Hello, everyone. Welcome to the latest installment of our ongoing industry spotlight series. In an attempt to continue evolving we’re using today’s interview to highlight an area of the business we’ve only briefly touched upon in the past. If you like it, let us know and similar columns will following in the weeks ahead. You can email james@haulix.com with your thoughts, or reach out through Twitter. We look forward to hearing from you.
For many young creative minds, Thomas Falcone lives the music industry dream. He wakes up in a new city almost every day surrounded by his closest friends and spends the entirety of each afternoon and night taking pictures with his camera. Yes, he’s a professional tour photographer, and today we’re going to learn how he found his place in the business of music.
As far as I know there has never been a photographer who attended a single show and instantly found themselves working within the music industry on a regular basis. Like anything worth doing, making a name for yourself behind the camera in music takes time, and Tom Falcon has dedicated his life to mastering his approach to photography. He now finds himself on tour with Mayday Parade, one of the biggest bands in the alternative rock scene, and his future looks brighter than ever.
If you would like to stay in touch with Tom and follow all his activity on the road, make sure you bookmark and frequent his photo blog. Additional questions and comments can be left at the end of this post.
H: For the record, state your name, occupation, and who you’re currently working with/for:
TF: Tom Falcone, Touring Music Photographer. Currently on the road with Mayday Parade on the Glamour Kills Tour
H: Let’s start at the beginning. When you think of your earliest memories with music, what comes to mind?
TF: Backstreet Boys. Arguring with my brother on who’s Backstreet Boys album we purchased was going to be. We fought over who was going to be the one holding onto it and listening to it non stop haha.
H: Do you recall the first album you purchased with your own money?
TF: Backstreet Boys.
H: This spotlight is a bit different from others we have done because you’re not necessarily a journalist. You can be, and at times have been, more than anything you’re a professional photographer. To whom or what do you attribute your interest in photography?
TF: I love capturing documentary style photography. What people are doing, in places that others have never seen. We are lucky enough to travel the world and see things a lot of people don’t get to see, so that’s what I like to capture. A lot of my most recent work is very candid, and I love it
H: What was your first camera, and how did you acquire it?
TF: I used my moms Kodak Easyshare camera for random things like photos of flowers and self portraits. I told my parents I wanted to work and purchase my first DSLR. I worked with my father at a auto repair shop for $100 a week for about 7 weeks and purchased my first Canon Rebel DSLR with a 50mm 1.8
H: Do you remember when you first considered pursuing photography as a career? If so, can you tell us a bit about the time leading up to that realization?
TF: It was more when I first started getting paid, and getting the opportunity to work with bands on a personal level. I started meeting local bands and hanging and shooting around with them when I was really young and eventually built a portfolio to pitch to record labels and managers etc.
H: When it comes to music photography, did you start with concert or promotional work? Who was the first band you worked with?
TF: I started with concert. I didn’t think that I was good enough for promo photography just yet. I worked with bands in my local scene called The Showcase, Kick Over The Traces, Moraine etc. I still love them
H: You now find yourself on the roads with bands for a living, something I’m sure every aspiring music photographer reading this would one day like to do themselves. When people ask you how you reached this point in your career, what do you tell them? It clearly was not an overnight occurrence.
TF: I tell them to just be themselves. Shoot something different. So many people take live photos and so many people capture the same thing. Be different and be yourself, I mean, don’t act different around bands, or people on the road. Everyone is normal.
H: At this point in your career, how do you measure success? What would you consider failure?
TF: I know it sounds lame, but I find myself somewhat successful. I have a band that I tour with full time and create images that I love as well as inspire other people.
H: A lot of people believe great photography requires great gear. Do you agree?
TF: No. I just bought a small little Fujifilm camera that does amazing work, and it isn’t even a DSLR.
H: What is the biggest misconception people have about life as a photographer?
TF: That I most likely just party and take photos of them. I’m not sure. A lot of people can think what they want but…we just have fun haha
H: A lot of the photographers we’ve researched maintain online stores. Do you have a place people can buy your prints? (feel free to plug anything you like)
TF: Smugmug is great
H: Networking is key to success in the music industry. What advice would you offer young photographers about navigating the business from a networking standpoint?
TF: Networking is amazing. Conferences, meetings, social networks. It is all the ingredients you need to become successful
H: What is your ultimate career goal?
TF: To build a portfolio of one band over a span of years to see progress, growth, passion and love.
H: If you could change one thing about the music business, what would it be?
TF: I don’t really deal with the “music business side of things” haha. I’m a photographer.
H: Thank you for taking the time to speak with us, Tom. Do you have anything else you’d like to share?
TF: Just keep on trucking, make images you love and share them with everyone.
