Maroon 5 and Merry Xmas

Maroon 5
Originally uploaded by rachelparker

I hope everyone had a fantastic Christmas, Hanukkah, or whatever else you may celebrate. I ate wayy too much

Anyway onto the fun photos of Maroon 5 I shot in November. They rocked UTA and my gosh I wish there would be more concerts at UTA. That was a neat little concert hall. The guys put on a really energetic show and were more connected with the crowd vs in the larger venues.



Ok so that's really all for now. I did go to a few Kelly Clarkson shows when she passed through the great state of Texas. But I shot those on my point and shoot and haven't really delved into editing any of them.

I really want to make a better habit of blogging next year. I've kind of slacked off. I was thinking about vlogging maybe. Showing you lovely people who don't know me what I look like. I hate pictures of myself though! I think most photographers do though. What do you guys think?

Oh one more thing. A friend of mine had asked me if I could go through and find some photos I took of her friend's daughter Chandler performing with her band "The Bella Cullen Project" at Twicon. So I finally went ahead and pulled some shots and edited them.

Chandler's now gone solo, and I'm going to give her a little blog love right here cause she's got definite potential and mad songwriting skills, plus she's a fellow Arlington girl. So check out her music at http://www.myspace.com/chandlernashmusic

Later yall
Rachel

David Cook

David Cook
Originally uploaded by rachelparker

Last month I shot the fantastic David Cook at the Palladium Ballroom in Dallas. Let me tell you, I don't ever recall any guitarist/musician rocking out that hard infront of my lens playing it up that much. This guy was such a great shoot. Face melting, we're talking epic.

I have to say kudos to David for putting on one hell of a show and being so great to photograph. Oh and using spotlights! I was thrilled about that. I wish every shoot could be that awesome. :)

Here are some of the pics.


I have some maroon 5 shots coming soon :) So keep a look out. And probably some Kelly Clarkson from some of the Texas shows. I just shot it on my point and shoot cause I went for fun.. not work. :) But none the less got some stellar pics.

Later yall
Rachel

M is for Miranda Lambert & Metallica

Miranda Lambert
Originally uploaded by rachelparker

Nobody hair whips quite like Miranda Lambert. I was lucky enough to get to shoot this Texas talent again in October. Yeah I know it's December and I'm just now blogging it.. I'm horrible. Miranda put on a fantastic set, featuring several songs off her latest release Revolution. She also mixed a little Kings of Leon into one of them.

Miranda is one of those artist who I never get tired of photographing. I don't think her mom ever gets tired of watching her either because I stayed and watched the rest of the performance and her mom was jammin' out near us. I think she's her daughters biggest fan.

Anyway here are some shots from the performance


Earlier in October I also got to shoot Metallica. It's the first show that I've shot with a square stage in the round where we were given freedom to move around the entire thing. However the band seemed to be pretty active to the west side of the stage so running around became almost pointless.. well unless you wanted to escape the horde of photographers shooting on that side. I guess they are liberal with passes cause that photo pit was packed.

None the less I got some pretty cool stuff. I think all the boys from my high school would be jealous I shot this one. Here are those shots.



That's all for now!
Rachel

Pink!

Pink
Originally uploaded by rachelparker

So I got to shoot another person on my list of "people I have to shoot." And let me just say 2 songs was not enough! I mean I got great shots in those two songs, but the show is so colorful and active I wish I could have shot way more. Kudos to Pink for wanting to still put on a full on pop show, with dancing, and costume changes and an elaborate stage, oh.. and then having the vocal chops and to back it all up. Not to mention she was performing with a strained shoulder. They should give her some kind of entertainer of the year award.

So in short the show was incredible. A must see for everyone, hopefully she will do another round in the U.S. for the folks that missed it. For the shooters lighting was quite good, lots of spots. You're restricted to a limited area up front, which means you cant run around, oh and you have to watch out for her video guys. They move swiftly and for the most part aren't in your way but there are the few instances where they needed to get in for a shot.

Here are some of the shots


Also to come soon is Metallica! Oh and Miranda Lambert is playing the State Fair this Saturday, who else is excited about that? Heck yeah, should be a good one after the Red River Rivalry. Go UT by the way.

Later Yall

Kelly Clarkson

Kelly Clarkson
Originally uploaded by rachelparker

OK I know what you're thinking.. another Kelly Clarkson show? But she's my favorite. We had a blast at this one last month, and tonight is opening night for her "fall" tour. If she's coming to a town near you, I suggest going, you'll have a great time and be nothing less than impressed with her vocal skills.




Anyway here are a few shots I took, please don't steal them.



I have some shots from Pink to come soon. I shot Metallica this week as well. One Republic will be in studio at Kidd Kraddick on Monday, be sure to tune in.

Later
Rachel

Glee!!

Glee
Originally uploaded by rachelparker

So the Gleek Tour stopped by the Galleria Mall earlier this month. And if you haven't seen the show Glee what on earth are you waiting for?! It's absolutely hilarious. Sure there is the occasional musical number that seems a bit off, but most of the musical numbers are great. Dont believe me, just google "Glee Push It." That one deserves an emmy.

Anyway I had the pleasure of getting to shoot the kids at the Galleria that afternoon and a few of them at Kidd Kraddick earlier that morning. All of them very nice, not to mention Cory and Mark both were very easy on the eyes.

Anyway that's enough of my babbling about this. Here are a few shots from through out the day. Check out more on my Flickr!




Ok that's all for now. There's a handful more on my Flickr if yall want to check that out!

Later
Rachel

Twilight.. twicon.. twi stuff

Twicon
Originally uploaded by rachelparker

OK I know it's been like a month. So firstly I apologize for the neglect. Things have been a little hectic.

At the end of July beginning of August Twicon was held in Dallas. While there were good aspects of this event, most press was treated rather poorly unless you were MTV or Reelz channel. Nothing against those awesome networks they're great. But the event organizers could have been way more accommodating to actual local media. I watched them tell a major news network they couldn't get a video shot of the actors signing autographs. News networks syndicate to their affiliates around the US all the time, so that's a big no no. You just said no to lots of free press. It all seemed a bit unorganized. However I think the biggest thing saving the conference was a group called The Hillywood Show. They have some pretty amusing parody videos on their website, and not just of twilight. So check them out.

Anyway here are some shots of the actors doing their Q&A, the only thing we were allowed to shoot the actors doing.....



Ok so that's all for now. I have the cast of Glee soon, and there's a possibility of some Kelly Clarkson photos. Not many.. but a few. :) I just shot Drew Barrymore, there's lots of folks in at Kidd Kraddick next week. I am hoping to shoot Pink next week, but I'll settle for Blink 182. ;-)


Later yall
Rachel Parker

Aerosmith & ZZ Top

Aerosmith
Originally uploaded by rachelparker

Ok first of all, sorry it's been so long. Now that we've gotten that out of the way, what better to follow the last post than Aerosmith & ZZ Top. This show was great to shoot. I enjoy that they mix the set list up every night, and that way the photographers don't all have the same shots. The band was great to shoot with Joe Perry shredding away on guitar and Steven Tyler's hair blowing around thanks to the gigantic fans next to the catwalk. My only complaint is that all the photographers have to cram into one side of the barricade. I got in first so I found a sweet spot though, no room to move around at all however. Major kudos to the girl who was handling the press, I'm not sure what her title was, she may have actually been the tour manager even.

Here are some shots from the great show. It's a shame that Steven fell off the stage at another show shortly after. I hope he is feeling better.

Aerosmith


ZZ Top were the openers and a blast to shoot as well. Here are some shots of them.


Ok that's all the rock I have for you now. I have some Twicon Actor Q&A pictures coming very soon. I just shot the cast of Glee this week, and I'm lined up to shoot one of my favorites next week. But I'm not going to talk about it ;-)

Rachel