Mixing Music with Pictures, with Bootsy Holler & Chris Ortiz

Although they cater to different senses, photography and music share much in common. In both these arts, timing, rhythm, and mood are key. It’s been a while since we’ve mixed photography and music on the show, so we’re particularly excited about today’s chat with two photographers who share a passion for documenting musicians and their fans—in particular, devotes of punk and indie rock.

From early memories of being truly moved by music to practical tips about photo access, image rights and restrictions, plus the complexities of organizing your work for a book, the conversation doesn’t miss a beat.

So, turn up the volume as Bootsy Holler reminisces about dropping into the Seattle music scene in the early 1990’s to capture the raw energy of her favorite bands, now compiled in the book Making It: An Intimate Documentary about the Seattle Indie, Rock and Punk Scene. And Chris Ortiz describes how the house parties he captured at a punk commune in Kansas served as the foundation for his skills as a music photographer with a keen eye for differentiating himself in the photo pit.

As Chris points out when it comes to preparing for a show. “It goes back to knowing that music and knowing the band, and being able to sit back and say, Yes, I am a fan of the band, but I also am professional, so this is what I’m going to look for when the band comes out.”

Guests: Bootsy Holler & Chris Ortiz

Episode Timeline:

• 3:20: Bootsy Holler recalls her early days dropping into the Seattle music scene, photographing garage bands and dive bars.
• 9:41: Chris Ortiz talks about his start in photography, and his time photographing house parties at a punk rock commune in Lawrence, Kansas.
• 12:01: The difference between documenting live music and making portraits of musicians, where you need to develop a rapport with your subjects. 
• 17:32: A tip of the hat to Chris as a longtime podcast superfan, plus what he’s learned from listening to our 10-year archive of shows.  
• 20:20: Bootsy’s early stylistic influences and its effect on her art and music photography.
• 25:54: The earliest memory of being truly moved by music and the songs Bootsy and Chris were listening to when they truly got it.
• 31:56: Applying the inner feels of music to photographing a concert and connecting with the rhythm to grab key moments.
• 39:00: Negotiating access, shooting from the photo pit vs the side of the stage, plus differentiating your pictures from other photographers’ work.

48:00: Episode Break

• 48:56: Chris talks more about current dynamics for gaining access when shooting music and concerts. 
• 53:44: Current limits on concert photo usage and restrictions on contracts offered by some artists and entertainment companies.
• 58:28: Legal parameters related to pictures in Bootsy’s book, plus the difference between concert pictures and portrait situations.
• 1:02:26: Bootsy’s nine-year process of assembling a book, working with a designer for big picture decisions, plus leaving room to break the rules.
• 1:08:09: Finding publishers, choosing between options, plus the importance of owning the rights to your images.
• 1:10:20: Bootsy and Chris name the band at the top of their bucket lists to photograph.  

Guest Bios:

Bootsy Holler has spent 30 years capturing the essential personality and emotions of her subjects. Best known for her work as a portraitist, Bootsy’s journey began with intimate depictions of herself and friends at the center of Seattle's pivotal music scene during the early 1990s. These formative years at both ends of the lens cemented her style as well as the methodology behind her empathic and journalistic approach. Bootsy’s work has been recognized by the Society of Photographic Journalism and twice selected for the Critical Mass Top 50. Her photos have been exhibited and published internationally and are included in the permanent collection of the Grammy Museum. In 2019 she published the monograph, TREASURES: objects I've known all my life. Most recently, her book Making It: An Intimate Documentary about the Seattle Indie, Rock and Punk Scene, was released by Damiani books.

Stay Connected:

• Website: https://bootsyholler.com/ 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bootsyholler/ 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shop.BootsyHoller/ 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BootsyHoller 

 

Chris Ortiz has enjoyed a relationship with photography since age six, when he learned the basics from his stepfather. He’s specialized in music and documentary subjects since 1998, shooting with both digital and medium format black and white film. After earning a bachelor’s degree in art history, Chris obtained an MFA in photography from the Savannah College of Art and Design. Select documentary projects include Portraits of Latinx Identity, and We Are All We Have Tonight, featuring portraits and personal narratives from punk rock enthusiasts, describing each subject’s connection to the scene. Additionally, Chris works as news editor for the Prescott Daily Courier, covering area news and events. 

Stay Connected:

• Website: https://www.chris-ortiz.com/ 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fastboyent/

 

Credits:

• Host: Derek Fahsbender
• Senior Creative Producer: Jill Waterman
• Senior Technical Producer: Mike Weinstein
• Executive Producer: Richard Stevens