Event Story · Portsmouth · 2026
First three songs.
No flash.
My first press pass, my first time in a photo pit, and a night with The Dead South that made me want to do it all again.
Photography · Studio DJC Creative
Sometimes the moment that changes things begins with a little bit of nerve.
On Thursday night, I walked into Portsmouth Guildhall for my first accredited concert photography job. The brief was simple: The Dead South, first three songs, no flash.
At first, there was no pass at the desk. I nearly went home, but gave it half an hour and went back. This time, there it was: a small piece of paper, but a very big yes.
Three songs to make the frame count.
First three songs.
One chance.
Stay ready.
Standing in the pit was an entirely new kind of focus. There was the music, the light, the movement and a small clock running in the back of my mind. No flash. No pause. No asking anyone to take that again.
I was the only photographer there, which made the experience feel even more surreal. I wanted to make the most of it, while trying not to overthink every setting and every moment.
A member of the security team even kept my spare lens safe after I worried about dropping it. From the desk staff to security, everyone was warm, helpful and encouraging.
The sound
of the South.
Four players, four distinct presences and a string-led sound that refuses to sit neatly in one genre.
Americana with
its own edge.
I arrived knowing one song. I left wanting to hear much more. The Dead South blend bluegrass, folk, country and alternative influences into something unmistakably theirs.
A night that made the next yes feel possible.
The photographs mattered. So did the feeling of earning my place there.
One email led to a pass; one pass led to the pit; and the pit opened up a new way of seeing live music.
Say yes.
Take the shot.
See where it leads.
First press pass: collected. First photo pit: done. This is only the beginning.