Today we’d like to introduce you to Carmen Adams.
Hi Carmen, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Hello,
My name is Carmen and I am a visual artist, photographer and business owner based in Denver Colorado. I came to Denver by way of Maine as a young illustrator and painter. I came west for opportunity and college and received BFA from The University of Colorado College of Arts and Media in 2021. I specialized in Fine Art practices and have been using my artistic and creative skills to start my own arts and media company, Carmen Housecat Arts and Photography which will be 5 years old this November! This is my llc where I create, collaborate and share art, photographic work and media alongside some of the most talented artists in Denver!
I also daylight in the fine art restoration industry working intimately with clients in and around Colorado who have specialized needs for their art collections. I am new to the industry but work tirelessly to care for and facilitate the movement, treatment and restoration of some of the most delicate and curated art collections in Colorado and the 8 states that boarder Colorado.
I have always been an art snob and have made it my life’s work in both my own creative endeavors, but now my professional career. Art is my jam so if I am going to explain where I began my journey, it would be exactly the point when I saw my first piece of art, heard my first song or made my first mark on canvas- a point I cant even recall myself! All that I know that my path has always been with the arts, towards the arts and for the arts.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has been a long road, that’s for certain. I was fortunate enough to have known what I wanted to do for a very long time and to have grown up during an era where the arts are respected as a viable life path… Unfortunately the arts are a long and winding road of entrepreneurship and heartbreak. Finding your niche is one of the hardest things for young people in the arts to do and it comes with a lot of trial and error.
At times in my past I thought I would be a psychologist, then and art therapist, then just a simple starving artist. The path seemed to reduce down at everything I picked to do, the fear of being locked in to one medium always shook me to my core. I found passions through college and through my social atmosphere in my 20’s which was mostly a product of the booming Denver music scene. I’ve been to 100’s of shows and have been fortunate enough to meet some of the most talented and passionate people in the arts. They have shown me more ways to create art than any classroom setting has.
I broke out of my own shell in the music scene as a voyeur but made my own way into the industry as a photographer and the rest has been history!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Well I am so fortunate to be a product of an expansive and colorful industry on its own but I have made a bit of a name for myself due to my content production and exposure at large events.
I am primarily a concert and event photographer specializing in live bands and artist performances. I have a distinct editing style and am identified for my use of contrasting structure, bold and explosive colors and high shutter speed shots capturing motion and energy in a distinctive way. I love to capture hands, hair and moments of intimacy within chaotic explosive environments.
I am also a maximalist with a need for contrast! I love the dichotomy of a small person making big sounds to massive groups of people all existing in their own reality. The extreme textures of concert motion is a challenging thing to balance against the laser focus of a performer in the pocket. So when I shoot, my ultimate goal is to capture both artist and crowd, balance the weight of the imagery and then boost up the factors that make it pop- ie color.
This style has been my bread and butter and has given me so much feedback among the years. I am so proud to say that it is my identifying brand and that it sets me on my own path along side many other extremely talented artists out there doing the same thing that I am. We are all in it together and I wouldn’t stand out on my own if not for the influential artists who have done it before me.
How do you think about luck?
Fortune has always been a factor in my business as it is a very powerful entity for all artists. The exposure, the inspiration and the timing all play into how your work is seen, how it is received and how it is valued.
I had several years of shooting on my own working pro-bono for exposure, hoping to get good work and unlearn bad habits that had been taught through years of having a bad attitude. I shot show that were great but my photos just sucked. I learned that the chances to shoot these events would have a direct correlation to how well the media turned out and that I had to amp up my game and stay positive if I ever wanted to see more AA time.
I got new gear using all my saved money, I reached out to all the musicians I knew and I prayed that someone would send me back “Hey yeah we definitely need media, how much can we pay you for that?” but instead it looked a lot more like “Hi, we unfortunately dont have a budget for media for this show” or the dreaded “We actually have *Insert them here* shooting for us.” That gets damn defeating after a while. But I took what I could from those that were getting booked more than I was and eventually… I got in.
I was shooting 4-5 shows a week, booking myself out months in advance and getting contracts for bigger and bigger venues. Call is chance, call it putting in the work.. I was just glad people were calling me!
Pricing:
- Shows range between $75 and $300
- Weddings range between $500-$1500
- Personal Photography starts at $75-100/per hour
- Daytime events vary between $75-500/event needs
- I am open to many creative propositions so communicate your needs and I can help you get some coverage!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carmenhousecatphotography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carmenhousecatart
Image Credits
All photo credits go to me!
