We were lucky to catch up with Daniel Abbey recently and have shared our conversation below.

Daniel, appreciate you joining us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

I had been doing photos at professional wrestling events around Michigan from my seat as a ticket holder, and had been gradually building a collection of photos i was happy with. The wrestlers on the shows would share my photos, and I started to get some attention from them. I was at a promotion that I frequently attended, and that particular month it was a two part show. Between the two shows, one of the staff members came up to me and said that the promoter wanted to talk to me. When I went to talk with him, he asked if I would be interested in taking photos from ringside for the second show because their usual photographer had a family emergency and had to leave. I was extremely nervous about being at ringside, not wanting to be in anyone’s way, but also excited about the opportunity it presented. I took him up on the offer, and shared ringside with another photographer and a videographer. For one of the matches, there were weapons being used including fluorescent light tubes. The referee for the match, in full protective gear, came over to the side of the ring where I was standing and said “Watch your eyes.” I couldn’t help but laugh because I knew in the moment of something flying at me during the match, I would have essentially no time to react. The very first light tube that was broken during the match had a piece fly toward me and hit my leg. I was not injured at all, but it was a quick reality check for how this match was going to go. After the show, I discovered a few things. One, I absolutely loved being at ringside and feeling fully like I was a part of the show. Second, my instincts were pretty good for reacting to the fast movements and predicting where I would need to be focused to get the right photo. And third (and most important) I definitely needed to upgrade my equipment to be able to better handle the low light situation of these shows. Since that day, I worked for several more promotions as a ringside photographer, which I have continued to do to this day. I have upgraded equipment a couple of times, now settling on the Sony a7iii and a 50mm f1.8 lens as my standard ringside setup.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am a photographer from central Michigan, but travel throughout the Midwest. I started doing photography as a hobby, and gradually transitioned into it becoming a nearly weekly second job, which ideally will become full time. My main subject for photography is professional wresting, both as a ringside photographer and taking promotional posed photos of the wrestlers and staff at shows. I also do some other event photography, and have done some ballet, wedding, and concert photography. When I don’t have bookings lined up, I frequently do nature photography or visit a local zoo. I also occasionally do toy photography, which is something I want to spend more time on this year. I try to bring a dynamic style to my wrestling photos, showing both the motion and the emotion of the matches. I use low angle photos to help the matches keep the “larger than life” feeling that they always have.

For each promotion that I work with, I have slightly different approaches to my photos. One promotion has a lot of overhead multicolor lighting, so I use a filter to emphasize the lighting. At another, I take advantage of the design of the location and take photos from an angle above the ring, giving a completely different viewpoint. I always try to carefully look at the location that I am in and try to find a way to use the venue’s uniqueness to my benefit.

I pride myself on being easy to work with and bringing a positive mindset into any situation. If clients have specific requests, I do everything in my power to meet their requests and then also mix in a bit of my own style in addition to their request. I am always learning and trying new things, researching other photographers to see what new techniques I can try to incorporate.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Very early on in my wrestling photography, I worked for a promotion that I had heard some negative stories about. However, it was a style of wrestling I hadn’t had an opportunity to do photos of yet, and one that I wanted to be able to add to my portfolio. The show day came and went, and everything seemed to go fine. I provided the photos to the promotion, and also posted them myself to my own pages on social media. I saw a poster go up from the promotion using my photos, but no credit had been given. I reached out and asked that I be credited, or at least that I could have been asked ahead of time about using the photo, since it was edited to fit the poster. The promotion pulled another photographer from the state into the conversation, who was very negative toward me and my photography, even stating that I was “a *expletive* that wouldn’t last” I removed myself from the conversation and tried to move on. The very next week, I went to another promotion, and that same photographer also was at that show. We ended up talking outside for a bit and at least got to a point where we could get along professionally, but it was an eye opening experience from very early on to stand up for myself, protect my work, and believe in myself even when others didn’t.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

For my wrestling photography specifically, and this would also apply to concert photography, my goal is always to elevate the talent. Yes, I want to be credited and recognized for my work, but that is not my goal. My goal is always to showcase the unique talents that are the subject of my photos and help to elevate them to another level. If my photos can be a catalyst to someone getting a new opportunity, my purpose is fulfilled.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://hootsforce.client-gallery.com
• Instagram: @hootsforce
• Facebook: Hootsforce Photography
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Hootsforce