FAQ
-My band is small. Will you still shoot us?
Just because your band is small, doesn’t mean that I don’t want to work with you. Hit me up in the contact section and we can talk. If you aren’t from around Southern California, you may want to check out the booking section as well.
-What kind of equipment do you use?
I rely on mostly Canon gear. I am currently shooting on a Canon 30D with various lenses and flash setups.
-Do you do anything besides music photography?
I honestly do a little bit of everything! Music is where my heart is, but I really enjoy doing head shots, model shoots and everything in between. I’ve even done some product photography.
-Why don’t you like to use Photoshop?
For me, I think too many photographers use Photoshop as a crutch. They charge a client a lot of money, take bad pictures, and then make them look good in Photoshop. That’s not called photography, that’s called graphic design. I stand firm in doing the job right the first time, without the use of tools to make an image look presentable. Don’t get me wrong, I will use Photoshop to touch up blemishes and what not, but you won’t see me take it over the top.
-Do you travel for shoots?
I do! I am available for domestic and international travel. Please refer to the booking section to learn more.
-What are your rates?
My rates vary between every band I work with. I’m not going to charge a small band the same as I would charge a band on a major record label. I’ve done shoots for hundreds of dollars, but at the same time, I have done them for a couple of bucks, or for dinner
-How did you get started with photography?
I got started in photography at a young age. I was 15 and a family friend had just finished her photography course in college. I played around with her camera and became pretty addictive. My fascination grew from there and over the years I kept it going. After graduating high school, I kind of gave up and focused on working until I moved to California in the summer of 2006. Once I was settled here, I decided to jump back into it. Since Southern California is a mecca for music, I decided to combine my two loves, and that’s the story.
-How do you get passes to shoot the shows?
A lot of the bands I have worked with in the past get me in to photograph them live. Other times, I have to make contact with the bands label or PR firm to work everything out.
-What is it like working with such big name musicians?
I have never really been a star struck person, so working with larger bands doesn’t really phase me. I always appreciate the opportunity to work with them, but keep it very professional. Most of the time we grab dinner afterwards or get some hangout time before the shoot. A lot of the bands I have worked with are actually good friends of mine now.
-Can I purchase prints of your photos?
Yes you can! Use the contact section to get in touch and let me know what you are interested in.
-Do you ever shoot with film?
I shoot with film on occasion, but prefer digital for a faster turnaround. When I am shooting on assignment, the publication sometimes needs the photos before the next day, so digital comes in very handy. I have done a lot of film in the past, and really enjoy it though.
-Will you interview/review my band on your site?
If you are interested in having me review your album or interview your band, use the contact section and give me some more information.
If there are questions that I didn’t cover here, feel free to post them in a comment below and I will do my best to get back to all of them.
