One of the perks of life is the people we meet, the moments we spend with them, and the memories we create. Memories are so valuable for what they stand for or represent in our lives. While time keeps running and people grow apart, memories are the ones people fall back on whenever they want to relive a moment with someone.
For years, the mind has been man’s only means of capturing memories. However, the age of industrialization brought about a lot of change and transformation, including the introduction of the camera. Since the invention of the camera in 1816 by Frenchman Joseph Nicéphore Niépce, people have been able to capture more memories, not just in their minds but on something tangible. Unlike the mind, a photograph allows others to see and share in your memory.
Decades later, the act of photography continues to evolve and expand. Photography has moved from just capturing memories to telling a story and expressing art and self. The world over, photographers are branching out into other areas of photography. Weddings, sports, portraits, lifestyle, wildlife, and a host of other places have seen people develop a peculiar way of capturing moments. Like these areas of photography, another area of photography that has become very popular currently is concert photography. Concert photography is the act of capturing still images at concerts, parties, live events, or shows. What many assumed was just meant to take shots of the performers and attendants has taken a turn into something far more important. Photographers tell stories by editing the pictures they take. The timing, technique, and creativity one must possess to capture the moments in real time to capture that perfect shot and memory is not something that comes easy.






Ghana’s concert photography space has become very vibrant in recent years with the introduction of photographers who are not afraid to venture outside the box of people’s perception of photography. A select few have mastered the art of capturing and retelling stories and emotions with their photographs. Ghana has experienced amazing concert photographers whose work has been used in the documentation of unforgettable singular moments. In our bid to understand what it takes to be a concert photographer and its perks, we spoke to a few who were kind enough to share their experiences in the industry.
Seyram09
I started with the passion and love I have for music and visual storytelling. One of the first major concerts I shot was in December 2019 organized by Yfm. I seized the opportunity to take photos of artists like Eazzy, E.L., and Magnom. In terms of the dynamics of concert photography, there are a lot of techniques at play. For example, the lighting and how low or high the stage has been positioned. You don’t have control over the lighting system at the concert. This means the photographer has to be creative and also change his camera settings to achieve a particular result. For fast-paced action, the reaction from the audience.

My style is characterised in two ways. Colouring; is where I merge film aesthetics, cinematic, and elements of digital looks. Storytelling; how I capture the emotions and souls of the audience. The last is timing; my unique angles. I must say the photography space in Ghana keeps growing and evolving. We are seeing some diversity but there is more work to be done in the space.
The Seyram
Black Sherif was my introduction to concert photography. His management reached out to me to cover him during the 3 Music Awards, which was my first attempt at concert photography. I always like to add some dynamism to my photos. I strive to produce images that evoke emotions and leave a dent in the minds of people. My color grading, I will describe my style as unique. This may sound cliche, but I enjoy working with people who give me creative freedom so I can properly express the person and myself through the images. Thankfully, Blacko’s team gave me the freedom to do what I had mapped out.

Currently, we have an appealing photography scene in Ghana. Everyone is on their toes; there are a lot of collaborations within the space. People have become more receptive to photography. The business end is getting better, and hopefully, it gets better and better. My favourite concert images are the ones I have taken of Black Sherif and the ones I took of Stonebwoy.
Abdul Arafat
My first real concert shoot was at the Chale Wote Street Festival. I remember being totally in the zone, moving around like crazy trying to catch every single angle. Sure, I love music, but that day I realized something special—I was more in my element behind the camera than in the crowd. Something just clicked. From that moment on, I was hooked. I started chasing music performances everywhere—whether I was buying tickets or sneaking into free shows, I just wanted to capture the magic.
With concert photography, you’ve got zero control over the lighting—we’re talking wild, dynamic stage lights that change rather quickly. Photographers have to be lightning-quick, adjusting settings on the fly and cranking up that shutter speed just to freeze those epic moments. Unlike other types of photography where you can perfectly stage a shot, concert photography is pure chaos. Artists are unpredictable—one second they’re center stage, the next they’re crowd surfing. You’ve got to have the reflexes of a cat, always ready to capture that split-second magic. It’s all about embracing the unexpected and staying razor-focused. Then there’s access—and trust me, it’s everything. Not just anyone gets to shoot from the stage or backstage. Those special passes? They’re your golden ticket to angles and shots that regular folks can only dream about. And let’s talk gear. Concert photography demands some serious equipment. You need lenses that can basically see in the dark—we’re talking fast glass with wide apertures that can suck in every bit of available light.

My concert photography? It’s all about standing out from the crowd. While everyone else is shooting the same predictable angles, I’m hunting for those raw, candid moments that tell a real story. For me, it’s not just about capturing a performance; it’s about capturing the vibe, the energy, the entire mood. I want my shots to be more than just pictures. Each frame is a chance to show something unique, something that makes people feel like they were right there in that moment.
The concert photography scene in Ghana is still in its early stages. Not everyone gets it yet. But things are changing. More and more organizers are waking up to how crucial a good concert photographer is. Most organizers don’t understand that photographers should be part of the planning process from day one. We’re not just an afterthought. We know lighting. We understand how a well-placed spotlight can make an artist pop on stage, turning a good shot into an incredible one. And don’t even get me started on photo pits. Nothing ruins a potentially epic shot faster than an artist dragging their entire entourage on stage. I’m talking about those five to ten people who have zero reason to be up there.
I have shot thousands of photos, so picking my favorite photo is almost impossible. But if I had to narrow it down, two shots stood out for me. First, there’s the Sarkodie photo from the VGMA performance back in 2018. That was my real breakthrough moment—the shot that made me realize I could seriously do this. Then there’s the absolute viral photo: the photo of Cardi B that she ended up posting. I mean, how crazy is that? Going from shooting a performance to having the artist herself share your work? Total dream moment right there. Memories that remind me of why I fell in love with concert photography in the first place.
Written by Nana Kojo Mula.
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