09/03/2026
One thing I get asked about quite a bit is how I got into concert photography.
Well. After a brief stint of working on the corporate side of the music industry, I learned pretty quickly it wasn't for me. However, I LOVED the creative side. I started carrying my camera to shows where I could and started just shooting. Luckily at the time I lived in Nashville, and it was when Nash was full of independent venues that frequently pulled in up and coming bands as well as many, many regional bands.
One of the first bands I started really working with was a pop rock band from the midwest called DoryDrive. Not only did I shoot their concerts but I also did several promo shoots with them (I will share those and talk about them in a separate post). Here are several photos from 2011-2014 of them, don't judge! LOL
So basically, it was just networking. Lots and lots of networking.
Also learning my camera. That is something I wasn't so good at back in those days lol There is a LOT to learn about the mechanical side of the camera as well as the best shooting settings. These days I look back as I put photos together for posts like these and see the settings I was shooting at and immediately think WHAT WAS I THINKING, but I guess we all have to start somewhere!
The sad thing is, Covid destroyed a lot of the indie venues and in cities like Nashville the corporate companies have taken over and basically eradicated most all the small venues replacing them with country singer bars for the bachelorettes and tourists to go get wasted at which is sad. If you remember 328 Performance Hall, Cannery Ballroom, Mercy Lounge, the Rutledge, 12th and Porter, City Hall, and several more I know I am forgetting, you're a real OG :)
If you are trying to get into it, shoot everywhere and in all lighting environments, that will help you SO much!
