Okay, show of hands. Who here, when you were starting your photography career or just getting into taking pictures said, “I want to be a music photographer!” or “I just want to go shoot photos at concerts!”. I think I can safely say that, at least, the idea has crossed the minds of most visual storytellers at some point. There’s something entrancing about the being a concert or music photographer — maybe it’s the spectacle of the lights and showmanship, maybe for the more video-centric amongst us the purposeful, natural blend of audio and visuals, or maybe it’s something about being part of the concert “experience”.

But shooting concerts for free doesn’t put food on your table. Photo credits don’t keep the lights on. Like being any type of photographer, to truly “make it” as a music photographer you have to niche down, achieve a unique style, and find your creative vision that makes you different – not just better – and create work with value.

Today’s guest is a perfect example of focusing down in your work and honing your craft, but never losing sight of the real-world practicalities of making photography work that makes you a living. Nate Ryan is a Minnesota-based photographer and filmmaker, capturing editorial and commercial imagery with a journalistic approach, telling visual stories with integrity. An avid cyclist and active outdoorsman, Nate loves to capture the stories and environments of the natural world. As the staff photographer at 89.3 The Current since 2010, he’s captured photos and video of the countless studio performances with bands that visit the station, as well as many live performances at venues in Minneapolis and St. Paul.

In today’s episode, I get an inside perspective on what it means to be more than just a concert photographer, how Nate pushes himself on every assignment as a photography team of one, and how he creates work for himself that fires him up to get PAID by national clients to shoot that kind of work for them. You can find show notes with photos and links online at photoforward.media/podcast/Nate

So, without further ado, my behind the curtains conversation with 89.3 The Current Photographer, Nate Ryan.

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PHOTOS FROM THE EPISODE: COMING SOON

QUESTION(S) OF THE DAY: What was your favorite quote or lesson from this episode? Please let me know in the comments!

SHOW NOTES: COMING SOON

COURTNEY PERRY // Mindful Photography to Change Your Career (#019)

Courtney Perry is a photojournalist based in Minneapolis, MN. Formerly a staff photographer at the Dallas Morning News, she now freelances for various local and national clients while based in the Twin Cities. Her home is filled with a spouse, his children, their dogs, and much love.

On today’s episode, Courtney and I explore how to enjoy photography without basing your happiness on your work, how she’s been able to build a stable and healthy client-base as a freelancer, and why having a “dark night of the soul” moment in your creative career can be a game-changing event to sharpen your focus as a photographer or multimedia creator. Without any further ado, today’s beautiful and timely interview with photojournalist Courtney Perry.

ALYSSA SCHUKAR // People over Pictures (#017)

Today’s episode is all about connections. Not in the smarmy, LinkedIn Request, crap networking sort of way, but in the genuine engagement and empathic authenticity that you can only achieve from true photojournalism greatness. Who better to learn from than a photographer would you self-proclaim to rather be a good person than a great photographer, building meaningful connections with the individuals and building a rapport through words before ever picking up a camera to capture images, today’s guest, Alyssa Schukar is an excellent resource to learn from for any working photographer.

Alyssa Schukar is a Washington, DC-based documentary photographer and educator. In her personal work, she is most interested in documenting how the environment and public policies affect communities.

In this weeks’ episode, we explore the process of transitioning from a staff position to freelancing work across the country, how to deeply connect with the individuals in your photos, even in a fast paced news scenario, and why the art of the personal project (and sharing it with editors) is the ultimate fast track to getting your work seen and being hired for similar jobs. Without any further ado, today’s killer interview with photojournalist Alyssa Schukar.

LAUREN JUSTICE // A Persistent Vision (#015)

So, everybody listening to this podcast probably knows either from practical experience or just intuitively that crafting a career as a photographer or other visual creator is no small feat. From staving off burnout to managing finances, freelancers have to DO IT ALL. So why is it then that freelancers so often fail to actually break out of the vicious cycle of feast or famine workloads?

Well, our guest today is the perfect example of how to make it happen as a freelance photojournalist by diving in headfirst into new locations and experiences and figuring it all out along the way. Lauren Justice is a freelance photojournalist currently based in Madison, Wisconsin. Trust, intimacy, and time are cornerstones of her work and believes in using photography as a tool for education, awareness, and understanding.