DIY AND YUNGBLUD’S EYE

Photography By Anna Grace

Music photographer Anna Grace opens up about professionalism at concerts, the venues and bands of the Milwaukee music scene, and getting the shot, by all means necessary.

Milwaukee, USA

How did you begin your journey as a photographer?

Back in 2023, I got my first camera, a Canon Rebel t7, as a birthday gift. I started bringing it to the local shows I went to in college and was part of the founding team for my college’s radio station, too. So, I got to photograph some of those events with it and get experience, meet people and learn about our scene. It was smart to start this way, it taught me a lot about the basic camera settings.

What have you learned along the way?

Along the way, I learned a lot about professionalism. Growing up as an athlete, I already had work ethic and humility ingrained deeply in my being, so the following was learning to walk, talk, and act like a pro. I love the photo pits at big venues, but it comes with a lot of pressure to succeed and prove I’m worthy of that access. When I first started shooting at larger gigs, I was unaware of the etiquette that most experienced photographers already have. Here’s what I take away the most, you have to fake it until you make it. Be the professional you see at concerts and shows, treat the fans how you want to be treated. And, by all means necessary, GET THE SHOT.

How would you describe your style? What makes you stand out from other photographers?

I have heard my style described as a lot of different things. I love that my shots are soft and bright; I have learned to hate noise and grain a lot, especially in the concert scene. But, I also do a bit of photoshop magic for certain genres like rock or metal music. I try to match the style of the photos to the genre of the artist with my own personal twist.

Another thing always ringing in my head is sometimes…people just want a good photo. A good photo doesn’t have to re-invent the wheel or turn water into wine. People want a memory, their artistry on stage captured, brands and festivals want content for marketing, etc. It can be really simple to think about it that way. With press work, you do have a bit more freedom to be creative, but when on assignment for paid work, I try to deliver what best matches the client’s vibe while still aligning with what my portfolio showcases.

Your work focuses on musicians and concert photography. Why do you love this type of photography? How does it inspire you?

I always loved concerts, I think my first one was One Direction with 5 Seconds of Summer opening in 2014; I was 12 years old. I was always upset that my iPhone couldn’t take the best pictures and wanted to see that up close view I couldn’t afford. Concert photography also inspires me to appreciate all genres, I love finding new music and even making new friends by connecting with other photographers who do what I do.

What was shooting your first show like? How do you think you have grown since?

Woah, my first show I was just so excited. I studied everything I knew and talked to the band about using flash (yes, I used flash at my first concert shoot, and I still use flash at local shows). But my first show with a photo pass was The Band Camino in Milwaukee, I was shocked I was even approved for a show at The Rave. I appreciate all the people who took a chance on me, even when I had no idea what I was doing, people trusted me. For that, I am so grateful that I was even allowed in the room of these events. I’ve grown from being scared and nervous at shows to being relaxed and confident; it feels like home.

Tell the story behind one of your favorite images.

By far, one of my recent favorites is one of Yungblud’s singular eye, captured as press, on this recent US tour. It wasn’t actually that tight of a shot, and I cropped in extremely heavily on it; losing a bunch of pixels. But, the lighting design at the moment, combined with my camera’s settings and position in front of the artist; I couldn’t resist the urge to crop it in super tight.

You are based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. How is the music scene? What are some positives and what do you think needs to change?

Honestly, I was way more checked out this summer than I have been and I graduated college, so I’ve felt a bit checked out. But, getting back into it is cool, like after a week of being busy working for press and I get to shoot a friend’s album release show, it feels like a big community around here. I know some of my friends play music and my friends know I take photos; it's a good deal and word of mouth spreads pretty quickly.

I think Milwaukee gets overlooked a lot because we’re so close to Chicago, we are a lot smaller in comparison. But, its still still rich and I feel like I know everyone.

What are some of your favorite Milwaukee venues to photograph in and why?

For small shows, I love Cactus Club in Bayview, just south of downtown.

For big shows, The Rave/The Eagles Ballroom has a huge history and it's super cool to see the green room space back there when local shows are able to book it. Lights are usually really good, and they’re independent (not owned by Ticketmaster or Livenation).

Who are some Milwaukee bands we should check out?

Diet Lite, Social Cig, Mourning Star, Oh Well Ok, Chapped Lips, Lunar Moth, Max & The Fellow Travellers, Killer High Life, Frantic Repair, SHOOBIE, Scorched Waves, Bug Moment, Breakup Tour

All good people and good music. They’re the ones I always try and get out and see when I can!

You have photographed different types of shows, from underground, DIY events and large scale venues and festivals. Do you prefer one or the other? What are some things you love and are challenged by from the different show types?

That is like asking me to pick between my friends and my job, everyone wants both. Mine just happen to overlap. DIY is super important, every band started there at one point. But, they do have that horrible dark, dive bar lighting…it’s pretty difficult to work with. Bigger shows are really magical though, hearing crowds sing along to those popular songs sounds exactly the way its intended to be heard.

When photographing a music festival, how are you preparing? What kind of gear do you bring?

When I photographed Summerfest in Milwaukee, I prepared almost identically to how I usually prepare for a one night show, but with way more nerves. I also tried to catch up on as much sleep as possible leading up to it!

For gear, I use:

Two Canon R6markII’s

One 24-70mm f/2.8, One 70-200 f/2.8, One 8-15mm Fisheye, and One 24mm f/1.4

Camera/lens cleaning kit, Starburst filters, Dual camera harness

If you could photograph any music festival in the world, which one would you want to photograph and why?

I think Lollapalooza is a dream festival for me, as a fan and local-ish to Chicago, but I know it's extremely difficult to be admitted to as press. I have attended this festival before and it just always has the coolest lineup of small bands to huge, global acts.

What are some of your goals as you continue in your journey as a music photographer?

Right now, I have recently begun slowing down, putting myself and my health first to avoid extreme crash out and burn out. This does not mean I am not excited for my future. I am completely booked through the end of 2025, and 2026 is sure to hold a lot more opportunities and shows. It's comforting to know music will always be around, even if I am not working for the show.

What's next for you?

I have made my own music magazine recently! It’s called Crave Music Magazine and its my main passion at the moment. Building an all-female team full of entry-level photographers that I can coach is super cool; maybe I was meant to be a teacher in another life. I also do merch selling and VIP hosting, so I can definitely picture a tour in my future!

TO SEE MORE OF ANNA’S WORK, FOLLOW @ANNAGRACEYPHOTO