Interview: Concert Photographer Extraordinaire Charla Harvey Gives Us a Glimpse into What It's Like to Photograph Shows and How She Learned to Do It

I can remember the exact moment that Charla Harvey came into my life - and I’m so so so thankful she did! She is not only one of the best concert photographers in the state, but also a force of positivity and light. I’ve gotten to work with Charla on many shows - she’s always my number one pick when it comes to concert photography! Over the years, I’ve also had the privelege of coming to be friends with her. I wanted to highlight Charla’s amazing photography and magical personality, so I interviewed her so she could tell you about what she does in her own words. Like thousands and thousands of people, Charla has been harshly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, but remains positive and hopeful through it all. Please enjoy Charla’s incredible photography and reading her story, and be sure to support by purchasing one of her photo masks, following her on Facebook and Instagram, and visiting her website to book a shoot!

How long have you been doing concert photography? What was the first show you photographed?

I have been doing concert photography officially for four years! I started shooting for local bands (like Euforquestra, Mama Magnolia, Whiskey Autumn), and then the first big band I shot was Rainbow Kitten Surprise!

My first show I got paid to shoot was Green Buddha at Cervantes. That was such a special moment for me!

Tell me about your photography company and the kind of things you shoot beyond concerts.

With anyone who works with me, we work together to create the image/vision they want. I don't ever want my clients to be unhappy, so I put a lot of effort in to making sure they are! I love helping make a client's vision come true and I will always help every step of the way, but I try not to make it my vision. I truly want it to be the client's vision.

I photograph engagements/proposals, weddings, events, anniversaries (all things couples!), senior photos, portraits, headshots, family photos, festivals, self love shoots, maternity, birthdays, business events, real estate, album covers/bands, products, landscape, boudoir, pretty much everything!

Besides concerts, what’s your favorite thing to photograph?

I love photographing couples and also doing self love shoots! I also love traveling and taking photos. I really love photographing anything that shows the true beauty in life :). One of my dreams in life is to travel the world taking pictures of humanity, showcasing people from all different cultures living life (as candid as possible).

How did you gain the knowledge and expertise that you now have in photography? Do you have a mentor?

I have learned so much through a lot of trial and error, YouTube videos, Facebook groups, and various photographers that have offered valuable insight in between sets at shows, in Colorado and around the country. I have also volunteered to be a model for other photographers so I can get the true experience for how it feels to be on the other side of the camera. That has helped me a lot in knowing what may come up for a client - photoshoots can make people super vulnerable, and I try to create a safe, accepting space for that! I don't and have never had a mentor for photography, but I am grateful for all the people who have given me advice along the way!

How did you get into concert photography?

My dad has always been into cameras, so I have been taking pictures literally since I could hold a camera! My whole life I've learned what I like taking pictures of. It is really interesting to walk through life thinking, "Wow! That would make a great picture!" even when I didn't have a camera on me. I think it helped me cultivate a deeper appreciation for the beauty of life everywhere I go, because I really do think most things would make a great picture.

I have also always loved music of all kinds. I always felt my happiest at live shows, but I definitely didn't go to enough! When I moved to Colorado, I went to more shows because the music scene is so alive! (Before COVID, you could go to a show any night of the week.) I also realized concerts were expensive. I started figuring out how I could afford to go to as many concerts as I wanted to without declaring bankruptcy! I always loved watching concert photographers in action and seeing the end result. I started thinking, "Wow! I'd love to take photos like that." I had friends in the music industry, and I asked local bands if I could try to shoot their shows sometimes. "Free photos? Why not!?" So I gained seriously needed experience, and that also helped expand my network.

Also, my former college roommate manages (or MOM-ages) Rainbow Kitten Surprise, and she always gives me photo passes when they come to Denver. They were the first big band I got to shoot! I still have one of their photos on the back of my business card! She really helped me grow.

What are your top 3 favorite shows that you’ve photographed?

Is it cheating if I say High Sierra Music Festival since it was technically a lot of shows? I had so much fun there and discovered artists I might not have found out about if I didn't go! I got to meet the California Honeydrops there, and they're one of my favorite bands so it was amazing to shoot for them! They asked me if they should wear overalls or animal print for their set :).

I loved shooting for Phish because I really felt like it was a big accomplishment.

I also loved shooting Anderson .Paak at Red Rocks because he's awesome and the visuals were insane!

How did you make the leap to doing photography full time?

Honestly, word of mouth/referrals! I am so grateful to the people that refer me to their friends/colleagues. I have always wanted to do photography full time, so I have had to be creative in my schedule and advertising. I had a few weeks where I was booked every single day, sometimes more than 1 shoot a day! COVID has definitely slowed down my business, unfortunately.

What is your experience like being a woman in the music scene?

It definitely gets interesting! I have noticed some male photographers will ignore me or stand in front of me, but for the most part I just hold my own and focus on what I'm there for! I think the most disappointing is when I'm at a show and a guy asks for my business card because they say they want me to do a shoot for them but then they just end up asking me out over text.

There's definitely a camaraderie with other women photographers in the scene, and I have been hired for some gigs just for being a woman (because sometimes female musicians want the female eye, and some men do too!)

I know a lot of women are tall, but there are also a lot of us that are short! I am one of the short ones. That definitely makes it harder to get the right angles/to see over people sometimes. I have joked about calling my business "View From the Bottom Photography"! I do appreciate that I am rarely in peoples' way though, because most people can see over me!

Overall, I'm proud to be a woman photographer in the music scene!

What have you accomplished in 2020 that you’re most proud of?

I photographed Jam Cruise, which was an actual dream come true! I was accepted to be one of the featured photographers for the Winter Folk Festival, so I got to showcase my photography and sold prints! I also got hired to shoot my first paid festival, Northwest String Summit! It got postponed because of COVID, but I am still proud of it. I also finished my first semester of grad school! I am learning about myself, and healing past wounds, and I'm hoping that I'm helping (and will continue to help) others do the same!

Are you from Colorado? If not, when did you move here? Where did you move from?

I'm actually from Maryland! I also lived in Boone, North Carolina before moving here in August 2013!

How has living in Colorado influenced you as a photographer?

First of all, the music scene!! This is such a flourishing music scene, and there have always been new experiences for me! I have also been lucky enough to shoot for touring bands that come through Colorado because they have seen my work and decided to hire me! I am so grateful!

What’s your favorite thing about the Colorado music scene?

I love how it's so well connected! Everyone kind of knows everyone, and there is always new music to discover. Also, especially during quarantine, I have been so impressed with how creative and innovative people have been on live streams or outdoor pop up shows.

If there’s one thing you want people to take away from your photographs, what is it?

I really want to help people love themselves as who they are. I definitely love to enhance the colors a little (especially since the camera loses some of the color in the photo sometimes), but I truly try to capture the real beauty of a person, no matter what the shoot is. I want my clients (and everyone!) to love themselves for who they are, not for who they're not. Sometimes after getting their photos, clients will say, "Oh my goodness! You and your camera made me look so good! How did you do that?" and I make sure to emphasize that really is what they look like, but we are our own harshest critics!

Who are your role models? Do you look up to anyone local? Why?

I look up to so many people! I'd have to say my biggest role models are Maya Angelou, Brené Brown, Tara Brach, Desmond Tutu, and Shira Elias (Turkuaz). I see my role models as anyone who follows their dreams, stands up for their selves and for others, and has a creative and impressive impact on the world. Locally, I definitely look up to Sarah Mount (she is an extremely multi-talented woman, amazing artist, saxophone player, teacher, activist who speaks out against injustices, and she literally does everything, and with such a big heart!), Sarah Shuel (who has taken over the music scene in such an influential way and now manages multiple bands, helped get two of my favorite bands to play Red Rocks TWO DAYS IN A ROW this year, and, with Alyssa Montaño, co-founded Rocky Mountain Virtual at the beginning of COVID. That was such a creative way to support local artists and allow fans to listen to music in an accessible platform, when so many of us were missing music. Also Sarah Shuel just got engaged to her perfect person, the talented guitarist/singer Cory Pearman! And Sarah is a photographer too!), Alyssa Montaño (the other co-founder for Rocky Mountain Virtual Fest, has also been a powerhouse teacher navigating how to do her job on Zoom with a bunch of eighth graders, and has prioritized her health by going for walks every day with her also amazingly talented saxophone and trumpet player boyfriend, Luke Story). My list of people I look up to keeps growing, and there definitely isn't room to fit everyone! I'm also so proud of everyone who has used this quarantine as a time to learn something new, change an unwanted behavior, put out new music/live streams, checked something off the to-do list that they didn't have time to before, or even just breathed. This has been a hard time for everyone, but it has given us a chance to slow down and reassess what truly matters and what we want.

What is something you have learned or taken away from 2020 that you’ll apply to the rest of your life?

Focus on what truly matters. Many things can wait. Community and connection is so important, and there are creative ways to still connect to people even when you can't see them in person. Also, people are so talented and resilient, and it has been so heartwarming and inspiring to see people organize ways to help the community. We really are all in this together!

People have very different beliefs over COVID, vaccines, masks, social distancing. As hard as it is, we can only control our own actions. Forgive yourself when you mess up, learn, do better next time. This year has also shown that even when we can't see the effects, our actions really do affect others in a big way!

If you could give a piece of advice to photographers just starting out, what would it be?

Pay attention to what you love! Try a little bit of everything, but if you don't like a particular type of photography, you don't have to do it! Your gifts will shine in what you are truly passionate about, and you can tell from the photos!

If you could photograph your dream show, what would it look like?

Oh gosh this is a hard one! My ideal line up would be an all day show with John Craigie, California Honeydrops,The Wood Brothers, Graham Good & the Painters, A Brother's Fountain, Float Like A Buffalo, Cory Wong with Antwaun Stanley, Con Brio, and Fruition at an outdoor venue! I love shooting in the day time with natural sunlight, but when the sun goes down, I'd be so happy if they had awesome lighting on the stage. If it is still during COVID, all members of the audience would respect venue staff and each other by wearing masks and respectfully social distancing.

My dream show is essentially my favorite bands (though I have more than the ones I listed!) playing for a happy audience that you can just tell doesn't want to be anywhere else!

It would also be really cool if it was a costumed show, like Halloween or something. Some of my favorite shows have been Hulaween, Jam Cruise (theme nights), and Halloween shows because the costumes from the bands and the audience are so creative and fun!

What upcoming plans do you have for 2021?

I have some shows in the books, and I hope they happen! I also have some weddings and proposals booked. I will continue my grad school and working my other jobs! Other than that, I'm just going with the flow and hoping for the best!

What have you been doing with photography during the Covid-19 pandemic?

I have been shooting mostly weddings, engagements, proposals, and self love shoots. I have also done family photos, maternity shoots, and headshots. I even got to photograph newborn husky puppies for a rescue organization! There aren't as many shows, but I was able to shoot one indoor show with Float Like A Buffalo! It was super interesting to take photos of crowds seated at distanced tables, and with the band wearing masks! I also got to shoot for them and Graham Good and the Painters at Red Rocks two nights in a row! Those were my only Red Rocks shows of the year, which is crazy, but I did get to do a surprise proposal shoot and an engagement shoot at Red Rocks this year! I am also trying out new gear and new lights, and I set up my own in home studio so I can do headshots and boudoir for people in a space where they may feel more comfortable! I also made and have been selling masks with my photos on them.

How can people support your photography during the current shut down?

Follow me on Instagram and Facebook, book a shoot, order prints or masks with my photos on them :)

How can people book you for a show or photo shoot?

Through my Facebook account or Instagram, or through my email charla@charlaharvey.com