Chris (cbphoto) is, in my observation, a top-notch professional. Hire him and you'll have guaranteed stellar results.
It goes downhill from there. A a $300 budget should get someone who's done a lot of bands, with ample experience shooting at your venue, and can deliver very good results within a few days. I'd have an understanding of what you want, how many photos of each band member, etc.
DW members and lurkers, I’d like to introduce you to my new artist representative,
@MazdaRex . He will be handling all future inquiries.
In truth, the preferred workflow is: 1) the client (and their marketing wizards) have determined which elements of their product/service they want to advertise, and 2) they’ve formulated an idea of how they want it to look (literally, the aesthetics and “feel” of the messaging and how to target their demographic), and 3) seek out artists whose work fits with this aesthetic (usually about a dozen artists/studios) and request their portfolios, and 4) request estimate from usually three of them. Having three estimates reveals low-ballers and/or price gouging. Estimates are usually negotiated further if the project is a big one (e.g., with travel, models, location fees, etc.).
For
@rhumbagirl ’s band, if they were a goth band, that would determine a look very different if they were a J-Pop group. For best results, they would find an artist that understands their image and has the ability to create work that enhances that image. Many people think they have no image to market, but everyone does whether they like it or not. The object of the photography, art & design is to pull that image to the forefront in everything used to promote the band. This requires consistency, which usually means hiring the same people (photographers, designers, illustrators, etc.) to establish the image over the course of a few years.
The problem with lots of photos by someone/anyone with a DSLR is the high probability the images don’t distinguish the band from any other band. They’re just another band playing at the XYZ venue.