If you’ve ever perused the pages of your favorite artists on Instagram or Twitter, chances are you’ve probably seen some pretty crazy pictures or recap videos from concerts and festivals that have made you stop, take it all in and wish you were there. As much credit for that magic goes to the artist themselves, we would never be able to relive those moments so beautifully without the people behind the camera who document them. Here are four of CULTR’s favorite music photographers and videographers that are doing great work.
Born Drew Ressler, photographer Rukes is one of the OG photographers in the EDM space, having been in the game for nearly 15 years. He got his first big break when he had the opportunity to photograph the legendary Paul Van Dyk, at the time of his stint as DJ Mag’s #1 DJ in the World. Since then, Rukes has used his expertise to photograph the likes of Alison Wonderland, Steve Aoki, David Guetta, Afrojack, and Excision, just to name a few. Rukes is primarily known for his beautiful color pictures that perfectly capture the atmosphere and light show of a rave, and has even said that he purposely strays away from black and white photography because he would rather challenge himself to bring the energy, punch and excitement to full color photos. This strategy has certainly paid off, making him one of the most sought-after photographers in the game.
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Dance music videographer Chris Yoder (AKA Yoder) is known for documenting some of the biggest tours and shows for some of today’s biggest artists. What started as a simple hobby in college suddenly flourished into a full-fledged career, and it’s no wonder Yoder has amassed such a following. His videos give a one-of-a-kind look into the touring aspect of an artist’s show, not only wowing with expertly shot, epic performance footage but also a unique look backstage and behind-the-scenes, making us feel like we get to know the person behind the music a little better with each video. Some of his biggest clients include Zedd, Krewella, Carnage, The Chainsmokers, and 3LAU, as well as shooting and editing an exclusive Apple Music documentary on the Yellow Claw-run label Barong Family. Yoder is currently on tour with Jauz, so keep an eye out for some pretty crazy recap videos to come.
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Photo and video genius Donslens is no stranger to hard work and struggle. After years of surfing Craigslist looking for any kind of work, he finally got his first gig – filming a high school football team. This dedication soon blossomed into something amazing, and now Donslens is one of the busiest men in the industry. His lengthy list of credits include NGHTMRE, Slander, Alison Wonderland, San Holo, Major Lazer, and Halsey. Some of his most notable credits include shooting and editing Halsey and G-Eazy’s music video for the hit “Him & I”, and being the man behind the iconic cover of Ms. Wonderland’s debut album Run. His images have a raw, vintage aesthetic that give everything an intriguingly nostalgic feeling, and insuring his work to be timeless and remembered for years to come.
Rory Kramer is a man of many titles: photographer, videographer, filmmaker, world traveler. But this is exactly what makes his work so appealing. As an influencer, he makes his work ethic and his grind known to all in the hopes of inspiring others to follow their dreams. From first picking up a camera as a hobby at age 15, to working a dead-end job in his 20’s, he never stopped making videos and documenting his life in a wonderfully exciting and creative fashion. He finally decided to take the leap and accepted a life-altering offer to shoot videos for then-relatively unknown DJ, 3LAU. Now, Rory is known for his work with some of the biggest artists in the world, including The Chainsmokers, Kanye West, Martin Garrix, Avicii, and close friend Justin Bieber. Kramer also has his very own MTV show, “Dare to Live”, which features Kramer taking some big name artists on wild adventures. Guests have included Rae Sremmurd, Krewella, Iggy Azalea, and Khalid. Keep an eye out for whatever his next great adventure will be, and maybe catch some inspiration of your own.
