Do I have to write in French?

No. Most Paris promoters and press officers read English. A French subject line and an English body is a normal, well-received combination.

What does 'pigiste' mean if I have no publication?

It means a freelancer on commission for an outlet. If you have none, say you are working independently — at club scale that is usually fine.

Do I need a carte de presse?

Almost never for club shows. It is an official French press card that very few concert photographers hold. Its absence is not a reason to skip the request.

What does 'sous réserve' mean on a confirmation?

Conditional — typically on capacity or on the artist's team confirming. Confirm again on the day of the show.

The standing area in front of the stage. Where there is a barrier, the photo pit is the gap between that barrier and the stage.

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The French you need to ask for a photo pass

The French you need: “accréditation photo” is a photo pass; “attaché de presse” is the press officer; “je souhaite demander une accréditation photo pour le concert du [date]” opens the request; and “les trois premiers titres, sans flash” is the standard condition you will be given.

You can request accreditation in Paris in English and be understood. You cannot read the reply in English, because the reply is full of terms that have a specific meaning in this trade and a different one in a dictionary.

Updated 13 August 2026·By Paul Visions

Most Paris promoters and press officers read English perfectly well. Writing to them in English is not the barrier photographers think it is. The barrier is the answer: a two-line French reply containing three words that decide where you stand, how long you shoot, and whether you are being offered a pass or a ticket.

This is that vocabulary, in the order you will meet it.

Asking

Accréditation photo: The photo pass itself. This is the word to use in a subject line — Demande d'accréditation photo — [artist], [date] lands on the right desk without further explanation.
Demande d'accréditation: An accreditation request. What you are sending.
Attaché·e de presse: The press officer. On a larger show, this is the person who decides, not the venue. "Je vous mets en copie de l'attachée de presse" means your request has just been forwarded to the actual decision-maker — do not re-send it elsewhere.
Chargé·e de com': Communications manager. At club scale this is often the same person as the promoter, and often the one reading your message.
Pigiste: A freelancer working on commission for a publication. If you are asked "vous êtes pigiste pour qui ?", they are asking which outlet you are shooting for. "En indépendant, pour mon propre portfolio" is a normal and acceptable answer at club scale.
Carte de presse: The official French press card. Very few concert photographers hold one, and for club shows it is almost never required. Do not let its absence stop you asking.

The answer

C'est bon pour vous / Vous êtes accrédité·e: Yes. You are on the list.
Je vous mets sur la liste: "I'll put you on the list." Also yes — this is the most common form of a yes.
Liste complète / La liste est bouclée: The list is full or already closed. This is not a judgement on your work, and asking earlier next time is the whole fix.
Pas d'accréditation photo sur cette date: No photo passes for this show at all — usually an artist-side policy for the whole tour, not a decision about you.
Sous réserve: Conditional — usually on capacity or on the artist's team confirming. Treat it as a maybe and confirm on the day.
Laissez-passer: A pass, literally. Sometimes used for a physical pass collected at the door rather than a name on a list.

The conditions

Les 3 premiers titres, sans flash: The first three songs, no flash — the standard convention, explained in what "three songs, no flash" actually means. "Titres" and "morceaux" both mean songs.
Depuis la fosse: From the pit. La fosse is the standing area in front of the stage; in a room with a barrier, the photo pit is the gap between the barrier and the stage.
Pas de fosse sur cette salle: No pit in this room — you will be shooting from the crowd. Common in Paris clubs and not a problem; see shooting small Paris clubs.
Depuis la régie: From the sound desk position, at the back of the room. Usually offered when there is no pit at all.
Cession de droits: A transfer of usage rights. If this appears in an email or a form, read it properly before signing — it is the difference between lending photos and giving them away. See who owns your concert photos in France.
Droit à l'image: The right of a person to control images of themselves. It applies to the people you photograph, and it is a separate question from your copyright in the photograph.

At the door

Accueil / Guichet: Reception desk / box office. Where accreditation is normally collected.
Je suis accrédité·e photo au nom de…: "I'm on the photo list under the name…" — the sentence to say at the door.
Une pièce d'identité: ID. Bring one. Many Paris venues will not release a pass without it.
Vestiaire: The cloakroom. Often mandatory for bags, which is a reason to carry a small kit — see the night of the show.
Balances / Soundcheck: Soundcheck. If you are offered access to les balances, take it: an empty room in working light is the easiest photography of the night.
Changement de plateau: Changeover between acts. Your window for moving position and for looking at the room.

Two habits worth adopting

Write the subject line in French even if the body is in English. Demande d'accréditation photo — [artist] — [venue], [date] is scannable in an inbox full of French mail and tells the reader instantly what the message is.

Use vous, not tu, in a first message, and sign off with Bien à vous or Cordialement. Paris music-scene email is less formal than French business email in general, but the first message is still a first message.

Common questions

Do I have to write in French?: No. Most Paris promoters and press officers read English. A French subject line and an English body is a normal, well-received combination.
What does 'pigiste' mean if I have no publication?: It means a freelancer on commission for an outlet. If you have none, say you are working independently — at club scale that is usually fine.
Do I need a carte de presse?: Almost never for club shows. It is an official French press card that very few concert photographers hold. Its absence is not a reason to skip the request.
What does 'sous réserve' mean on a confirmation?: Conditional — typically on capacity or on the artist's team confirming. Confirm again on the day of the show.
What is 'la fosse'?: The standing area in front of the stage. Where there is a barrier, the photo pit is the gap between that barrier and the stage.

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