Today we’d like to introduce you to Charla Harvey.
Charla, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I have had a camera in my hand basically since I could hold one! My dad was (and still is) very into cameras so I got his hand-me-downs, so to speak. I used to experiment with artsy photos, mostly of landscapes and portraits. When I was in college, I went on a study abroad in Uganda and Rwanda two years later, and I took a lot of photos there. I always made sure to ask people (as best as I could in their own language) if I could take their photo before I captured it. In Luganda, “Nsobola okukuba ekifananyi?” means can I take your photo? In Kinyarwanda (Rwanda’s native language) it is “Nshobora gufata ifoto?”
I realized I absolutely love taking photos of people, especially abroad. I also found it fascinating how peoples’ faces would change once they knew their photo was about to be taken. In both Uganda and Rwanda, generally speaking, I noticed people would be smiling but once the camera was in their face they would turn very stoic. One person told me they used to believe the camera captures souls.
I went to school for Social Work and Anthropology at the time, so photography was just a hobby for me. My main focus was on helping people however I could. Then I transferred to Naropa University, and my major changed to Peace/Conflict Studies and Transpersonal Psychology. When I graduated, I worked with many different populations. I worked with adults with intellectual disabilities, youth experiencing homelessness, victims of sexual assault, teenage girls that have been victims of trafficking, took care of people with medical issues such as multiple sclerosis, etc. I still work some of these jobs, but I realized I was focusing so much of my energy on helping others and not enough on myself. Maybe that sounds selfish, but I learned you truly need a basis of self-love before you can effectively help others in the way I wanted to.
So I started focusing inward and learning more about myself, I realized I love music! 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 also seeing the end result. I had started to make 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.
I absolutely loved (and still love) photographing concerts, so my momentum kept building. I started dating someone who is also a concert photographer, and he introduced me to the publication he shoots and writes reviews for (MusicMarauders). He asked the editor if I could shoot a show to see if I would be a good fit–and thank goodness they both trusted me. My first show I shot for MusicMarauders was Euforquestra, Mama Magnolia, A-Mac, the Height and Whiskey Autumn at the Fox Theater in February 2018! They are all super talented, local bands. I started to shoot bigger shows over time, and I ended up getting to shoot my first festival last July called High Sierra in Quincy, California. These festivals have given me chances to meet new people, meet (and take pictures of) my favorite bands(!!!), and discover new favorite bands.
Though I loved (and still love) shooting live music, I wanted to branch out. I had people ask me if I shot weddings, engagement photos, senior portraits, LinkedIn profiles, parties. etc. If I hadn’t done that before, I would just be upfront with them. I’d say, “I haven’t done that yet, but if you trust me to try I would love to.” Photography is definitely a partnership between client and photographer (when there is a client, of course). I love that relational aspect.
I also absolutely love when people come back and tell me how much they love this photo of them! People have recommended me to other people (which is my dream come true), so now I have photographed pretty much everything! I have even been commissioned to shoot dating profile pictures. I know that sounds crazy, but it really is an honor having someone trust me so much to do such a vulnerable shoot.
I have been able to create my own business that incorporates what I love the most–human connection, music, travel (I got to go to Easter Island with my dad this past April!!), and the gift of being able to give people photos of themselves that help increase their self-love. There is nothing more satisfying than seeing someone post one of my photos of them as their profile picture, a music promo, their Save the Dates, etc. It shows me they love how they look in their photo–and I helped create that! Even though people are obviously beautiful on their own and they don’t need me to help show that.
I also have some bands that continue to use me for shows or for band photoshoots– Chompers, Float Like A Buffalo, Native Station, Kind Hearted Strangers (just to name a few that are TOTALLY worth checking out!)
This upcoming January, I have the opportunity to shoot my favorite festival, Jam Cruise, which I have been wanting to shoot since the first time I ever went on the boat two years ago! Ever since the first night of the boat, I told my friends, “I am going to shoot this one day,” and I finally get to!
Has it been a smooth road?
Definitely not! First of all, in order to shoot a show, you have to receive permission. Sometimes, especially with bigger bands, the manager might not respond to you. Maybe they do, but it is one hour before the show and the show is two hours away, for example. That’s pretty far to travel to just to wait for confirmation. Also, sometimes the managers’ emails are nowhere to be found! You can’t ask for permission if there is no one to ask. I have messaged a lot of bands through Facebook, which actually works sometimes!
Also, I am super short! So, sometimes the stage is very high up and my camera won’t always get the faces I want. Sometimes a monitor is in my way, and a taller person could just see above it. I joked all the time about renaming my business “View From the Bottom Photography.”
Of course, sometimes I have technical difficulties. Sometimes, my camera isn’t working or the battery died even though I just charged it (though I always bring extra). When I was in Easter Island, I bought this huge SD card for the trip because I knew I was going to take a lot of pictures. I think it was supposed to hold at least 4,000 pictures. After I took 1,000 pictures, the SD card failed and erased all of the pictures! I took it to four different stores and no one could fix it.
Also, when I really got started, I took on every opportunity that came my way! I had 8 shoots in one week one time! But I guess I forgot editing pictures takes a really long time, so then I was super backed up. To be fair, I’m still not very good at saying no to a shoot, but now I have a better idea of how long editing takes me. If I know I’m going to be pretty backed up, I always tell the client that and ask if they are okay with a wait before we confirm.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
Charla Harvey Photography is known primarily for music photography, but I also am proud to say I have done weddings (including my own mom’s!), engagement photos, pet photos, family portraits, senior portraits, dating profiles, events and parties like this wonderful woman’s 90th birthday! brewery anniversaries, product photography, even boudoir!
I am the only employee, so I make my own hours. I am also proud to say I have a pretty steady schedule of photoshoots, which is great because I love it!!
One of my favorite compliments I’ve ever received is: “Charla- These are out of this world! Thank you so much for sharing them with us. You really captured the moment and the personalities of the band both collectively and individually. Very tasteful and well done, the mastery of your craft is evident and we are just grateful the lens was pointed in our direction. We will absolutely keep you in mind as a photographer for a future show and look forward to crossing paths again soon!”
I genuinely try to capture the energy and I don’t treat any shoot like it’s “just a job.” I also truly try to understand what the client wants, and we make it a collaboration.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
I might try to have a studio so I could have a place to take portraits. Living in Colorado, most people prefer outdoor shots anyway, but in the winter some people prefer indoor shots. I would ideally want a studio where other artists and musicians could share the space. Maybe someone wanted to use it for the day for music lessons, for example.
I also might add more people to create a bigger photography business (though, of course, I would change the name). Weddings can be a lot easier when there are at least two photographers!
But honestly, I love what’s happening right now. I am getting messages from people I do know asking me if I will do a photoshoot for their partner and their dog, or someone asked me if I would do a self-love shoot for them after a hard breakup. I am also getting messages from people who don’t know me but saw my picture somewhere online and they are asking if I do Bar Mitzvahs, etc. I never know what I’m going to get, and I love that! So spontaneous!
Contact Info:
- Website: charlaharvey.com
- Phone: 3018757135
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @charlaharveyphotography
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/WhomanityPhotography
- Other: https://www.facebook.com/charla.harvey (personal page)
Image Credit:
Charla Harvey
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