Meet Ellery Clark | Music Journalist & Concert Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ellery Clark and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ellery, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I think of risk as an opportunity. It’s something that I have always chased, whether that be in my personal life or in my career. I’m very lucky, because a lot of my growth as a photographer has been because taking risks paid off – I started as an independent photographer, with no connections, and it took several cold emails and big steps outside of my comfort zone to find myself in a place that would actually teach me how to grow.

My first involvement with the music industry was with Punkaganda Press, back in 2022 – and it was the result of taking a big risk. There was a show towards the end of the year that I wanted to photograph, but I had no idea how to go about doing it. I ended up reading article after article about concert photography, I reached out to some friends that I knew were active photographers, and I finally decided on reaching out to several magazines to pitch a single, freelance piece.

I emailed seven magazines. I got a response from one: Punkaganda Press. Even there, though, I was not invited to be a photographer – instead, I joined on as a writer. When I first got that email back, I wasn’t sure if it was something that I should pursue. Of course, I love writing, but would it be worth taking the risk and joining a different team than what I’d hoped?

The answer was yes; that risk was absolutely worth it, and it has helped me gain experience, grow into the positions I was originally aiming for, and find new passions. Taking risks helped me get my foot through the door as both a journalist and a photographer, which I think is often the hardest part. There are so many people I would never have talked to – so many bands I would never have seen! – if I hadn’t stepped out of my comfort zone from the very beginning.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a writer and a photographer. My work focuses on live events, and most commonly features local performances of live bands. I cannot understate how much I love concert photography. I have grown up surrounded by music – when I was little, my dad would put on his favorite albums while he drove me to school, my mom took me to concerts of my favorite artists, and now, my friends are just as eager as I am to enjoy live music. It felt only natural, then, that I would get involved in some way, shape, or form.

For a while, I thought that involvement would come from actually participating in a band myself. I taught myself how to play the guitar, the drums, and the piano, but I was a crazy busy kid; I didn’t have a whole lot of time to make anything of it. Photography ended up being something different and special for me. It was something I could do in between going to class and competing with my dance studio, and that something that stuck with me all the way until I made it to college down at the University of Arizona.

Going to university really helped my passion (and time!) blossom, and I’ve been photographing more and more as I go. With some newfound independence and a burst of confidence, I’ve had the opportunity to reach out within my community to find a bigger network to support my creative aspirations. Of course, it wasn’t easy – it took a lot of time for me to get to the point that I felt confident enough to send cold emails and applications to real, publishing magazines – but it was absolutely rewarding.

There have been a lot of things that I’ve learned along the way (and I’m still learning every day!), and the wide variety of skills that I’ve been nourishing continue to surprise me. Most obviously, the more shows I’m photographing, the better my photos get. I am incredibly lucky to have many people around me that are amazing, professional photographers, and they helped me in every step of the way. On a less obvious note, though, I’ve been perfecting the skills that everyone talks about, but that no one seems to believe will be important until we do have to use them: I’ve had to practice making resumes and portfolios, writing emails and thank-you letters, and drafting, editing, revising, and redrafting essays.

I really do think that my work isn’t confined to just my photography, or just my writing – it is a culmination of all these skills that I’ve learned along the way. I’m really proud of how most of my learning has come from my own research and networking, and I think that, as such, the quality of my art has grown (and will continue to grow) exponentially.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
A week-long trip sounds amazing – there’s so much we could do! The general metro-Phoenix area is awesome, because everything is relatively close to one another. Of course, as a sucker for live music, we’d have to check out the shows at my favorite local venues; the Crescent Ballroom and the Rebel Lounge are two of my favorites, but I would definitely have to make sure to take my friend over to the Nile. As a concert venue-slash-vegan coffee shop, the Nile really is a must for any visitors. And, fun fact! There’s a little hidden gem just down the street from the Nile, called Novel Ice Cream. It’s this adorable little ice cream shop that’s tucked away in an alley in downtown Mesa – but it’s not as scary as it sounds! The little corner is decorated with lights and plants, and is one of my favorite places to go when I’m in town.

One of my favorite things about Arizona is that there’s so much nature to see, if you’re willing to look for it. I’d certainly hope that my friend is up for a few drives and some hiking, because there are some incredible views! One day, we’d have to stop by Usery Mountain Regional Park. My favorite hike there is the wind cave – this path takes you high up into the mountains and ends in a large cave, with a beautiful view overlooking Phoenix. It’s been a little while since I’ve been out there, but having a friend in town would certainly be a reason to go back! Another must-see of Arizona’s nature, very close by, is Saguaro Lake and Bush Highway. For a chance to get a glimpse at the wild horse bands (while being respectful, keeping your distance, and letting them live peacefully), see the sun ricocheting off the beautiful reddish mountainside, or to spend a lovely day down at the lake, I’d highly recommend checking out this scenic route.

There’s lots of options for food out in the Phoenix area, too, and I’m definitely grateful for that. I love trying anything I can find! For something warm, savory, and homey, I’d take my friend to Cornish Pasty Co. This restaurant, which seemed to me to be influenced by London pubs, is a great restaurant, and everything on the menu is amazing. Their pasties are phenomenal every time. For a taste of local food, I have to send you over to either Nando’s Mexican Cafe or Backyard Taco. I’ve been going to Nando’s (not the peri-peri-style one!) since I was really little – at this point it’s a family tradition – and Backyard Taco is another great chance to treat my friend to a taste of our Mexican-influenced cuisine. A few other notable restaurants that I’d end up bringing my friend along to are Jinya Ramen Bar, the best Japanese ramen bar that I’ve found, 5 R Cha Thai Bistro, my favorite place to grab traditional Thai food, and High Tide, a great (while more on the expensive side) seafood bar and grill out in Gilbert.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
To my family – thank you for teaching me how to love with all my heart, to try with everything I am, and to never stop believing that dreams are always in reach

Website: http://elleryclark.myportfolio.com

Instagram: http://instagram.com/ellery.writes

Twitter: http://twitter.com/ellery_writes

Image Credits
All images ©2023 Ellery Clark Photography. Image with filename “olimalone-4” : Oli Malone Image with filename “jwr-15” : Jake Wesley Rogers Image with filename “leadBW2” : Practically People