Women Who Rock: Bones UK in Collaboration with The Pretty Cult and Rock Night Out

People often ask me what my favorite thing to shoot is, and everytime my answer is live music. I love everything about it; the energy of the crowd, the feel of the bass coursing through my bones as it pours from the speakers, the excitement that radiates from the performers as they step onto the stage.

Being in the photo pit is like balancing in between two worlds; that fine coveted line that separates artist from fan. It is a surreal experience and time seems to slow down the second you cross that barrier. I cannot express the joy I get from holding a camera in my hand and touching the stage with my other. Being able to combine my two greatest passions into one and do that for a living, well I couldn't ask for a better gig.

Ive been so blessed to work with such amazing people in this industry, but my girls Arielle Salsa, aka ' Satan's Seamstress', and Rachel Hacken, the Duchess of Los Angeles's Rock Night Out, always come to me with the coolest gigs, and when the three of us team up together, woooo boy, ya better watch out.

This month, the three of us teamed up with the UK's female rock duo Bones for an exclusive photo series styled by The Pretty Cult followed by the secret underground performance hosted by Rock Night Out. Check out the photos below to see what we've created.

A few days later, Rock Night Out hosted the band at Madame Siams underground venue which housed a capacity of 250 bodies. With over 600 plus rsvps to the show, only the true die-hard fans got into the performance. With its dimly lit halls and low ceilings the venue had a very brothel like feel and made for a very intimate performance.

The band played an hour long set and even had a quick guest appearance by Johnny Stevens of Highly Suspect, a close friend of the band after their tour together last year.

The band finished their performance late into the evening and guest where in no rush to leave as patrons stuck around to chat up the band and crew and visit the bar a few more times. I saw myself leaving the venue right around 11:30 pm fulfilled from an amazing night of music and anxious to see what else these badass babes will be unleashing into the world next.

Goldenvoice Presents: Ghost 'Rats on the Strip' Surprise Pop Up Show at the Roxy Theater

I had the rare and cool opportunity to photograph the band 'Ghost' pop up show at the Roxy Theater on Friday May 3rd. The band announced the show the day before and fans started lining up immediately to score one of the coveted 500 tickets.

Kick starting their 2018/2019 tour the band arrived to the venue 30 minutes late,. live streaming their grand entrance via the front door on their Instagram story. The crowd cheered as the band burst onto stage and opened up with 'Rats'. The band played a 45 minute set to an enegetic crowd full of die hard fans.

Amoungst the moody lighting and thick fog, The Cardianl Copia reached out to as many fans as he could through out the performance. The band played a stripped down version of what was to come and it certainly got fans excited for the upcoming tour. The set list from the evening is roughly as follows

Ashes
(World Premiere)
Rats
Absolution
Ritual
Stand by Him
Cirice
Prime Mover
Faith
(World Premiere)
From the Pinnacle to the Pit
Dance Macabre
(World Premiere)
Square Hammer
The Host of Seraphim
(Dead Can Dance song)

My Journey To The Pit: Concert Photography

Four years ago, I gave up working concert security when my son was born. I loved my job and was proud of the work I was doing, unfortunately it just became an unmanageable job for a single mother. Soon after, I ended up moving to California, I was this only-parent to this small amazing little boy, his entire life was dependant on me and I had no choice but to start over. I left most of my belongings behind in my apartment and fit what I could in my jeep and off we drove to California It was one of the hardest decisions Ive ever made, but it was also one of the best things I could have done for my son and I.

Fast forward a few months later, and Im struggling with all the changes in my life, a new home, in a new state, playing this new role of 'mommy'. I ended up living in FB world, it was my only connection to my old life, and to just people in general. Being a stay at home mom was much more isolating than I ever could have imagined. I would feel envy and bitterness anytime I saw a friend going out or a co- worker, working shows I would have been at.

Theres one that stands out in particular and that was when the X Ambassadors where performing at Red Rocks in 2016 and I was just so devastated to be missing out on that show. I sat in my living room just desperate to get back some of what I had lost in myself. I really didnt even know what to do, where to begin or how to start, I just felt so stuck in this transitional period of my life. It wasn't until months later, after my sons first birthday that I decided to finally pursue my dreams of becoming a photographer. I bought a used Nikon D5200 DSLR on Offer Up for $120 bucks and just learned everything I could. I spent all my free time learning my camera, watching you tube tutorials, shooting, and editing for fun. I joined tons of groups online and started meeting other photographers and studying their images.

I met Cheri, through one of these groups and she told me how she did concert photography exclusively. Seeing her images, hearing her stories, I just knew that this was my calling. Cheri encouraged my passion and gave me some advice on how to request getting approval to shoot a show. I put in for my very first show in January of 2017, Chevelle at the Riverside Municipal Auditorium. I had no publication to back me, and no experience whatsoever but to my surprise, I got approval. It was one of the best feelings in the entire world. I had been given this amazing opportunity, this amazing band was taking a chance on me to photography their show. I was elated!

Chevelle- OMG Look at that watermark, excuse me while I go and hide lol

Shooting this show was the most exhilarating rush. I couldnt sleep all night because I was on such a high from the show and I stayed up all night working on the images! I knew I belonged in that pit!

The night of the Chevelle show I met a fellow photographer in the pit. Joshua Weesner, he's seriously so talented (check him out at @standalonepro), this man has been vital to my success in this industry. He really took me under his wing so to speak, and gave me unlimited amounts of insight, tips, and advice. He helped get amazing opportunities such as shooting Vans Warped Tour 2017 and Cal Jam 17 and now I shoot for the same publication he does. He is truly an amazing, selfless dude and I am so blessed having him in my life.

Cage the Elephant performing at CalJAM 17

I have been shooting concerts for a little over a year now and have photographed some amazing bands: Foo Fighters, Cage the Elephant, Rob Zombie, Deftones, Queens of the Stone Age, and just recently...the X Ambassadors! Getting the approval to shoot their show, standing in the pit, at the base of their stage was such a full circle moment for me. It was such a validation, that you can start over. You can transform your life, you can change your situation, your past does not define you, and the only limitations are the ones you put on yourself.

Ive lived so many different lives to get to this one, and I am finally after all these struggles and sacrifices, living my best life.

Here are a few of my favorite shots over the past year

Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters at Cal Jam 17

Corey Taylor of Stone Sour at Knotfest 2017

Tom Morello with Prophets of Rage at Ozzfest 2017

Bert McCracken of The Used at the OC Observatory 2017

True Violet: On The Lawn

When Arielle Salsa, owner of The Pretty Cult ( www.prettycult.com) messaged me one evening to see if I could shoot an in-home recording session of an all female indie-folk trio band, True Violet, I said yes, with no questions asked. I mean, if Arielle says they're good, then they're good. A week later, I found myself battling the morning Los Angeles traffic to meet up with these badass females for a day of creating.

When I arrived, Arielle and the women of True Violet, Jessie Covets and Kayla and Alyana Miller greeted me with mimosas, laughter and hugs. As I got settled in, Arielle with her clothing line and fancy racks (which Jessie was particularly excited about btw), started getting the girls dressed for their individual and group portraits.

Afterwards, Arielle and I were able to get a behind the scenes look oh how the trio got into their creative process and was given the privilege of witnessing a live recording and jam session.