Kate Cummings on Getting Started in Concert Photography
Early in her career, Kate Cummings has toured with artists like Hozier and AJR. She shares what it’s like to learn on the job and break into live music.
Breaking into live music photography isn’t always straightforward. Opportunities move quickly, access can be limited, and many aspiring photographers aren’t sure where to begin.
Before even turning twenty, concert photographer Kate Cummings had already taken her talents on tour with artists like Hozier and AJR.
For creatives hoping to break into live music, Kate’s experience is a reminder that careers don’t move at one set pace — there’s no “right age” or perfect moment to start, just a willingness to learn on the job and be ready when opportunities appear.
Below, she shares how she got started, what tour life has taught her, and one practical step for anyone hoping to break into concert photography.
How did your journey in photography begin, and what drew you specifically to live music? What was the first moment you realized, “This could actually be a career for me”?
I’ve had a camera forever, but I started taking it seriously in high school — mostly shooting friends and school sports. Then, I got into concerts through a local publication, built a portfolio, and eventually shot for AJR. That tour pretty much made me fall in love with tour photography and video work.
You recently photographed Hozier’s tour. How did that opportunity come together, and what did you take away from the experience?
I got connected with Hozier’s team through a friend, and after a quick meeting with management, I was on a plane the next day. The tour ended up being more than I could’ve ever imagined — I got to travel to new places, meet amazing people, and really get immersed in the tour world. The biggest thing I learned was how important it is to take care of yourself when you’re out on the road. With the constant travel and crazy sleep schedules, prioritizing your mental health and basic routines becomes everything!
You also went on tour with AJR. When you’re preparing for large-scale tours like those, what does that look like — gear-wise, mindset-wise, or creatively?
Before a tour, I make sure I’m fully comfortable with my gear and always pack backups for everything — batteries, cards, camera body, lens, all of it. I try to keep my setup as compact as possible. I’ve never really had time to mentally prep because most of my tour calls are super last minute, but if I did, I’d absolutely give myself a self-care week lol. Creatively, I try to prep by diving into the artist’s music — listening to their stuff, looking at their branding, and building a color scheme or vibe for the tour.
Being so young in an industry that often skews older must come with challenges. Have you ever felt underestimated, and how have you built confidence in those spaces?
I’ve definitely been hit with the whole “you’re too young” thing, which sucks. But I always remind myself that there are plenty of people who do believe in me and my work — and I’ve done the work to get to where I am now.
Creative work can be both thrilling and draining. How do you keep yourself inspired without burning out?
Burnout is such a real thing, especially in this industry! When I’m out on the road and we have off days I like to explore the new city we’re in while listening to music. I always tend to find some sort of thrift/antique shop, museum, or gallery that fills me with new inspiration. When I’m not on the road, I like to create a solid balance of work shoots to personal shoots so I’m not overwhelming myself.
A lot of your work captures not just performance but emotion. How do you approach translating the feeling of live music into images?
I love love love capturing emotion. It’s definitely one of the first things I look for whenever I shoot a show. Before a show, I like to listen to the setlist and really figure out a vibe/color scheme for each song so that when the show starts I already have somewhat of a game plan. Post-show, whenever I go into editing I really try to reinstate the color scheme, framing, and story that I had made up in my head.
For other young creatives hoping to break into concert or tour photography, what’s one realistic first step they could take?
For anyone just starting their concert photography journey, I’d say to prioritize making connections. Networking is so key in this industry.
This interview has been lightly edited for clarity and length.