Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jessica Sullivan. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Jessica, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you walk us through some of the key steps that allowed you move beyond an idea and actually launch?

Synnfox photography started out as a hobby in January of 2019 after getting my camera for Christmas just the month before. The only photography experience I had up until that point was darkroom development with 35mm film, so I spent the first few months of 2019 following Sydewynder to every practice and show they played. In those months, I had been asked several times from other bands on the bill if I would take their pictures as well, even offering to pay me.

At the time, I was an optician and it was becoming increasingly harder and harder to keep up with all of the shows going on in Nashville while working a 45 hour week. Unfortunately, I lost that job the beginning of May 2019, and although it was absolutely devastating because I loved optics, it gave me time to reflected on the things I actually enjoyed. Then the thought clicked – with people already offering me money to take photos at their shows, why not make it into a business?

So I formulated a plan; first step was collecting all of the photos I had taken and started plastering them all over social media to look for clientele. Second stop, hitting up every band that had previously offered me a gig and offered them a free shoot in appreciation of the support, and filling up socials for more of a portfolio. Phase three was hitting up major bands for press passes. Between 2019-2022, I’ve gotten to work with some major headliners, Gojira and Knocked Loose being the two biggest names on my list.

My latest projects have been more towards the local music scene – booking/promoting shows, helping bands with their social media presence, and traveling out of state with my two main bands, Sydewynder and Pepperwood. Thanks to Myk Ricci, I was able to photograph 91 musicians at the When We Were Emo! Tribute show at Exit/In on August 26, 2022. It was like playing an entire game of Pokémon within 4 hours. I had an absolute blast, got to meet and make so many new friends, and double my clientele list in a night.

Jessica, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Jessica Sullivan and I was born and raised in Chesterfield, Virginia. In 2018, I moved to Nashville, TN with my boyfriend Tim Hutchins (lead guitarist of Sydewynder) in hopes of finding him a band. We spent the rest of 2018 finding our band mates that make up Sydewynder. They hit 2019 running, playing any and every show they could find. I would tag along to take their pictures and in turn met so many people with the same love for the local music scene. You could say I dove into the industry as soon as I got my camera.

Over the years, I learned what equipment I really needed to accommodate the dark venues with crazy lights, so I spent most of Covid upgrading everything so that I was ready as soon as musicians were back on stage. The number one problem I ran into was poorly lit stages, so I went out and bought three of my own stage lights and yes, they come with whenever you hire me. You also get me from load in until we all leave the venue so I can capture the goofy soundcheck faces, family time before/after your set, and of course, your full set! That’s right, I’m taking photos from the moment y’all walk up onto the stage, until you leave it, I’ll even help you unload off stage and load your cars.

I’m most proud of the client list that I’ve built, and quite frankly, I hate calling them clients, because we’re friends by the end of the night. Every single one of them recommend me to their friends and my business has exploded thanks to word of mouth from everyone.

Synnfox photography is your one stop shop for a roadie, hypeman, and your front row fan singing your lyrics back to you – I actually study your setlist the entire week before our show together so we are on the exact same page the whole set.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

Honestly, word of mouth from previous clients to new ones has built my entire following and reputation in Nashville. Just like in the very beginning, people will watch me photograph an entire set and afterwards ask if I could do theirs as well. I cannot believe how many new clients come from others posting my photos and tagging me alone – I love it and always ask which photo made them want to work with me.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The whole reason why I fell head over heels in love with concert photography was catching those hidden smiles between headbangs and breakdowns. In the early days, that was the most rewarding, and still very much is, but within 2022 I got to experience the pay off of hard work with my two main bands. Both Sydewydner and Pepperwood were played on local radios over the summer, that’s like one of the major achievements as a musician and I got to watch both of them get there in a matter of three years. The most rewarding feeling is being noticed for your work and efforts – whether it’s a photo pass for two 2021 Grammy Nominates, going on tour with the bands that supported me the most, or photographing all of Nashville’s musicians in a night just because someone thinks you’re talented enough for the task.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @synnfoxphotography
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/Synnfoxphotography

Image Credits
All of the photos were taken by me, Synnfox Photography, except the picture of me, which was taken by Candace Brooke