Recently, I had the chance to sit down with the Mitten Music Podcast at Gig – The Art of Michigan Music to talk about my experience working as a concert photographer — how I got started at iHeartMedia, what it’s like covering live music, and how photography fits into the broader creative ecosystem around Michigan’s music scene.
The conversation was filmed and structured as a mix of individual interviews with three other photographers, each bringing a different background and perspective to the table. It made for a thoughtful discussion about not just cameras and settings, but the realities of the work, like reading a room, working under pressure, collaborating with artists and venues, and finding your voice in a crowded creative field.
For me, concert photography has always been about more than capturing shots of famous performers. It’s about timing, restraint, and awareness: knowing when to step in, when to step back, and how to tell a story without interrupting the moment. We talked about those instincts, how they develop over time, and how shooting live music has influenced the way I approach photography and visual storytelling as a whole.
Huge thanks to the Mitten Music Podcast for the opportunity to be part of the discussion and for creating space for photographers to talk openly about the work behind the images. I’m grateful to have been included alongside other talented creatives and to contribute to a conversation centered on craft, growth, and the local music community.
You can watch the interview session below.
I also had the chance to display some of my favorite concert photos at the Gig gallery. The three shots I picked for this exhibit were of KISS performing at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Alice Cooper with Hollywood Vampires at DTE Energy Music Theatre, and Chris Cornell with Soundgarden at Fox Theatre.
