Today we’d like to introduce you to Kyle Martin
Hi Kyle, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Photography has evolved a lot since its inception, but its unique ability to capture a moment in time remains unchanged. That’s the principal appeal for me. I started concert photography in 2019 by reaching out through Instagram to a photographer I really admired. The band he was shooting for at the time was in town so I offered to buy him a beer before the show if I could ask him some questions. He took it one step further and offered me a photo pass as well so I could shoot the show that night (Parkway Drive and August Burns Red). I showed up with a borrowed camera and zero idea what I was getting myself into.
The photo pit is a unique experience. You usually have three songs to shoot the band on stage, so it’s critical to get it right in a short time. You’re wedged in between the crowd barrier and the stage, competing for angles and space with as many as 10 other photographers all in the same time crunch. The noise deafening. It’s amazing!
Concert photography has brought me up close to some of my favorite bands, including Tool, Deftones, IDLES, Fit for a King, and Silent Planet.
Besides concert photography, I also really enjoy event photography. While I will always stop for a posed group photo, it’s the candid in-between moments that I most enjoy taking pictures of.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Gear is the biggest obstacle. It’s true to an extent that a professional camera can still produce amazing images with a bargain camera. But concert photography brings unique demands. It’s typically low light with fast-moving, dynamic performances that demand fast auto focus. It’s taken me five years of freelance work and hustling to get my current gear.
It’s also necessary to find a publication that will sponsor you. I got lucky with that first photo pass, but I started out going to little bars and free shows that didn’t care if you walked in with a camera. That was enough to develop my portfolio and land me with the publications before my current one, Digital Beat Magazine.
And, of course, the pandemic completely wrecked live music. It took years to get back to where we were, and, truthfully, I’m not sure we ever fully recovered.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My name is Kyle Martin. I’m the owner of Forte Photography FL. I chose that name because the goal with my business is to spotlight the strength (or forte) of my clients.
I specialize in event photography, headshots and live music.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Be patient. Growth takes time. Be humble. There is always someone you can learn from. Forgive yourself. Mistakes are inevitable; it’s the lessons you take away from those mistakes that matter.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://fortephotofl.smugmug.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fortephoto_fl/
Image Credits
All photos taken by Kyle Martin
