Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Butler.
Hi Emily, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Thanks so much for having me and for your interest in my story! I’m Emily Butler, an Atlanta-based music photographer. My photography story starts about 13 years ago with Big Mike Geier and his band Kingsized. Anyone who lives in Atlanta probably remembers the Elvis Royale and Holiday shows they did at Variety Playhouse in Little 5 Points, as well as all the hot, sweaty Thursday nights at Trader Vics with his band Tongo Hiti. My husband and I were pretty obsessed with these shows and went to them all. They were full of energy with dancers and costume changes, and I started bringing my camera to try and capture some of that magic and it got me totally hooked on photographing live performances.
I started looking for ways to take photos at other shows, but I hit a roadblock when I learned that you can’t just bring your camera into any show – that to stand in the pit you needed official photographer credentials that were not easy to come by unless you had a media connection. So, my mission became to find a media outlet that would help me get photo passes which wasn’t easy because my experience was so limited. Eventually my buddy, Greg Hazlehurst, talked to a photographer in the photo pit at a show he was at and asked how his friend (me), could earn a spot in that pit. The photographer gave him his card and told him to have me contact “Speaker Creatures” which was an online music news outlet (no longer in business). I interviewed, sent samples, and they decided to give me a chance! (Thanks for the hookup, Greg!). Speaker Creatures helped me get photo passes to some big-name acts like Billy Idol, The Allman Brothers, Fleetwood Mac, Lake Street Dive, The Avett Brothers, Fitz and The Tantrums, etc. With such little experience, I was totally winging it and only managing a few useable images at each show which made for a pretty stressful learning process, but I still loved it.
In the meantime, I was participating in local Atlanta Photography Meetups to get more camera knowledge and some additional practice. The meetups charge photographers a fee to join, and they set up professional lighting, hire local models and offer instruction. Even though this had nothing to do with live performance photography, it was a great way to learn about shooting in different scenarios, studio lighting, etc, plus it was a chance to meet other photographers and ask questions. It was always a supportive environment, I learned a lot from those meetups and made some great friends.
All of that studio photography practice earned me some gigs doing portrait photography that bands use for promotion with artists like Kansas, Yonder Mountain String Band and Puddles Pity Party as well as many local, Atlanta-based, nationally touring bands, like Rumours, Yacht Rock Revue, Elton Live, Electric Avenue, etc.
Both my studio and live performance work has been published nationally and internationally in publications such as Guitar Magazine, Forbes Magazine, The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The New York Post, and many other newspapers, magazines, and periodicals. Some of my photos have been licensed for album covers and inserts, concert t-shirts, posters and other merchandise, social media campaigns and even a few billboards.
I am still just as passionate about music photography as I was when I started 13 years ago. There is simply no matched feeling to stepping into that photo pit, with the energy of tons of music fans standing behind you who are waiting for the lights to go out and that band to hit the stage. It still gives me the goosebumps every time – only now I know what I’m doing, so I no longer need to stress about getting good photographs!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road to becoming a successful music photographer is not without challenges. People send me messages all the time asking advice on how they can get in the business. I always respond by saying that you need to define what “success” means to you. Because the hard truth, that lots of people don’t realize, is that if you are interested in this field for the money, you will most likely be disappointed. Most media assignments do not pay (and if they do, it’s not a lot), and sometimes you won’t even get a free ticket. Which means many times, you are driving to a venue, paying to park, waiting outside in the heat or the cold to be escorted into the photo pit to photograph just the first 3 songs, and then escorted out of the venue. In these cases, it is costing you money to photograph a show. Therefore, you MUST really love doing it.
I am fortunate to not need to rely on photography to make my living and I only request shows that I’m personally interested in photographing. This ensures that it always remains fun for me. “Success” to me means that the band that I’ve taken photos of likes them enough to share them, or ideally, license them for projects. It is the highest honor for me when a band likes my photo enough that they want to use it to represent their brand. Sometimes I will be contacted by a band or artist years after I took that free photo, and they’ll want to license it to use for an upcoming promotion or project. Or maybe the next time they come in town they reach out to hire me to photograph their show.
After years of building my portfolio and developing my style, more and more bands have been hiring me for both studio and stage work and it’s turned into a wonderful (and sometimes profitable) thing for me.
Another great challenge of live show photography is that literally nothing is in your control. You have no control over your subject, the lighting, obstacles on stage blocking your subject, the amount of time you have to photograph, where you can stand, or how much you can move. You must move fast, be respectful to the band, but also to the other photographers in the pit by not blocking them or hogging the best spot, follow the rules and follow the light. You have to anticipate what the artist is going to do and be ready for anything.
I see this as an absolute privilege to photograph musicians and record a slice of rock and roll history and one that I never ever take for granted. I’m so grateful for all the opportunities I continue to have and for the media outlets that help me get photo passes (currently working with Atlanta Music Guide and Live for Live Music).
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about your work?
About my work:
Emily Butler Photography specializes in Live Show and Studio photography with a focus on the music industry. Both my live work and studio work can be found in magazines and newspapers around the world, on billboards and concert merchandise. I am Atlanta-based but available for travel.
About my Logo/Watermark:
People always ask me why I capitalize the “M” in Emily on my watermark. My nickname is Em, and my middle name starts with an “M”, so instead of Em Butler Photography or E.M. Butler Photography – EMily Butler Photography covers it all.
Most Proud of:
I’m proud of the close working relationship that I’ve built with a handful of bands by reliably delivering good work.
My proudest achievement this year was being invited to photograph the closing act on the big stage at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival from the stage – Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue. It was a high honor and a thrilling experience!
What sets you apart from others:
I’ve been told that my photos have a unique style that is often recognizable without seeing my watermark.
Any big plans?
My future goals include being hired for one of those destination beach concerts. I also think it would be fun to go on a short-run tour with a band and have the opportunity to capture more behind-the-scenes touring stuff.
But in general, I’d like to continue building relationships with bands and their management.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.EMilyButlerPhotography.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilybutlerphotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EmilyButlerPhotography/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/RockNRoll_Lens
Image Credits:
All photos taken by EMily Butler Photography 1. Rumours – Fleetwood Mac Tribute 2. Puddles Pity Party 3. Kansas 4. Billy Strings 5. Grace Potter 6. Keller Williams 7. Trombone Shorty 8. Elton Live – Elton John Tribute 9. Daughters of Legacy
