The Other 20 Hours: What It Really Takes to Build a Career in Music Photography

Any music photographer can talk about shooting the show, Jesse talks about everything else: the relationships, the trust, the hustle, and being there for the moments that weren't commissioned. Drawing on years photographing Olivia Rodrigo, Imagine Dragons, Bruce Springsteen, Kelsea Ballerini, Halsey, and dozens more, Jesse unpacks the philosophy behind a career built on friendship over formality, showing up, and what it actually means to keep getting called back year after year.

Moderated by Amelia Davis, who managed Jim Marshall's archive for 13 years and inherited his estate, this panel traces the history of music photography from the golden era of rock to today, exploring how the business has shifted and what it takes to sustain a career documenting music culture. A candid look at the realities of building a sustainable career in music photography: when to charge, when not to, how to protect your work, and how to stay in the rooms that matter.

A workshop using one of MODE's live stages. Jesse brings his documentary, black and white, backstage-driven approach to a small group, walking participants through how he reads a room, anticipates moments, and finds the in-between shots that most photographers miss. Participants shoot alongside Jesse in real time with real artists.