Posted by When I first moved to Long Island in the summer of 2012, I didnt have much experience with Concert Photography aside from a few bands I shot while working at the Seneca Gaming Casino stages. Of course the highlight from those shows were providing the CD cover/disc for Michael Landau’s Organic Instrumentals. I carried that friendship to Long Island and not long after the move, Michael was doing a solo show at the Iridium and allowed me to, once again, bring my camera. I was slowly becoming addicted!
I began shooting more shows at The Iridium as management began to notice my presence and was soon branching out to B. B. Kings Blues Bar and Highline in the meatpacking district.
I decided to try my talents here on Long Island and reached out to Daniel Walsh at 89 North, who was kind enough to allow me to shoot Renegade – A Tom Petty Tribute, Bad Animals – A Heart Tribute featuring Mark “The Animal” Mendoza from Twisted Sister and Fleetwood Macked! Unfortunately my night was cut quite short as my camera battery died and didnt get to shoot Fleetwood!
My addiction was getting worse. Pretty soon I was branching out to Mulcahy’s, Revolution, Amityville Music Hall, Napper Tandy’s and The Warehouse, occasionally scoring a paid gig! But my biggest gig came when I was asked to be the “official” photographer for the Native American Music Awards at my ole stomping grounds, The Seneca Niagara Casino! Score another CD cover, albeit digital album!
With my experience developing and my skills getting sharper, I began pushing the bar and reaching higher. I was beginning to get permission to shoot at The Paramount which led to small concert theaters and concert halls. Mr Billy Sheehan even granted me a photo pass to shoot Sons of Apollo at Sony PlayStation Theater in NYC!
Along the way, I was still getting denials for many large shows which probably helped maintain humility! I started listening to Concert Photography podcasts on Spotify during my hour-long commute to the city. The HTBARP – Concert Photography Podcast was my flavor of the day. I learned a lot from that podcast and started to better design my website, all the while submitting to The Paramount, The Space in Westbury and eventually NYCB Theater at Westbury and was even Buddy Guy’s Tour Photographer for the night! I was now taking my photography seriously! I became a junkie!
The day finally came when I felt like I hit the “big-time”! I had reached out to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra and was given access to shoot their performance at Nassau Coliseum. The following year I began shooting for an online music magazine which was unfortunately short-lived, but it gave me the opportunity to shoot Peter Frampton’s Farewell Tour at the World’s Most Famous Arena, Madison Square Garden! And I thought shooting TSO at Nassau was big-time!! But wait, there’s more! Two years later, I reached out, on a whim, to Judas Priest in hopes to shoot their performance at Nassau Coliseum. Not only did I get the approval, I was that night’s Tour Photographer in which they showcased my photos on all their socials! Am I still riding high? Yes, I am!
But I dont want to lose sight of what this article/blog is about! I want to take this opportunity to thank all these venues for the opportunity to shoot all these magnificent artists that continue to grace their stages. I cant name everyone, but to all those promoters, marketing managers, publicists, venue managers and of course, the many many artists that I have had the pleasure and privilege to meet over the past few years, I raise my glass and salute you! Thank you all
I have met so many wonderful people and that would include my small circle of other concert photographers, James Dima, Nelson Oh, Jim Belmont, Amanda Packey, Christine Conallon, Kevin Wilson, Arnie Goodman, Diane Woocheke, Brian Bersman & Steven Sandick.
Thanks to all the venues I have had the pleasure to shoot from: 89 North, Patchogue Theater, The Suffolk, Mulcahy’s, The Space at Westbury, NYCB Theater at Westbury, The Paramount, Jones Beach Amphitheater, Nassau Coliseum, B.B. Kings, The Iridium, CityWineryNYC(The Loft), The Palladium Times Square, Hard Rock NYC, Revolution, The Warehouse, Stereo Garden, Napper Tandy’s. Amityville Music Hall, The Gramercy, The Cutting Room, Sony Hall & Staller Hall – Stony Brook.
Long Island Sounds 