Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Racho.
Hi Jennifer , we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Photography wasn’t really something I grew up thinking would become such a big part of my life. I’ve always been drawn to music and creative things, but for most of my life I took a much more practical path and worked in healthcare.
I really started getting more serious about photography through my love of live music. I began photographing concerts and quickly realized how much I loved being able to capture those moments that happen so fast on stage: the emotion, the energy, the lighting, and even the little moments you might miss if you aren’t paying attention. It gave me a creative outlet that I didn’t realize I needed.
From there, I just kept pushing myself. I started photographing more shows, working with different publications, writing music reviews and features, and getting opportunities to photograph larger artists and festivals. A lot of it has been learning as I go, putting myself out there, and continuing even when the photography world can be extremely competitive and frustrating.
More recently, I’ve also started branching outside of concert photography. I’ve been doing more street and city photography, particularly around Scranton, and this year I had the opportunity to show my work in galleries for the first time. That was something I never really expected when I first picked up a camera.
Photography has become a much bigger part of my life than I ever planned. It’s given me a creative space, introduced me to people and experiences I probably never would have had otherwise, and helped me find a part of myself that I think was missing for a long time. I’m still figuring out exactly where I want it to take me next, but I’m proud of how far I’ve come with it.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Photography can be extremely competitive, especially concert photography, and one of the hardest parts has been realizing that talent and hard work don’t always automatically lead to opportunities. A lot of the time it comes down to who you know, connections, timing, or simply being in the right place at the right time. There have definitely been moments where I’ve put a huge amount of time and effort into my work and felt like it didn’t really get me anywhere.
Another struggle has been learning not to compare myself to other photographers. Social media makes that difficult because you are constantly seeing everyone else’s opportunities, accomplishments, and best work, and it can make you question whether you are doing enough or whether your work is good enough. I’ve had to remind myself that everyone’s path looks different.
There have definitely been times when I’ve wanted to walk away from it because I felt discouraged or burned out, but somehow I always end up picking up the camera again. I think the struggles have made me more determined, but they’ve also taught me that I need to keep photography connected to why I loved it in the first place, rather than letting the competitive side of it take all of the enjoyment out of it.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My main focus is concert and event photography, especially within rock, alternative, punk, metal, and hardcore music. I also write music reviews and features for several publications, so I think I naturally approach photography from a storytelling perspective. I’m not just looking for the technically perfect shot. I’m looking for the moment that actually feels like something.
I tend to be drawn to emotion, movement, expressions, lighting, and the smaller moments happening in between everything else. Sometimes my favorite image from a show isn’t the biggest jump or the most dramatic moment on stage. It might be a look between band members, someone completely lost in a song, or a quieter moment that says more about the performance.
I’ve also had opportunities to step outside of concert photography for different projects. Most recently, I photographed Scranton and the surrounding area for a gallery project, which gave me the chance to look at photography a little differently and focus more on the character, details, and mood of a place.
I think what sets me apart is that I care a lot about the feeling behind an image. Music has always meant a lot to me personally, so when I photograph a band or an artist, I understand how important those moments can be to the people experiencing them. I try to create photographs that make someone feel like they were there, or bring them back to that moment if they were.
I’m probably most proud of how much I’ve grown and how many opportunities I’ve created for myself by simply continuing to put the work in. I’ve had the chance to photograph artists I once would have only dreamed of photographing, work with multiple publications, have my photography published, and this year I was able to exhibit my work in galleries for the first time. Those moments mean a lot to me because none of this was something I originally expected to be doing with my life.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
Probably the most important lesson I’ve learned is that you can work incredibly hard at something and still not always get the opportunities, recognition, or outcome you hoped for. That was a hard lesson for me because I used to feel like if I just worked harder, did more, and kept improving, eventually everything would fall into place.
Photography has taught me that there are a lot of things you can’t control. Sometimes opportunities come down to timing, connections, or things that have nothing to do with the quality of your work. I’ve had to learn not to let that completely determine how I feel about myself or what I create.
I think I’ve also learned how important it is to remember why I started in the first place. It’s easy to get caught up in approvals, publications, social media, who is getting what opportunity, and whether you feel like you’re moving forward fast enough. At the end of the day, I started doing this because I genuinely loved photography and music and the feeling of capturing something that mattered to me.
I’m still learning that lesson, honestly. But I think I’m getting better at measuring my progress by how much I’ve grown and the work I’ve created, rather than only by what opportunity comes next.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jenniferfry.smugmug.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenn_racho_photography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JennRachoPhotography/
