shots and if you’re feeling experimental, check out some lens attachments, shooting in 0.5, playing with the flash and exploring any other features your phone might have before the fest! You also may want to look into a stabilizer like a tripod if you really want to get some clean video footage!

Digicams

Is it 2024 or 2004? With the return of digicams and low megapixel pics, digicams are definitely the move for shooting cool photos with a vintage aesthetic. Not only are they super cute and on trend, they are also small and compact and easy to store in your fanny pack, backpack or even your pockets.

I personally think it’s nice to put your phone away, not use up so much storage, and it’s less costly to lose in case anything happens. I would much rather not lose any of my things (which is why a backpack is a must!), but I’d rather lose something a little cheaper than my phone! 

Point and Shoot (film)

Film photography is NOT DEAD. There’s something to be said about holding a camera in your hand with no LED screen – no thoughts, just vibes. A point and shoot camera is perfect for that and is exactly what it sounds like: all you need to do is load your film, point the camera and press the button to shoot. Point and shoots are the best (imo) way to get into film without having to stress about ISO, Aperture and Shutter Speed or any of the other intimidating aspects about shooting film.

You can find some pretty amazing and simple point and shoots made by some of your favorite brands like Vivitar, Minolta and Canon (to name a few) that you can find at your local camera shop, online on amazon or ebay, or you can try your luck at your local thrift store to see if you can hit a lick! 

Polaroids

Polaroid cameras have NEVER gone out of style! They are a little bulkier than digicams, point and shoots and your phone, but getting those instant pics in your hand to keep or give away to your new rave friends is PRICELESS. The Polaroid Instax is probably your best bet as it is the least bulky – make sure to bring plenty of extra film and batteries just in case!

GoPro

Last but not least, you have GoPro. If you can afford to purchase a GoPro for music festivals I would highly recommend it! Not only are they super small, they are literally built to withstand some of the most extreme conditions and music festivals are no exception. You definitely want to put your phone and other digital devices away in case it rains at the fest, but not your GoPro! Most GoPro’s come with a case to protect it from that type of weather, they’re easy to carry and even have some really fun attachments you can use to capture multiple POV’s!

We hope you enjoyed these photography tips! Make sure to tag us in your festival pics using @iheartraves and #iheartraves!