Behind the Lens: a Day in the Life of a Tour Photographer

What’s Touring Really Like?

Hey! I’m Kelsey, and over the last three years I’ve travelled on the road photographing artists on and off stage, documenting their lives on tour.

Well it usually starts with a 7:00 AM alarm.

This varies by the day but if you have a long drive to the next city and an early load in, you’re not sleeping in. And from my experience, if you don’t take advantage of the soggy eggs at the hotel continental breakfast, you may just not eat till the afternoon. Now for some people that’s fine, but I need my morning coffee.

Once up, you pack up your belongings and do one more millionth check to make sure you didn’t forget something, and you’re out the door.

As a photographer, I try to capture the interesting moments on tour and provide day to day content. Sometimes 8 hour drives just don’t qualify as interesting, and I’m left trying to come up with something that would be worth capturing. These days I focus on a documentary style - I capture moments of laughter, close ups of driving, shots of the guys on their phones, sleeping in the van, etc. And if the drive is pretty I will definitely take advantage of that. On days we stop to do something, whether that be a local attraction or to check out the view, I’ll always be following with my camera.

Eventually we arrive at the venue. I’ll help load in and if I’m tour managing as well, I will communicate with the venue on where to put our gear, confirm soundcheck and the show schedule, as well as collect buyouts and make sure the green room is all set up. Overall, I confirm that everything is set up and running as previously discussed and answer day of questions.

When my artist is settled, I’ll set up the merch table and edit any photos I’ve taken from that day. I’ll also check emails and review our post show and next day’s schedule. After this is usually my window to grab food and explore a little on my own. I’ll make sure to be back before soundcheck or any other prearranged events before doors like meet and greets or press interviews.

From here I’ll photograph some of soundcheck or any special events happening that day and continue to watch that we stay on schedule. If I’m selling merch on the tour, I’ll be at the table when doors open. I’ll continue to sell merch until about 30 minutes prior to my artist’s performance time, where I’ll head up to their greenroom.

During this time I photograph pre show moments, help with any set up needed, and bring my artist up to stage when it’s time to go on.

During the performance, I’m running around taking photos which is always my favourite part. I’ll also pay attention to make sure there are no technical issues or problems on stage that I need to attend to. As soon as the artist is done, I’m at merch as that’s usually when the rush is.

After the merch line is gone, I pull out my laptop to edit the show photos I just took. If the artist I’m with is the last act on stage, I usually have to edit these once were back at the hotel - who needs sleep right??

And that’s my night! If I finish editing I’ll go and hang with the artists or enjoy the show. I’ll watch merch and help load out when the venue is cleared. If I’m tour managing, I’ll settle with the venue and track the show’s income and day’s expenses. Then we head to the hotel and do it all again!

I love tour, I love the excitement and the busyness of it. It’s a lot of work but so much fun.