The Creative Process – Music
For the last step in my creative process before the actual shooting starts, I often use music. Based on my state of chaos and some keywords I pick some songs in my iTunes library that feel right. This is done by intuition rather then reason. I can pick a song about a broken heart for a happy shoot or a classic piece for a futuristic shoot. Sometimes I choose based on the lyrics, but it can be based on melody, voice, … as well.
I put those songs on my iPod and usually listen at night in bed because that allows me to pretend not to have heard a crying kid because I can’t help seeing images when I close my eyes and listen to music. Those five minutes in the twilight zone between being awake and asleep are the best. During those magic minutes my brain seems to forget all we are supposed to know as an adult.
For this shoot, my iTunes playlist contained these songs:
Girl – Anouk
Mourir à plusieurs – Arno
Total Eclipse of the Heart – Bonnie Tyler
You’re So Vain – Carly Simon
Dreaming – Chicas Del Rock
Proud Mary – Creedence Clearwater Revival
Jolene – Dolly Parton
American Pie – Don McLean
Always On My Mind – Elvis Presley
Iris – The Goo Goo Dolls
Patience – Guns N’ Roses
Cocaine – J.J. Cale
Leaving, On a Jet Plane – John Denver
The Dolphin’s Cry (New Edit) – Live
Refugee – Melissa Etheridge
Song X – Neil Young
Dear Mr. President – P!nk
Houston – R.E.M.
Iedereen Is Van De Wereld – The Scene
Oró, Sé Do Bheatha ‘Baile – Sinéad O’Connor
Troy – Sinéad O’Connor
Weak – Skunk Anansie
Don’t Talk – 10,000 Maniacs
Those who have iTunes can take a look/listen at the iMix
You’ll have to be patient to see the final results of this creative process. We shot some video during the shoot, so there will be another YouTube episode. But first I need to find the time to process the pictures and edit the video. But here’s a sneak preview:
That is just friggin sweat Bert! The only problem I can forsee for myself to follow this music trick is all though I get images like yourself, I have a very bad memory lol I never remember dreams let alone images that pop into my head just as I fall asleep listening to music.
But I am going to steal that music idea so I too can ignore the crying 2 y/o upstairs at 1 am
Beautiful shot and the model! Can’t wait to see the video from this session.
I agree. Music is very important and is a great “trigger” for creative thinking. I’m like you, whenever I hear music, esp. when I’m with myself like when driving in the car, images and ideas start to pop up in my mind.
When you have a great idea it helos to play the same song at the actual shoot. Gets you back into the mood and often inspires to even more great pictures.
LOVE the new layout !!
I agree when you say music is a powerful tool to awake creativity, but there are other things as important to me… I find that the creative process is somewhat related to our senses, the obvious one in photography is vision, but I get the best results with smells and sounds…
Though sometimes some flavors can jump start my brain into some cool ideas for photographs…
thanks for you comments and suggestions.
I agree with the above, Music can lift a photoshoot to a higher level.
Well that’s what i experience when playing music while working.
But keep the your choice of music save ( i mean no trash metal while shooting a family portrait) , but i have to try this it could get a nice result. ;>
Peace Paul.
I think it’s awesome that you do that, I find music to be so important/helpful when trying to come up with ideas. I probably couldn’t even explain it, but music really has a profound effect, especially when it’s listened to when you’re not doing anything else, like when you’re about to go to bed.
From reading Creative Process series, it seems to me that your brain works in a similar way to mine. I didn’t think anyone else thought in such a strange way as I do…
@Paul: kids love trash metal
@David: I’m really sorry to hear your brain works like mine
Hi Bert, Greetings from INDIA. I saw u first on utube & i am very Impress with your style.I learn lot from your style.& waiting for your next Video. Do Also shoe some studio Shots with your lighting setup. Thank you very much.
@thanks Sanjay. I’m always surprised how interntaional this blog has become.
[...] can check out a writeup from Bert Stephani on this subject here. Bert gives you an example of a playlist he is going to use for a shoot. Now I should talk a little [...]