Backstage Portraits

Backstage Portraits

Author: Steve Brazill December 5, 2024 Duration: 1:07:56

Social media today can be so draining, but almost daily I am reminded of the wonderful connections I’ve made there, and today’s guest is a perfect example. Jenn Devereaux is a New Orleans area concert and event photographer, and while we’ve never met, we have kind of known each other, or at least of each other, for years.

I think I first discovered Jenn when Todd Owyoung mentioned her, or tagged her in a post, and I have been a fan ever since. Jenn is probably mostly known in the music photography community as a festival photography team member for some of the biggest festivals, like the iHeart Radio Fest in Vegas. Her work from those festivals, some examples of which are in the last gallery below, is just plain fantastic. That, in combination with her work at venues in the New Orleans area, sets her well above a lot of the talent out there.

For today though, we aren’t going to focus on her live music work. Jenn was one of the photographers at this year’s When We Were Young Fest, and when I saw her post some of her backstage artist portraits the idea for today’s show jumped into mind. Working as a festival team member is very different than shooting a show as media, and the pressure of shooting band portraits in a cluttered backstage area, often with very little time and less control of the environment, isn’t for people without confidence.

I think a lot of people are confused about how to pull off that kind of run & gun shoot. They worry about lighting, location choices, working with rock stars, and just getting the shot. So, I invited Jenn to stop by and share her experiences with us. Hopefully, after this show you will have more confidence to just go out and try a shoot like this.

Jenn is such an accomplished photographer, with clients like Uber, Live Nation, Showtime and iHeartRadio, and her work has been seen in publications such as Rolling Stone, Rock Sound, People
Forbes, Billboard, and Entertainment Tonight.

Join Music and Event photographer Jenn Devereaux and me as we dive into how she handles the job of getting backstage portraits of bands, on this Behind the Shot.

Connect with Jenn Devereaux

Websites: jenndphotography.com
Instagram: @jenndphotography
Facebook: @JennDPhotography
X / Twitter: @jenndphotograph

Todd Owyoung’s Post Mentioned in the Show

Women In Music Photography You Should Know: ishootshows.com

Gear Mentioned in the Show

Angler Fastbox 24” – compatible with Godox V1: anglerlights.com
Godox AD100Pro: godox.com
Godox X3: godox.com

Jenn’s Photographer Pick

Skyler Barberio: skylerbarberio.com | @skylerbarberio

Backstage Portraits Shown In The Show

Jenn’s Other Work


Steve Brazill hosts Behind the Shot-Video, a series that goes far beyond gear lists and camera settings. Each conversation is a deep exploration of the creative and technical journey behind compelling images. You’ll hear working photographers unpack the entire process-from the initial spark of an idea and the challenges of the location to the critical decisions made in post-production. This podcast sits at the unique intersection of art and practical technology, offering tangible lessons for anyone looking to improve their visual storytelling. Rather than abstract theory, these discussions provide a real-world look at problem-solving under pressure and the artistic choices that define a signature style. Tune in for honest, detailed breakdowns that reveal how memorable shots are truly built, layer by layer. It’s an essential resource for visual artists seeking both inspiration and actionable knowledge, all grounded in the lived experience of accomplished creators.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 200

Behind the Shot - Video
Podcast Episodes
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Usually, I struggle when I write these. To start with, I’m not a writer, but more importantly I want each post to convey to you how much I admire the guest I am writing about. Today however, I gained inspiration from my…
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Duration: 55:41
Trying to write a post about Ryszard Horowitz has proven to be tougher than I had imagined. Ryszard Horowitz is a legend, literally. His life, and his journey through the art of photography, is almost impossible to disti…
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Duration: 52:25
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Duration: 55:38
I first met Australian music photographer Michelle G Hunder when she was a guest on the Sunday Night Photographer Hangouts I used to do with Adam Elmakias. We had such great time on those shows. After hanging out with Mi…
Real-World Use of the Canon EOS R3 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:04
The Canon EOS R3 looks to be a beast of a camera. Like so many others, I want this camera, and like 99% of those people I won’t be buying one. Why? Because the Canon EOS R3 is for people like Jeff Cable. Ok, also because…
Focus on History [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:26
Periodically I get a guest on Behind the Shot that makes me nervous. This episode is one of those moments. Wish me luck… David Hume Kennerly is a legend. In fact, I would wager money that other ‘legends’ look to David Hu…
The Magic of Infrared [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
To introduce the guest on this show I’d like to start by giving a bit of background… The first time I met Troy Miller I was doing a presentation at a local photo group, Inland Empire Professional Photographers and Videog…