I get questions from time to time about gear and other miscellaneous stuff so I thought I would put a few of them here.

What is Snapshots & Sounds?

Snapshots & Sounds is an ongoing documentary archive of the Memphis live music scene. No photo pit. No press credentials. Just a fan with a camera who has been showing up and wants there to be a record of it.

How long have you been doing this?

Since 2006, though the early years are a bit of a lost archive in themselves. A few hard drives that weren't backed up properly have a lot to answer for. The documenting instinct was always there, even if the organizational discipline came later.

Why Memphis?

Born and raised. Memphis has always punched above its weight musically while somehow staying underrated everywhere else. But musicians know. They travel from around the world to play here, record here, and soak the place in. Somebody ought to be documenting that.

Why don't you use flash?

Mostly because I'm introverted by nature and the last thing I want to do is pull everyone out of the moment every time it fires. A concert is a shared experience and a flash going off is an interruption. That said I've been experimenting with it lately. Used sparingly, toward the end of a set, it can produce a look that's genuinely its own thing. A handful of pops at most. The key word is sparingly.

You're not in the photo pit — how do you get these shots?

For most shows in Memphis there is no pit. I buy a ticket, show up, and find a good spot in the crowd like everyone else.

Fan first or photographer first?

Fan first, but the camera is always going to come out regardless. It's just habit at this point. That said I do go to plenty of shows where I don't know the artist at all. Sometimes a room, a lineup, or a vibe is enough reason to show up. The photography and the fandom feed each other.

What camera and lenses do you use?

Sony A9 III, Sony A7CR and a Leica Q3. For lenses I work with 20mm, 50mm and 85mm primes and a Tamron 35-150mm zoom. The 85mm is a favorite for smaller club shows. It's compact and lets me hang back in the crowd and still get close. The Tamron covers everything at festivals and bigger stages where you need that range without swapping glass.

How do you edit your photos?

Ingest in Photo Mechanic then edit in Lightroom Classic. Adobe has its critics and I get it, but Lightroom does everything I need and syncs across all my devices. Being able to pick up an edit on my iPad or phone while traveling is genuinely useful and hard to give up. And being able to touch your photos directly on the iPad is a pretty cool experience.

How do you decide which shows to cover?

If I'm a fan of the band or they're friends of mine it's a no brainer. If it's at Bar DKDC or The Green Room I'm almost always going regardless of who's playing. Beyond that I keep an eye on the WYXR music calendar to see who's coming through town. If I don't know the artist I'll check their socials to get a sense of whether it's going to be a visually interesting show.

I'm a band or venue — can I hire you?

Yes please. This is my life's work and what I feel I do best. If you're a band looking for live or promo photography or a venue that wants consistent coverage, I'd love to talk. Head over to the Hire Me page to get in touch.