Concert Photographer

Kurt Lunsford is a music and lifestyle photographer based in Little Rock, Arkansas. With well over 15 years of experience photographing concerts in tiny basements to full arenas nothing is too big or small to create iconic images from. Kurt has worked for festivals such as SXSW, So What?! Fest, Furnace Fest, and many others, and worked for countless bands both big and small.

Do you have a good tip for us?

“Don’t be afraid to ask” this is especially true in the music world. No one is going to give you a photo pass unless you ask for it. No one is going to let you backstage for the first time unless you ask for it. Be professional and friendly and understanding when you’re told no, but never be too afraid to ask for what you want and need to get those iconic shots.

Thnks Fr Th Mmrs

Based on the title it’s probably easy for most to figure out that this story is about Fall Out Boy. This band along with My Chemical Romance are two bands that helped build not only my music tastes but who I am as a person. Fall Out Boy to me was also always at the top of my bucket list of bands to photograph and since I usually shoot freelance without a publication backing me and they only play massive shows, it felt like an impossible task.

To set up the scene, in 2024 I had created a personal goal to try and take 365 portraits within the year to push myself to not only create more images, but also force myself to meet new people, and reconnect with others that I’d grown apart from. In March of 2024 I was driving from Little Rock to Austin to go work at the festival SXSW for the next week and on the way I noticed one of my friends had photographed Fall Out Boy the night before in Dallas, so on a whim I looked up to see if they’d be playing in Austin and of course they were.

Here’s where the story ties back into my photo tip of asking for what you want. I decided to make a hail mary attempt and try to contact Andy Hurley (Fall Out Boy‘s Drummer) who I had met briefly before when another band he played in stopped through Little Rock. I sent out a tweet directed at him knowing he doesn’t use social media much asking if I could get a portrait of him for my project and then continued on my drive not thinking much of it. A few hours later I stopped to get gas and opened my phone to him replying saying “absolutely.”

Sparing all the details of me freaking out, and having to Lime-scooter 4 miles to the venue, I made it happen. Andy guest-listed me to the show and gave me a pass that allowed me to come backstage and snag a portrait of him, and then allowed me to photograph the show as well, which was incredibly generous and kind of him. This was one of the coolest career moments I’ve had so far, and was very full-circle for 15-year-old-Kurt to know that I was now friends with someone from one of my favorite bands.

What’s in your bag?

• BLACKRAPID camera strap
• Sony A7iii
• Sony 50mm f/1.8
• Tamron 20mm f/2.8
• Godox TT600 flash
• GoPro Hero 8 for BTS filming
• Earplugs

Follow Kurt Lunsford

Instagram – instagram.com/kurtlunsfordphoto

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Unit Still Photographer

South African photographer based in Cape Town, my main focus is unit still photography working on film and TV sets creating imagery to be used for publicity and marketing.
Member of the Society of Motion Picture Still Photographers (SMPSP)

Do you have a good tip for us?

Always be ready, and know what your camera settings are at all times. Those magical moments can take place within seconds and can easily be missed.

With my Blackrapid double strap, I feel like I’m ready for a shootout in a Western, with my finger always on the trigger.

Photoshoot experience:

Getting a last-minute call to capture a first-look image for the film Serenity with Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway, we were on the back of a fishing boat and had to quickly wrangle the two actors after the scene had been completed. With the crew busy moving gear and taking down lights, I literally had seconds to capture the shot.

What’s in your bag?

• BLACKRAPID Double Breathe strap
• 2 Fujifilm X-T5 bodies
• Fujifilm X-T4 body
• Fujifilm XF 16-55mm f2.8
• Fujifilm XF 50-140mm f2.8
• Fujifilm XF 56mm f1.2
• Fujifilm XF 33mm f1.4
• Fujifilm XF 23mm f1.4
• All packed neatly into my Pelican 1510 cary-on case, ready to travel.

Follow Graham Bartholomew

• Instagram instagram.com/grahambart
• Website grahambartholomew.co.za

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RockinShots – Concert Photographer

Music has inspired me since childhood, whether during sports or concerts. In 1999, I picked up a camera, starting my photography journey at small venues. This experience deepened my connection to the community and fueled my passion for music through the lens.

Raven Divito is a music photographer based in San Francisco, CA. In 1998 she experienced her first underground show in a dive bar, and was immediately captivated by the energy of the bands and fans. From that moment she knew she wanted to become a part of the local music scene as a photographer, and in 1999 she picked up a camera and began her musical journey through the lens.

Raven’s photos have been published in multiple magazines, in CDs and album art, posters, and flyers, and Cherie Currie of The Runaways used one of Raven’s images on a poster for the promotion of her book “Neon Angel,” and in promoting The Runaways movie featuring Dakota Fanning and Kristen Stewart.

Raven also published a photography book and had a gallery exhibit in 2015 in San Pedro, CA. Raven’s passion for photography grows stronger with every show, and she will always be a giant supporter of local bands, top artists, and every musician in between.

Staying Alert Creates Possibilities

When I began shooting punk shows, I kept both eyes open while looking through the viewfinder for safety. This technique improved my peripheral awareness and helped me avoid tunnel vision. It allowed me to capture this photo perfectly, as I noticed the lead singer swinging his light while focused on the guitar player.

What’s in your bag?

• BLACKRAPID Harness Camera Strap
• I carry a LowePro Backpack
• Two Canon 5d Mark IV
• 50mm Canon Lens
• 16-35mm Canon Lens
• 24-70mm Canon Lens
• 70-200mm Canon Lens
• Some misc. accessories

Follow Raven Divito

• Instagram – instagram.com/rockinshots
• Website – rockinshots.com
• Webzine – soundchecksf.com/author/ravendivito

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Jeff Moreland Sports Photography

Jeff Moreland is a Kentucky-based sports photographer. He covers NCAA sports, the NFL, PGA, thoroughbred racing (Kentucky Derby, Breeders’ Cup), and more. His work is regularly featured in print and online versions of national and international publications, including Sports Illustrated, ESPN, and others.

His career includes seven years working for Topps Sports Cards and traveling around the NFL, with his images appearing on hundreds of trading cards and packaging. His current clients include NCAA universities and sports trading card companies, and he loves seeing his work published on sports cards because that’s a big part of what sparked his love for photography as a young boy. Jeff also enjoys concert and celebrity photography, including red carpet events at the Kentucky Derby and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremonies.

When he’s not covering games he enjoys traveling and attending sporting events with his family.

Do You Have a Good Photography Tip for Us?

Be prepared and know as much as possible about your subject.

I find that being a former athlete helps me know more about what is likely to happen in a particular situation when shooting sports, and that can go a long way toward being in position to get the shot I want.

My Friend, the Pop Star!

One of my best friends from childhood became a global pop star when we grew up. I’ve shot some of his concerts over the years, but I’ll never forget the first time I went to one of his shows after he became famous. I was shooting it for a magazine and our hometown newspaper.

My wife and I got to the arena early the day of the show and met with him in the back of the arena before we all went outside to sit on his bus where we could talk. As he swung the arena door open and poked his head out, there were instantly blood-curdling screams from a few hundred young girls waiting to catch a glimpse when and if that door opened.

When the show began, it was surreal to stand in front of the stage shooting photos while more than 20,000 people screamed and cheered for a guy I had grown up with.

That’s something I’ll never forget.

What’s in your bag?

• I’m a Canon shooter, and I have three Canon 5D Mark IV bodies.
• I have several lenses, including a 24mm f2.8, a 24-70 f2.8, a 70-200mm f2.8, and a 500mm f4. I also have one non-Canon lens I love, and that’s a Sigma 120-300mm f2.8. I usually stick strictly with Canon but I tried this out once and really liked the versatility it gives. I especially like it for shooting basketball.
• I always use a BLACKRAPID strap, and I go between my original Sport Breathe to the Double Breathe depending on the situation. The Double Breathe has quickly become my new favorite because I can keep a mid-range lens (70-200mm) on one side and a short lens (24-70mm) on the other, all while shooting my 500mm on a monopod. It lets me keep everything close at hand while also keeping it secure.

Follow Jeff Moreland

• Website – jeffmoreland.com
• Instagram – instagram.com/jeffmoreland

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Photography Genre Music and Advertising

I always had a love for music and photography, whether photographing music or playing guitar with my band. So that drove me to my passion for photography and made it my career

Do You Have a Good Photography Tip for Us?

Keep it simple. Less is more.

Good Things Come to Those Who Wait

I had the opportunity to shoot a band in a huge venue in my country, just when the sun was setting. Before that though, it was cold and cloudy and I worried I wouldn’t get the sunset I wanted. But as I waited and the hour start passing, it cleared up and I got a beautiful sunset in the background. It’s a beautiful photo!

What’s in your bag?

• For my camera bag, I use a Think Tank carry-on
• I have a reflex camera
• My lenses 16-35 mm, 50mm, 70-200mm, 24mm
• A BLACKRAPID strap
• Transmitters
• A tether cable
• And some accessories

Follow Ignacio Galvez

• Instagram – instagram.com/xignaciox
• Website – ignaciogalvez.com

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Music and Portrait Photographer

Estelle Massry is an accomplished French rock and roll photographer based out of Rumson, NJ. Estelle’s work has had her up close with Rock legends such as The Rolling Stones, Lenny Kravitz, Slash & Metallica to name a few. Her style has been best described as very intimate with an ability to portray raw emotions. She uses a central theme expressed in stark contrasts to capture vivid moments that makes the viewer want to know the rest of the story.

Do You Have a Good Photography Tip for Us?

Networking is key in this industry. Push yourself and make it a point to talk to everyone. I was offered my first big gig because I reluctantly showed up at a local Halloween party which resulted in speaking with someone who happened to be producing a live performance of Alicia keys the following week. When he mentioned it to me I jokingly told him that if they were looking for a photographer that I was available.

He called the next day and hired me to be the sole photographer to shoot Alicia Keys at the Apollo Theatre in NYC. To this day this is one of my biggest accomplishment and thankfully all because I “showed up” and got out of my comfort zone.

“Nothing Else Matters”

One of my most challenging shoot was Metallica. Metallica is my favorite band and never expected that I would have the opportunity to photograph them. In all excitement I didn’t think to look up the venue right away and assumed since it was in Pennsylvania that it would probably  be one hour away and where I have worked before  (not that it mattered…I mean it’s Metallica). I soon discovered it was 5 hours away. I never questioned going but I did have to figure out how to make it work because at that time my kids were very little and I knew I would also have to drive back after the show.

As I started my road trip, so did the rain. It was a monsoon for 5 straight white-knuckling hours. The escort was to be met at 8:00 pm and it’s now 7:50 and I’m stuck in traffic with thousands of fans looking for parking. It’s now 7:55 and I’m still looking and I’m getting further from the venue. I am starting to panic but by chance, I finally find a spot. I jump out of my car wearing my fancy boots, carrying my camera bag running like I’ve never ran before. Nothing else mattered but getting to the box office and grabbing my photo pass in time. But where is the box office? On the opposite side of course.

I literally walked in soaked and completely out of breath as the escort was shutting the door to walk the photographers down to the pit. I was 5 seconds from missing the biggest show of my life. I was on such a high shooting my favorite band and my adrenaline continued as I drove the long 5 hours back home cranking their tunes and reminiscing about the experience.

What’s in your bag?

• Canon camera bodies
• Canon EF 70-200 mm f/2.8
• Canon EF 24-70 mm f/2.8
• BLACKRAPID Double Slim Breathe Camera Harness
• Eargasm High Fidelity Ear Plugs
• Plastic lanyard
• Advil & Tylenol

Follow Estelle Massry

• Website – estellemassry.com
• Media Outlet – musicdenlive.com
• Instagram – @coucou.photography

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Best known for his sports, music and portrait work, award-winning Toronto photographer Jon Blacker brings his gear and his experience working with editorial, commercial and corporate clients in Canada, the United States and overseas to every project.

Among others over the course of his 32 year career, Jon has worked with; Major League Baseball Photos, The Canadian Press, Reuters, The New York Times, Sports Illustrated, World Aquatics, The International Paralympic Committee, National Post, The Hockey News, The Globe and Mail, Nikon Canada, Woodford Press, Fender Musical Instruments, The Sporting News, Roadrunner Records Canada, Racing With Autism and directly with a wide range of bands.

Do You Have a Good Photography Tip for Us?

Know your subject and anticipate. This is especially important for shooting sports and concerts. Know at which point in which song the guitarist will jump off the drum riser. Know that a left handed batter will hit ground balls to the second baseman while right handed batters will hit them to the shortstop.

That time I gave the drummer of the Red Hot Chilli Peppers a piggy back ride…

In 2011 I was in the very early stages of working on what would become my first book, Musical Ink (2013, Schiffer Publishing), a collection of black & white infrared portraits of musicians and their tattoos. I had arranged with his manager, the late great John Carter, to make a portrait of former Van Halen frontman Sammy Hagar while he was in Toronto for a pre-tour warmup show with his new ‘supergroup’ Chickenfoot. Sammy was a lock, but I’d also asked Carter if he thought we might also have an opportunity to get RHCP drummer Chad Smith and former Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony. Carter said he’d ask, but I still hadn’t had him confirm either way.

Once I had my makeshift studio set up in my Four Seasons suite, I phoned Carter and told him I was ready, and he said he’d send Sam down. A few minutes later, there was a knock at the door which I opened to find…Michael Anthony. I invited him in, gave him a quick rundown of the book and got him on his mark. While I was shooting Mike, I heard the door open (I’d thrown the lock so it wouldn’t fully close, expecting Sammy to show up while I was shooting Mike), and someone running across the floor. I didn’t even have time to turn around before Chad Smith was literally on my back. I turned my head to the right and his face was so close I thought he was going to go in for a kiss.

It should be noted that I was about two weeks out of knee surgery (announced to the room by my assistant, hence the look on Mike’s face) and had my knee said ‘No thank you’ to carrying a 6’4” 200lb drummer on my back, I would have launched Chad into Mike, through the seamless background and into all the furniture I had to move to set everything up.

Fortunately everyone survived. I wrapped up shooting Mike, and finished Chad’s portrait just before Sam arrived. Mike asked if I minded if he put the Indy 500 on the TV, so while I was making Sam’s portrait, Mike and Chad were hanging out on the couch watching the race. It was a little surreal.

What’s in Your Bag?

I’ve been a Nikon user my entire career and went all-in with Nikon’s mirrorless system in 2019, so the cameras remain constant with a trio of Nikon Z-series mirrorless bodies. For baseball, football and soccer, I’m carrying 3 bodies with my Nikkor 200-400/4 on a monopod on one body and a Nikkor Z 24-70/2.8 & Nikkor Z 70-200/2.8 on the other two. If I’m shooting football, those two cameras are connected to my BLACKRAPID Double harness which makes walking up and down the sidelines much easier.

When I’m shooting concerts, I never leave my studio without my BLACKRAPID Double with the Nikkor Z 24-70 & Z 70-200 combo connected to the rig and either my Nikkor Z 14-30/4.0 or my 16/2.8 fisheye on the third body around my neck (this is also my setup for shooting hockey). For hearing protection at concerts I wear some foam earplugs under a pair of Walker Razor electronic muffs.

Follow Jon Blacker

• Instagram – @blackerphotos
• Instagram – @i_shoot_shows
• Website – jonblacker.com

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Photography Genre: Music + Touring

Anna Lee is a Los Angeles-based music and portrait photographer, with a specialty in touring. She has toured since 2013 with artists in the alt, rock, and pop categories – from small clubs to stadiums. She is currently the tour photographer for Coldplay.

Through photo and video, she prioritizes artful and thoughtfully captured moments, that are candid and true to life. Originally from Oklahoma City where she found love for working in live shows, Anna is a music fan first, and enjoys using content to include fans in the concert experience.

When off the road in Los Angeles, she works on a variety of photography and other creative projects including press shoots, film and TV set work, commercial, and weddings.

Do You Have a Good Photography Tip for Us?

Ask for what you want! It took me a long time to figure out how to take my career and direction into my own hands. Pitch yourself, and build your own opportunities. You are the expert on what you do, and ultimately we’re all just figuring this out as we go!

Time Traveling on Tour

By nature, touring requires a lot of travel, and it chances are, you’ll eventually end up in an extreme situation with a wild story. I have many such stories, and one comes to mind: While working with a British rock band called The Struts, we literally played 2 concerts on opposite ends of the earth, in the same calendar day. The first was an afternoon festival slot in Japan, after which we immediately caught a flight to Los Angeles (traveling backwards through the time zones), then had a few hours drive to another city in California, where we were due for our evening headlining show, technically that same night. It was a long day, but we pulled it off!

What’s in Your Bag?

My gear bag almost always contains:

• Canon camera bodies (for which I need my dual-body Black Rapid camera harness)
• a few Canon and Sigma lenses
• a Speedlight flash
• a handful of filters and prism toys
• and snacks!

Follow Anna Lee

Instagram – instagram.com/annaleemedia

Website – annaleemedia.com

Blog – annaleemedia.com/blog-posts

See Anna Lee’s BLACKRAPID Ambassador’s Page…

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Live Music, Travel, Motion Picture/TV

Dave Blass is a 3 time Emmy Nominated Production Designer specializing in high concept shows like “Star Trek: Picard”, “The Boys”, “Preacher” and “Constantine.” When not world-building in for Television he is an accomplished Rock Photographer.

Do You Have a Good Photography Tip for Us?

Watch YouTube Videos to know what a band will do during a live set. Want to get the big jump, or the pyro explosion just right, they do the same show every night. Watch several clips and you will know where and when to be for the epic moments.

“Last Kiss”

I get a call last minute that another photographer has dropped out and they need me to drive 2 hours through Los Angeles traffic to photograph Kiss on their Farewell tour. We were supposed to shoot from “Front of House” near the sound board, but at the last minute they move us to the photo pit where we get up close and personal with the hottest band in the world. Close enough to feel the heat from the pyrotechnics.

What’s in Your Bag?

• When Shooting Concerts I always have my BLACKRAPID Breathe Camera Harness.
• I shoot with a pair of Canon 5D Mk IV
• Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L
• Canon EF 24-70 f2.8
• EF 16-35mm f/2.8L just in case there is something special that needs a super wide.
• I use Eargasm High Fidelity Ear Plugs as my go-to
• I have an extra 77mm UV Ultraviolet Clear Haze Glass Protection Protector as stage divers and mosh pits are a dangerous place for cameras and equipment. Twice I have had them broken.
• A plastic pouch lanyard is great for your photo pass, allows you to keep them for fun, and looks more official than sticking it on your shirt. I have had my pass ripped off by fans before too.
• Also stuffed in the bottom is a poncho as you never know when GWAR is going to spray you with blood.

Follow Dave Blass

• Website – www.daveblass.com
• X/Twitter – X.com/DaveBlass
• Instagram – instagram.com/dave_blass_photography/

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Entertainment, Events, & Concerts

Brittany Long is a Melbourne-based live music and entertainment photographer on wheels. She has etched her name in the industry with an impressive portfolio and an eye for capturing the heartbeat of every live performance. She has photographed iconic artists like Alice Cooper, KISS, Rob Thomas, and The Veronicas, alongside capturing the essence of major Australian festivals.

Beyond borders, she has also contributed her skills to international music festival Snow Machine in Japan and New Zealand. Long is driven by a desire to freeze the atmosphere of live shows, inviting audiences to relive the energy and passion through her compelling photographs encapsulating the essence of those moments that resonate long after the music has faded away. She is renowned for ‘doing whatever it takes to get the shot’.

Beyond the lens, she is a fervent advocate, championing accessibility and inclusivity in the music industry with her ‘Stairing Through the Lens’ portrait project. This project involves capturing musicians on stairs at various music venues and festivals across Australia, to initiate conversations surrounding accessibility and inclusivity. Symbolising the journey towards a more inclusive industry, one where ‘everyone can enjoy live music barrier-free’, the project currently encompasses more than 220 musicians, including the likes of Sampa the Great, Amy Shark, The Struts and The Veronicas.

Do You Have a Good Photo Tip for Us?

Embrace the grain.

The Story of Confidence Man

I can’t go past this photo taken in 2022 which still to this day is my favourite photo I’ve ever taken.

I was on Daydream Island in Queensland, Australia at Dream Machine music festival. I had to be physically carried up a ladder to even access this stage, and it was truly a case of being in the right place at the right time. The band Confidence Man was playing a DJ set and one of the band members ‘Sugar Bones’ climbed up onto the structure towards the front of the stage and poured a beer all over himself and then shook it out.

This photo encapsulates everything I love about music photography.

What’s In Your Bag?

• The BLACKRAPID Double Slim Breathe
• Godox v1 flash
• Canon R6 with 24-70 f2.8
• Canon R with 70-200 f2.8
• Canon 16-35 f2.8
• Loop earplugs
• Spare camera batteries
• SD cards
• Cleaning cloth
• Lip balm

Follow Brittany Long

• Website/Blog –  simplyphotographz.com
• Instagram – instagram.com/simplyphotographz
• Facebook – facebook.com/simplyphotographz

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