Category: Art

There’s no guidebook for this job.

As great as it is, it’s solely a process of trial and error. No one walks you through, “here’s what to do and what not to do on a red carpet.”

I was sent to cover the iHeart Radio Jingle Ball 2018 featuring Calvin Harris, Shawn Mendez, Bazzi, Bebe Rexha, Alessia Cara, Sabrina Carpenter, and more. I was just going to do a review of it, but I was also granted photo access to the red carpet and the show.

Click here for the article on the Dallas Observer!!

I don’t think it’s very common to try to write a review and professionally photograph a concert at the same time. Usually a writer would just go to a show just like any other audience member, take notes, and leave to write. He or she would usually just snap a photo on his or her phone to go with the article, or the Observer would hire a photographer to take care of shooting the show. When I worked the NEEDTOBREATHE show, I did both. It was hectic and involved a lot of running because I had to go return my camera and run back to the show in time to review it. I knew I couldn’t get away with that this time around, because the Jingle Ball, besides being one of the biggest concerts of the year, had 9 acts. I would not be able to shoot every act and also sit in the crowd.

I called in reinforcements.

My friend Jojo is probably the only person I know who goes to more concerts than I do. If going to concerts is a talent, it’s hers. I knew she’d be a reliable assistant.

I may or may not have skipped a class to drive to Dallas early with Jojo.

We brought a ladder, two cameras, three lenses, and a notebook to this concert.

It was madness. We were escorted down the stairs to the tunnel that wraps around the American Airlines Center where all the acts and the crew hang out, into a press room.

The press room had a mini red carpet set up and a table with gourmet popcorn and other snacks. It was great. There was just a LOT of waiting involved because apparently if you’re a pop star you can keep photographers waiting for 3 hours and it’s okay I guess.

The red carpet was supposed to start at 5, but it got pushed back so far that we ended up having to do the red carpet during the show. This meant a lot of running.

Jojo took her place in the audience to write down details for me like what songs each person sang, etc.

So the whole night, the other photographers and I were escorted to and fro from the pit up against the stage to photograph the show and the red carpet backstage.

I would take photos of people at the carpet, doing the whole “look here please,” shebang, then quickly change my camera settings when one of the PR girls yelled “NF’s set is starting!” Then I’d stand right in front of the stage, my ears being blown off from being right up against the speakers, switching back and forth between the two cameras hanging from my neck. All the while, I had to pay attention to the acts. Luckily, when I was backstage, I could see the performances from a TV they had set up in the room.

Pulling triple-duty that night was crazy. My body ached afterwards, but it was fun. I had a good time. Here’s my favorite photos and some highlights from each artist of the night!

 

Alessia Cara

Alessia was the chillest celebrity EVER. She rocked her set, banging out songs like “Scars to Your Beautiful” wearing baggy pants and an oversized tee. Also, I had no idea she played guitar! Super cool.

When she came up to the red carpet she had just finished performing, and was already wearing sweatpants which I was totally behind. Minimal makeup, natural hair, a scrunchy on her wrist. She stepped on the carpet and when they were telling her to smile she said “Oh, my favorite part,” sarcastically, giving awkward grins in between poses. I loved it, she was a normal girl who feels awkward getting her picture taken. Even after she stepped off the carpet she hung around to talk to people by the free popcorn and I didn’t even notice she was chilling behind me for like 5 minutes.

 

 

Sabrina Carpenter

Sabrina was a natural-born Disney starlet. She was a professional through and through, one of those people that walks into a room with star power. After a TV interview on the carpet the reporter realized she hadn’t pressed the record button, so Sabrina re-did the interview, saying, “It’s alright, I’m an actress, I can do this.”

 

 

Why Don’t We

I had never heard of this boy band before that night, but they seemed cool. They’re pretty young, but have potential. They were everything you’d expect having 5 teenage boys come to take photos. One of them held his free popcorn during pictures at the red carpet until another guy smacked it away. One of the poor PR girls had to pick up the can. The boys were super nice, though, and really goofy.

 

 

Bebe Rexha

Bebe Rexha didn’t say a word, now that I come to think of it. She was a good performer, though there was a wardrobe malfunction that you can read about in my article.

 

 

 

Shawn Mendez

Shawn didn’t come in for the red carpet, and we were also told that he didn’t want to be shot from the front middle of the stage. Maybe for vanity’s sake, but who knows. Two groups of photographers were held towards the ends of the stage. I am not the biggest fan of Mendez but I do have to admit, I did get pretty excited when looked my way a couple times and even smiled at my camera.

 

 

NF

NF was so. Freaking. Hard. To photograph. His lighting was very brooding and dark. He was fun to watch, though I wish some of my favorite songs of his were played more. Coolest visuals, though!

 

 

Bazzi

Bazzi wasn’t my favorite performer, but the photos I took of him were probably my favorite. He was also super chill on the red carpet. We honestly didn’t even see him standing there for a second.

 

 

Calvin Harris

I really couldn’t him. They put us in the sound booth to photograph Harris’ set because it was mostly about the light show, but I honestly didn’t even know if Harris was on stage. I saw him backstage before his set meeting fans while I was on my way to the bathroom, but I could barely make him out in his DJ booth when he was performing.

 

My childhood best friend came back into town, bringing along her boyfriend. The three of us explored Dallas a bit, making a stop at the Dallas Museum of Art.

I love them to death, but don’t even try to bring athletes to an art museum. They’re both in college with huge golf scholarships and are crazy good at what they do, but couldn’t last very long at an art museum. Meanwhile, there was me. I could’ve spent the whole day there, but it’s okay. We went and got popsicles.

 

Here are a couple of my favorite pieces we saw in our visit. The one above impressed me with its amazing texture.

This one was by Félix Hilaire But, called “At the Boulevard de Clichy.” It was in a small section about French sketches. I loved it because it was just pencil, watercolor, and paper, some of my most used mediums, yet it was so masterfully created. The minimalism and simplicity of the lines and the fact that it wasn’t very detailed, yet each stroke served its purpose, amazed me.

Este, Danielle and Alana Haim make up one of my new favorite artists. I’ve talked about them a lot on social media it seems, but I wanted to dedicate a post to talking about their music.

I love, love, love artists that are different! Their vocals, drum beats, and overall songwriting are so unique! For some people their music takes a while to start appreciating, but the way they build each song is super cool to me.

With all the artists out there that either a) make me wonder how they got famous in the first place, b) are not very involved in the songwriting process, c) can’t play any instruments, or d) are not involved in the instrumentals and production of their songs, Haim is the kind of artist that I respect. They not only write their own music, but play most of (if not, all), of the instruments. You can tell that these girls know their music. They build their songs usually from drum beats, and add on playing the electric guitar, bass, piano, synth, and vocals.

So where should you start getting to know these girls? Don’t worry, I gotcha. Here’s a little crash course on HAIM:

1. Want You Back Video

I like music videos like this- ones that are super simple, yet entertain you the whole time. Here’s one of my favorite songs of theirs!

2. Watch them play!!! Valentine Studios

I love seeing them show off how crazy talented they are… like, can I please be that cool?? Make sure to catch the end though, what’s cooler than three sisters drumming together?

 

3. The Wire

My other favorite. This video’s got a little humor in it, which is always nice.

 

Enjoy, my people!