A Photographer's First Festival: Looking Ahead to Get Together 2026

Since picking up a camera, I have photographed everything from intimate club shows and packed grassroots venues to established touring artists performing across the UK. Yet despite spending countless evenings documenting live music, there has always been one experience missing from my portfolio.

A festival.

Get Together Festival 2026 will not only be my first festival as a photographer, but my first festival full stop.

For many photographers, festivals are something they experience as fans long before they ever step into a photo pit. My journey is proving to be slightly different. For the first time, I will be experiencing the scale, atmosphere and unpredictability of a festival whilst simultaneously documenting it through the lens.

Needless to say, I am excited.

Held across multiple venues throughout Sheffield's Kelham Island district, Get Together has quickly established itself as one of the city's most exciting celebrations of live music. Bringing together emerging artists, established acts and some of the most exciting names currently touring the UK, the festival has built a reputation for championing discovery. It is the type of event where audiences can arrive with a carefully planned schedule and still leave having discovered their new favourite band.

That spirit of discovery is one of the reasons I was so eager to attend.

Live music has always been at its most exciting when the unexpected happens. Sometimes it is the headline act that leaves the biggest impression. Other times it is the artist performing to a smaller crowd in the middle of the afternoon who unexpectedly steals the entire weekend. Festivals create those opportunities in a way that traditional concerts rarely can.

This year, I am fortunate enough to be attending with both a Media Pass and a Photo Pass, allowing me to document the event throughout the day. Whilst the primary objective will be capturing the performances themselves, I am equally interested in documenting the wider festival experience: the audiences, the atmosphere, the venues and the moments that exist between the music.

In many ways, that wider perspective is something I have been consciously developing throughout the past year.

Following experiences photographing artists such as Crowbar, The Amazons and emerging artists like Wailing Banshee, I have come to realise that concert photography is about far more than simply capturing the performers on stage. The strongest images often emerge from the interactions between artist and audience, the anticipation before a set begins, or the reaction of a crowd experiencing a favourite song alongside hundreds of strangers.

Get Together presents the perfect opportunity to continue exploring that approach.

The festival also represents an important milestone in my own photography journey. What began as a personal creative outlet has steadily developed into something more substantial, leading to opportunities working with promoters, venues and artists. Attending Get Together with accredited access feels like another step forward and a chance to challenge myself in an entirely new environment.

Unlike a traditional concert, a festival requires photographers to constantly adapt. Multiple venues, changing lighting conditions, overlapping schedules and the sheer pace of the day present a unique set of challenges. It will undoubtedly push me outside of my comfort zone, but that is precisely what makes the opportunity so exciting.

Of course, there are several artists I am particularly looking forward to photographing.

Fat Dog's chaotic live reputation has made them one of the most talked-about bands on the UK circuit, whilst Lime Garden continue to establish themselves as one of the country's most exciting alternative acts. Lucia & The Best Boys bring an intensity and stage presence that feels tailor-made for photography, whilst Lily Moore's soulful performances offer a completely different type of visual storytelling.

Then there are The Horrors.

Few bands have evolved as dramatically throughout their career whilst retaining such a distinctive identity. Their ability to blend atmosphere, intensity and visual presentation makes them one of the artists I am most eager to document should the opportunity arise.

Photography aside, there are also several artists I would love to speak with throughout the day. Whether discussing the realities of touring, the evolution of their sound or the challenges facing emerging artists within the modern music industry, interviews provide an opportunity to look beyond the performance itself and gain insight into the people behind the music.

As the festival approaches, there is still an element of uncertainty.

I do not know which artist will deliver the standout performance of the day. I do not know which photograph will become my favourite image. I do not know what unexpected moments the festival has in store.

What I do know is that Get Together 2026 represents a significant moment for me, both as a photographer and as someone who simply loves live music.

For the first time, I won't just be attending a festival.

I'll be documenting one.