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

Jackson, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?

Yes, I’ve been able to earn a full-time living from my creative work, luckily and by the skin of my teeth!

Throughout the last 7 or 8 years and having lived in a handful of cities, I decided my best bet to stay someone local and loyal to the Pacific Northwest was moving to Portland, Oregon back in late 2022 from Olympia, WA. Before that, I’d lived in Bend and Ashland, Oregon for a couple years developing my craft as much as I could.

Breaking into the scene didn’t take long at all as I prospectively looked for any and all shows I could as soon as my shoes hit the pavement in Portland. I shot a handful of DIY, all ages gigs at a place called Speeds, which was just a bunch of bands playing behind an auto shop, aptly called Speeds. Young musicians would gather and with a generator to the spot, ready to power an amp or two alongside a PA. Made for some of my favorite photos I’ve ever had the chance to take as they were some of the first taken since my move to Portland.

Throughout the three years or so I’ve dedicated to the craft, I wholeheartedly sunk as much time into shooting shows as I could. Trying to find people who knew when and where and what was going on. The internet and Instagram have proven to be the absolute best resource for me to try my hand at actually making some money doing this instead of just shooting shows for free and offering the photos to the bands later. I began a strategy of cold DMing bands from a list of shows throughout each week, created and posted by an instagram account called @PromotePDX. Using this list, I would literally copy and paste and sometimes tailor specific messages to band’s accounts that were performing that week, asking them if they’d like photos of their live performance in exchange for a flat rate, promising a certain amount of photos in my style to them within the same night of the performance. After sending 70-90 messages every Sunday night before the week started, I’d finally be able to maintain about a 10-15% retention of those responding, throwing me into about 5-10 shows per week!

It wasn’t like that from the get-go, not even close. I had to still work a part time job at a parking garage to scrape by, but nowadays I have a lot of returning clients asking me to shoot promotional work for their bands, along with other kinds of performances such as plays and other kinds of live performances (along with some fun music related weddings!).

What sped all of this up for me was getting rid of my fear of being told no and also having many people open my messages and not respond. By knowing I could relinquish that fear, I was able to continue sending relentless messages in constant hope I’d get something back. So glad I never gave up just trying and trying.

Jackson, 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?

The way I got into my industry was fairly simple. All I had to do was take my passion for music, being a drummer in many bands for close to 15 years and simply adjust the creative nature of it all into something else while keeping it closely related. I had always loved photography and how people carried themselves as photographers. I wanted to be the one taking the photos that I saw of myself and wanted to be someone who did something a little different. Knowing what I know now, I can say it’s been one of the best creative pivots anyone in the music industry could make if they’re looking for something outside of just playing the music.

The services I provide is a full service photography experience for your live band’s performance at any concert here locally in Portland, Oregon. I provide a large folder full of vibrant, unique and eye-grabbing images within the same evening of the performance for that quick turn around feel. No more do you have to sit around waiting for your photographer to get your images to you.

I’m definitely, most profoundly proud of how I was able to turn this into a business for myself without having to be your typical touring photographer with a band, which is absolutely fantastic in its own way, just not something I’m into doing anymore. I like being able to go home every night. I want my clients and future clients to know that I’ve never had a single complaint on any of my work in the past and hold myself to a standard of quality far above the standard threshold.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

Having saved as much money as I could from before I moved to Portland, I stuck my neck out far and tried to get a job as soon as I could when I first moved here to add to that previous capital. Eventually, I was able to get the gear I wanted to shoot now which is a Sony A7IV Mirrorless Full-Frame camera along with some wide angle lenses.

Been collecting a handful of lenses and other flash equipment to keep my creative juices flowing.

How did you build your audience on social media?

My presence on social media isn’t massive, but it’s definitely nothing to turn a blind eye on. I’ve developed my following up until now by associating myself with larger/well known bands and somehow fitting my way into a few valuable friendships and clientele. Meeting people in person and word of mouth has gone a long, long way in my days of being a live music photographer. Shaking hands, being authentic with others and expressing genuine interest in people’s brands and labels has been the best way to network for me.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackson.hagin

Image Credits

instagram: @jackson.hagin