We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Melanie Bryan. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Melanie below.

Melanie, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

I started out back in 2019 by asking my favorite band, Palisades, for a photo pass. I ended up getting it and went in with almost zero knowledge of how to shoot a show. Afterward, I discovered a website called IShootShows.com that has a large section of resources on concert photography, and I also began meeting some amazing people in the community that have helped teach me things along the way. The most important things that I’ve learned are: a basic starting point for my camera settings, photo pit etiquette, and that the community is largely very helpful if you are ever curious how someone got a certain shot or something like that.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Melanie Mae Bryan and I’m a concert photographer. I started in 2019 and have had the most surreal opportunities with incredible artists like Slipknot, Rise Against, A Day to Remember, Bad Omens, Dashboard Confessional, Motionless In White, Black Veil Brides, Panic! At The Disco, Shinedown, and many more, In 2022, I ended up starting my own online music publication called Music Scene Media, and I’m proud to announce that I now manage a team of 23 incredibly talented creatives.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect for me is being able to share the passion that is live music. I absolutely love what I do and I particularly strive to capture an artist’s raw energy. If I can make someone feel like they are there in the moment, then that is success to me.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

I started building my social media presence by inviting my friends and family to follow me. From there, I began searching for local bands in my area to follow, in addition to following my favorite artists. I also began following relevant tags, such as “concert photographer”, which enabled me to connect with others. I have made some great friends that way, and even mentored one to help her get her start in the industry as well.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://MelMae.com
• Instagram: http://instagram.com/melmae.jpg
• Facebook: http://facebook.com/melmaephoto
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themelmae/
• Twitter: http://twitter.com/melmaephoto
• Other: http://MusicSceneMedia.com

Image Credits
Personal Photo: Joshua Williams / @JoshWilliams110