Megan Picturetaker Blogs

Published work

2010-10-26T15:58:00.000-07:00

Not new, but just found a digital copy of this EP art I shot for Bidwell.

New Shiverfox album artwork

Fearless Friends Tour Substream Cover

Substream Cover #2!

2010-06-22T10:16:00.000-07:00

My second cover for Substream Music Press with Hey Monday and Warped Tour founder Kevin Lyman. Click HERE to order your copy!

Andy in bandannas

2010-06-14T22:08:00.000-07:00

Andy Bothwell, aka Astronautalis. Photographed in Court and Artemis' backyard. Los Angeles, CA.

I might just make it policy to photograph him every time he stumbles through LA.

Busy busy...

2010-06-05T12:54:00.000-07:00

Sorry I've been so terrible at updating. We had a couple people quit at the day job, and so I was "promoted" to full time. Which means outside the 45 hours a week I've been slinging coffee, I've been slugging through mountains of backed up editing for Hide and Seek, shooting album art for Shiver Fox and Hello Astronaut, still trying to get over bronchitis, and trying to schedule out my summer into nice neat little sections.
On the 15th I'm heading out to Denver with my good friend Josh White from Umbrella Clothing to shoot a new venture with Kyle and David from Breathe Carolina. To say I'm excited to get out of LA is a huge understatement. I've been itching for a vacation, and I'm desperately in need of some time away from "work" work. I get to see Sam, and all my Denver friends, and it's all paid for.
The end of June I fly back to Montana to shoot a wedding, and depending on how the rest of my summer plans out, I might be up there for a week, or just a couple of days. It will be good to go home either way.
I have a long list of equipment I need to get eventually. I'm saving up for a shotgun mic for my camera, so live audio won't destroy it, as well as a smaller Wacom tablet that can travel with my laptop.
If you haven't been up to date on my Twitter feeds I have a lot of new photos up around the internet.
In Fear and Faith's new Myspace
Hello Astronaut's new Myspace
Of Mice and Men's new Myspace
As well as two photos in the new issue of Outburn with Eyes Set to Kill on the cover. My photos of Bleeding Through are in there as well as a photo along with a nice interview with Ramin from In Fear and Faith.
Aaaand if you didn't get your copy of Substream with Of Mice and Men on the cover, it's still out at your local Hot Topic or Barnes and Nobel. My first cover, pretty exciting!

Andy on Roller Skates...

2010-05-29T00:44:00.000-07:00

Andy during the Hide&Seek Summer shoot. He flew in from Australia that morning, and came straight to Pollution. He slept on the couch for almost eight hours, then woke up, put on skates and started scooting around the neighborhood. This might be my favorite portrait I've ever taken.

Jaxin and Ladybird

2010-05-29T00:40:00.000-07:00

My favorite photo of Ladybird and Jaxin from their shoot. Love these kids like family!

Sorry...

2010-05-07T18:38:00.001-07:00

Sorry I've been kind of absent. I've just been busy/sick/exhausted/working/coughing/boring lately. I've been working on a lot of cool stuff... of course I can't write about it. That seems to be the rule. The more excited I am about something, the less I can say about it. I can say this much, "It moves". There ya go. Happy? I promise I'll be able to say something more as soon as ________ is finished being _______, and _________ decides to _________ it. Yeah.

I've been sick the past couple weeks since we finished ________. According to WebMD I have Bronchitis. According to Kyle, and AJ, and everyone else who has the same ridiculous cough, I have Bronchitis. I can't remember if I'm supposed to go to the doctor for this. WebMD says it should go away on its own if I just stay hydrated (whoops), and take some over the counter lung pills to help loosen all the gunk that's down there. Lovely isn't it? I'm supposed to go to the hospital immediately if my cough is "barking". What the hell does a barking cough sound like? They need to have audio samples of TB and Whooping cough on there. Mine is kind of "honking". I sound like someone is throat punching a goose. It's far less fun than it sounds. But as bad as this might sound, having a cold beer last night helped immensely! I think the cold, plus the alcohol, tricked my body into thinking I didn't need to cough. I might test this theory before going to bed tonight, seeing how I have to be up at 5:45 tomorrow morning to open the coffee shop. I feel like I should be better by now, and it's frustrating the hell out of me.

For you Dad...

2010-04-29T04:35:00.001-07:00

Today on our shoot we were graced with an amazing sunset. I was shooting behind the scenes stuff and shot the hell out of the landscapes. Thought my dad would like this one!

Cool things...

2010-04-23T11:36:00.000-07:00

This week Substream issue 19 comes out, and I shot the cover photo of my boys in Of Mice & Men! Woo, my (sort of) first cover!
Also Bleeding Through released their new album on Tuesday and I just got a congratulations call from my pal Jared for my photo being on the back of the case. So that's pretty cool.
First magazine cover and first big time photo in some album art, all in the same week.
I'm trying to decide if I should celebrate by staying in my PJ's and making a pot of coffee or getting dressed and going to get an americano at Intelligentsia.
I really just want to go back to bed until I have to head to work at 4, but momma's got some editing to tend to.

Wooo!

2010-04-15T14:39:00.001-07:00

My "life sucks a little less" present to myself for this week is a ticket to see Foxy Shazam at the Troubadour. I've wanted to see these guys for years! Their new CD is fantastic, and I haven't been this excited for a show for a long time. Can't wait!

Jerry

2010-04-10T15:02:00.000-07:00

Jerry Roush... he's special.

Bamboozle Left!

2010-04-10T10:59:00.001-07:00

Hide & Seek Clothing go to Bamboozle Left 2010 from Hide & Seek Clothing on Vimeo.

Hey Mom, doing fine...

2010-04-10T00:08:00.000-07:00

Today I got to shoot one of my favorite bands from Southern California, In Fear and Faith. We shot all day, and had a ridiculous time, and took a break in the middle and hit up Pizza Port, which was awesome. Some of the nicest guys ever. These dudes, combined with Of Mice and Men, and The Bled on their upcoming tour... damn, that will be memorable!
We Shot this at the end of the day after the usual screamer. Cody brought his dad's 64 Chevy Malibu, and it was just too awesome to not hop in the trunk.

Astronautalis for Hide&Seek

2010-04-05T23:42:00.000-07:00

I photographed Andy again last week, but this time for Hide&Seek Clothing. It was the third shoot for H&S in one week. Craaaazy busy... I want a vacation.

I'm alive...

2010-03-30T18:24:00.000-07:00

I survived SxSW and Bamboozle with only a bit of wear and tear.
We got a new roommate named Yuki, he's Japanese, and I think I've seen him a total of three times since he moved in.
There's a mattress in our living room if anyone wants it.
I have about 2,000 photos to go through.
I wore shorts today.
Goodnight Sunrise officially live in Southern California now! I am very excited about this.
So does Jerry Roush. I'm also excited about this.
I get to see Ok Go this week at the Jimmy Kimmel taping. Immediately after, I get to see my buddy Andy, AKA Astronautalis perform at the Bootleg Theater. Both of these things are awesome.
I'm doing a shoot tonight with Jace and Secret Secret Dino Club for Hide&Seek, Thursday I do another one with Andy. Busy Busy.
I have to figure out how to trade my Friday night shift, because Dannel got me a ticket to see Alkaline Trio... it's trade shifts or quit or something because I MUST go to that show.

There is a really pissed off Chinese woman yelling outside my house. She's yelling at a Mexican locksmith. Maybe she's just talking though. But it sounds like yelling. I can't understand what either of them is saying.

:)

2010-03-30T00:30:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I got to photograph Something Corporate's first show back since they broke up. Also got my wireless system to work with my Ultimate Ears for the first time on my own. I had Andrew's feed, and it sounded so good to ignoring the crowd noise.

Brit

2010-03-24T18:01:00.000-07:00

Pac Sun made a nice little video with Brit about his artist collaboration shirt. Can you spot me?

Please...

2010-03-19T10:48:00.001-07:00

Please keep my friend Brit in your thoughts. He was hit by a car while riding his motor cycle the other day. He's having a bunch of different operations to repair broken bones, and the injuries from the accident. He's an amazing person, and hearing something like this breaks my heart. Please think good thoughts for him.

T-12 hours... oh and Mandatory Monday...

2010-03-15T23:22:00.000-07:00

Twelve hours until I drive off into the unknown with Tom, Glen, Hannah, and Luga. Full car, good friends, good times... hopefully we don't kill each other.
I'm doing laundry, and pretending to pack my gear, but actually just eating a bowl of tofu and veggies while I check my email. Today was such a long day. I had to spend the great majority of it tied to my computer while I sent files across the country. I tried to leave once to go buy instant film for the trip and got a call right away and had to come home to resend something that got corrupted in transit. Sigh.
Yesterday was a totally fantastic shoot with Fi and Vi, a pair of comedians from England. We photographed them as American Pin Up girls, at Pollution Studios, and our shoot ended up with quite an audience! All the Pollution boys camped out on the couches with Fat Tire while we shot, it was so funny! Afterwards the boys made us some amazing vegan burritos with cactus, and sauteed veggies. A fantastic way to unwind after a long day. The photos all look great and I can't wait to get back from SxSW to edit them.
Speaking of SxSW I picked up 40 sheets of film for my Fuji instant camera for the trip. I'm really excited to see Austin and all the amazing bands and people that are out there. It's been so so so stressful getting everything ready for the trip that I don't think I ever really thought it would work out, but it did! I'm staying with Glen and Saint Motel, so there should be no shortage of ridiculous photos when I get back. I'll try to blog while I'm out there, but no promises.
See you in a week!

Mike Prim

2010-03-15T00:21:00.000-07:00

We hauled Mike into our shoot today. Yvonne and I turned him into a Greaser and he got to act like a sissy getting a tattoo. I shot a few portraits of him just because he looked so awesome!

Reasons I'm deaf... Part 2

2010-03-12T23:15:00.000-08:00

Tuesday night Of Mice & Men released their new CD as well. They played with The Bled, and I was a happy girl. Here are my favorites from the night.

Tino warming up...

Bert and James of The Bled having a moment...

Phil warming up

Jaxin, and Jaxin and Tino before hitting the stage

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Shayley

Jerry, AKA my new favorite front man to photograph.

Jaxin and Jerry

Jaxin and Shayley and the crowd

Reasons I'm deaf...

2010-03-12T18:38:00.000-08:00

Tuesday I had the privilege of hanging out with my friends in Of Mice & Men and The Bled as they released their new albums with a show at Chain Reaction. Here are a few of my favorite photos of The Bled.

I see you looking at me Josh...

Hey Mom...

2010-03-12T11:14:00.001-08:00

Thought you might enjoy this!

Special Moments with Of Mice & Men

2010-03-10T20:53:00.001-08:00

Jaxin can almost do a double flare...

YES YES YES YES YESSS!

2010-03-10T18:44:00.001-08:00

Implusive purchase of the week...

2010-03-10T17:56:00.000-08:00

Tonight I am not going to the Manchester Orchestra show at The Troubadour because when tickets went on sale I was 100% flat, beyond starving artist, BROKE. Today I found out they are touring with Thrice in a couple months…. so I impulsively purchased two tickets to the Ventura date of the tour. $19 a ticket with Ticketmaster’s HORRENDOUS fees equaled about $58 total. So. Worth. It.

They’re playing a stop in Billings and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t google flights back to Montana on Allegiant. ($110 round trip)… I’m still thinking about it.

Mandatory Monday...

2010-03-08T21:46:00.000-08:00

This is the start of a very VERY long week. I'm kind of dreading it. So I'm procrastinating and writing my mandatory Monday blog.
Today I spent most of the day tracking down last minute models for tomorrow's Glamour Kills shoot. Which was supposed to be today... but the clothes didn't show up again. Thanks UPS! Then I spent four hours at my new "job" at a coffee shop training. Also found out the shifts are eight hours, and one of them is 4pm to midnight... and the manager isn't stoked on me leaving for a week for SxSW even though manager #1 said it was cool when he hired me.
ANYWAY now I'm back home and editing, editing, editing content for a magazine I shot for over the weekend. Tomorrow's part one of the GK shoot and then I'm going south for Of Mice and Men and The Bled's joint CD release show at Chain Reaction, I was super excited about this, until my manager told me that I'd have to come in for more training at 6:30am on Wednesday. So basically that's going to SUCK. A. LOT.
Wednesday afternoon- Friday will pretty much be spent glued to my computer editing GK photos and more of the magazine content. Saturday is prep for Sunday's shoot... Sunday is a shoot day.... then...
Monday I leave for SxSW! Driving out there, that's basically the only game plan on the books. It's 24 hours of driving, I've got Glen as my copilot, but she can't drive a stick... there's details to be hammered out basically. I don't really know how the hell any of this is going to work itself out.
I'm listening to Of Mice and Men's album and Shayley's got the voice of an angel... I'm going to make a Shayley giggapet. He's precious...

I love you Jimmy Kimmel!

2010-03-08T21:22:00.000-08:00

Funniest thing I've seen in forever!

Drake Bell...

2010-03-04T17:16:00.000-08:00

Drake has released the photos with an awesome new myspace. So I figured I'd share a few of my favorites on here.

I want a dog...

2010-03-04T01:40:00.001-08:00

See more funny videos and Cute Animals Videos at Today's Big Thing.

Mandatory Monday...

2010-03-01T17:48:00.000-08:00

Today Hide&Seek released the new line, so here are the lovely look book photos. I loved this shoot, everyone was so great to work with. The next shoot will be in May, and basically it's going to be even better, bigger, and more magical... more mustaches.

Halvo

2010-02-26T05:34:00.000-08:00

Eric Halvorsen of A Rocket to the Moon during shooting for their new music video.

Maybe I'll make Mondays Mandatory...

2010-02-22T12:22:00.000-08:00

For posting. I really suck at updating this lately. I guess it's because work has been slow/ all my time this past week has been editing Hide&Seek photos. Saturday I did a photo booth at a friend's insane birthday party. I learned that some people on coke are really mean, while some are just really annoying. I should write PSAs for the anti drug movement. "Hi. My name is Megan. Cocaine use has been shown to lead to you thinking you're much cooler than you actually are. This overconfidence isn't attractive, and neither is screaming into the microphone you've stolen from the band while dressed like Lady Gaga. Seriously, we can all see your vagina. Don't do drugs."

Photo of me by The Cobrasnake

AJ, Danielle, and I were The Baby Shoes Gang.
I haven't been able to sleep for the last week either. I've been waking up at 9am no matter what time I went to bed. It's not conducive to me being in a good mood. Last night I was completely out cold by midnight after spending 12 hours helping to move three truckloads of grip gear at Pollution Studios. Three AM rolled around and my neighbors, with what are usually adorable British accents, decided to have a party... outside... even though it was below 50 degrees... right under my window. They stopped the shenanigans pretty soon after they started, but it didn't matter. I was awake, and my brain started doing this weird "the sky is falling" race over every possible topic I could stress out about. "How am I going to make rent? What if I don't go on Warped Tour, then what am I going to do? Should I have shot that show tonight after all? What if I pissed off that chick at the coffee shop because I didn't have money to tip her? Why isn't he texting me back? Do they not have cell service in Northern California or something? There's no gas in my car. What if I get sick? Ugh I ate too much junk today. I need to go hiking tomorrow or something. I need to edit though..." and so on and so forth... So I watched Hulu (Archer is the funniest cartoon I have ever seen in my life ever by the way) and eventually my brain slowed down to a pace that I could blank out at, and I had really insane dreams/ nightmares all night until I slogged out of bed at 11am.

I spent all of yesterday out at Pollution helping them unload multiple tons of new gear that they bought. My arms are killing me today, in a good way though. Near the end of the day Julien opened a random mystery box and discovered it was full of a couple dozen folding knives. Pretty awesome basically. So now all of us are armed and dangerous, and after a couple hours of practice none of us are any better at throwing knives. Just another day at Pollution Studios!

Ok I'm off to upload 200+ photos from Saturday's photo booth before I start getting angry emails from the guests wondering where their photos are... because that's what most of them will be doing on a Monday...

Update: You can check out all the photos HERE! I think doing a photo booth is kind of like childbirth. Right after it I say, "NEVER doing that again ever!" then I look at the photos and get all nostalgic for the party that I never really got to be a part of because I was stuck in a room all night taking photos. I think to myself, "Next time maybe I'll get to have fun!" and sign up for the next one...

Hide&Seek Clothing Behind the Scenes

2010-02-15T09:15:00.000-08:00

Byron and I survived Zombie Prom for yesterday's shoot for Hide&Seek Clothing. I somehow managed to pull it together on four hours of sleep, after AJ and I thought it was a good idea to run around and stay up after prom until 5am. I woke up at 9am, completely awake and anxious about the shoot. Seeing how half the models were partaking heavily in Zombie Prom festivities, I was wondering if we'd have any hangover casualties or no shows. Surprisingly people showed up early, bright eyed, and bushy tailed, ready to knock out the photos. We had AJ, and Aaron from Saint Motel; Sierra, Blake, and Devin from Versa Emerge; and my friends Lili, Megan, and Mitchell. I honestly couldn't have hoped for a better shoot! This was my sixth time working with Byron and Hide&Seek and by far the most successful. We've really taken the things we've learned from the past and put them to use.
Here are a few behind the scenes photos that I liked.

Lili, Megan, AJ, and Aaron waiting while I test lights.

Sierra

Zach and Megan

Alex, Julien, and Mike of Pollution Studios. They let us invade and we love them!

Happy Valentines Day from Saint Motel

2010-02-14T12:02:00.000-08:00

Last night was Zombie Prom, and I think it was the most fun I've had since moving to LA. Sooooo many more photos coming!

Bolten Inc. Interview Translated...

2010-02-04T21:08:00.001-08:00

I recently did an interview with a Spanish publication called Bolten Inc.. It's a really nice interview, and unfortunately Google Translation slaughters it so here are my 12(+1) Preguntas Con Megan Thompson in English! (Click HERE for the Spanish version with Pictures.)

12(+1) Preguntas con Megan Thompson
by Rodrigo Rangel

Since photography and Rock met, they decided to stay together forever. And this is a story that specialized photographers must know very well. That is why we concluded that definitely Megan Thompson must have one of the most incredible jobs in the world. She is only 26 and begins to take on the world. Megan is from the small town of Bozeman in the state of Montana but she moved to Los Angeles in 2008 to follow her dreams and continue her career in the photo after graduating from Montana State University with a BA in Photography. A couple of months ago I found a picture of Megan, i had a look on her website and I was really impressed by ability of her to illuminate and guide, it looks so easy, but believe me it is not and if go deeper inside, the truth is that in the rock world in the image, body language and fashion can become very important, even sometimes more than the music itself. Megan's work createing unusual surreal environments, but above all her work is very fresh and it is unlikely that her photos bores you , on the contrary, in my case I became a bit addicted and wanted to see a little bit more.
Megan Thompson has worked with Hello, Astronaut, Saint Motel, Mark Hoppus, Tom Delonge, We The Kings, Astronautalis, The Used, Lorene Drive and many many more, her work has been published in major publishers such as Photo District News, Alternative Press, People and Spin. So she doesn't really needs a c.v. In this interview we had the chance to meet and discover that besides being a brilliant artist, Megan is a great person, with defined values and an incredible ability to see a little further. So without any further here, we leave them 13 questions with Megan Thompson.

1. When at work, Which part of the day inspires you the most?
The part when I wake up and have an inbox of emails waiting for me with new
potential clients. Right after that, would be the part where I find coffee and
become human again for the day.

2. How would you define your work? What are you looking for with it?
I just want to make photographs that the person in them will be remembered
for. I hope that I can make iconic photos that define musicians, actors, and
people in the same way that Sam Jones, and Annie Leibovitz are able to do.

3. Can you define the evolution of your artwork?
I evolved from being a very dark fine art photographer. I thought everything
had to be super moody and disturbing to be "Art". I still am drawn to darker
artwork and I love that style, but I've brightened it up a lot since moving to
LA and working commercially. I love being a commercial photographer, because my
work can be fun and exciting and completely random and it doesn't need to have
a specific reason or be making a statement to be that way.

4. In your art-making, do you experiment or your rather have an specific
method?
I'm pretty specific with my work flow, but every now and then I screw up a
layer or something and have an "ah ha" moment that changes everything. I don't
experiment so much with my paid jobs, but I do in my personal work a lot.

5. Who or what is your biggest inspiration?
I read a lot of messed up books that give me ideas. Chuck Palahniuk's novels
like Chokeand Invisible Monstersare super detailed and well written. I want to
make photographs that are that detailed visually. My sister, Amy Thompson, is a
big inspiration too. She's an amazing letter press printer and binds her own
books. She's the opposite of me artistically; incredibly organized and patient.
When I get frustrated or am over complicating what I'm working on I kind of ask
myself "What would Amy do?". It helps me to take a step back and not make
mistakes.

6. If you could ever meet one artist, living or dead, who would it be?
Salvador Dali. His paintings were always a huge inspiration to me when I was
in school. If I could trade my photo skills for another skill it would be oil
painting. I wish I could do that!

7. What music is exciting and inspiring to you at this point?
I'm really really into LA bands from my neighborhood right now. I love the
music that's right in my backyard. Favorites currently are Saint Motel (they
are going to be the next big thing I know it!), Castledoor, Army Navy, and
Links. All of them are based in Los Angeles.

8. One movie you could recommend...Why?
I think everyone should always revisit the movies they watched as a child.
Especially if you're a child of the 80's like me. Jim Henson creations like
Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal are favorites of mine. Movies like that are
probably why I'm so weird as an adult.

9. Can you tell us one city or place on earth that inspires you... Why?
I'm from Montana and now that I live in Los Angeles, I appreciate where I'm
from a lot more. It's so beautiful there. Bozeman, Montana is really amazing in
the summer, and I would totally spend a month there every year if it was
possible.

10. What is your opinnion about this generation?
I think there's a lack of ambition that came about really recently. My
friends and I are all super hard workers, and eat and sleep our dream jobs to
make them a reality. So many kids are coming out of high school thinking that
you can just go out into the world and being "myspace famous" is enough. They
don't want to work for their dream career, so they just give up on it and
become jaded.

11. What makes you happy and what makes you mad?
I have a top five list of things that make me happy, 1.Songs by Queen; 2.
Songs with clapping as part of the percussion arrangement; 3. New sweatshirts; 4. Huge photography books; 5. Coffee... in any shape or concoction.
I try not to focus on the things that make me mad, but not being able to own a
dog because I live in a place that doesn't allow it is at the top of that list.

12. Do you have any exhibitions soon?
I do! I'll be showing my rock photography on March 13th at the Strange
Gallery on Melrose in Los Angeles. It's a group show of LA rock photographers,
and a big rock and roll concert! Plus there's free alcohol, so it will be a
great time.

13. When is Bolten Inc and Megan Thompson working together?
Good question. When are we?

Julien gets a Tattoo

2010-02-01T18:36:00.000-08:00

I've been playing with the video on my 5D MkII more lately. I shot this last week while Julien was getting tattooed.

Hello Astronaut

2010-01-31T13:02:00.000-08:00

A shoot in LA during a monsoon... not the best idea, but it makes for some really rad photos!

Hello Astronaut

Hi Mom and Dad

2010-01-24T16:20:00.000-08:00

I'm still alive guys!

Soap box about weed

2010-01-12T12:10:00.000-08:00

Before I start this rant, I want to say that I do not smoke weed. I have enough trouble staying out of my fridge without a lethargy inducing drug making me ravenous.

A Bag Of Weed - The best bloopers are here
So this is going on in California right now. In case you live under a rock and aren't aware, the state of California is in financial ruin, with a deficit between $12 and $42 Billion depending on who you ask. One of the proposed plans to fix this clusterfuck is to legalize and tax the use and sale of Marijuana. One of the arguments against this plan is that legalizing pot will lead to an increase in crime. While I don't myself smoke pot, I have at least a dozen very close friends who do. In the years I've known them, the only "crime" they've been accused of because of smoking weed, was getting caught with weed. None of them have ever gotten stoned and crashed their car into a minivan, hit their girlfriends, or stabbed someone. Those three acts were all real things that acquaintances have done while under the influence of alcohol however. Alcohol is legal. Not one person has ever overdosed from smoking too much pot. My freshman year I knew three girls who got alcohol poisoning. What I see as the problem with pot currently is that it is extremely easy to get, but to get it without a medical license, you have to deal with some seedy people. The illegal drug trade is what I see as the problem. If pot is legalized, and regulated, that puts a major thorn in the side of the drug cartels in Mexico. American prisoners incarcerated for marijuana cost tax payers approximately $1 Billion a year. Therefore legalizing marijuana would not only cut the prison population, and save tax payers billions, it also has the potential to generate billions in revenue if simply taxed. $1.3 Billion to be exact. So let's say that the California deficit is an even $20 Billion. Let's be generous to the conservative party and say that the pot tax could generate $1 Billion a year. We won't even figure in the millions that would be saved by not prosecuting legal adults found in possession of marijuana. That $1 Billion is money that could be saved for schools, after school programs, and the arts that Schwarzenegger has been forced to cut.
For me the bottom line draws out to this: I would gladly put up with a couple more pot heads out there if it means children in grade school get to have music class. Pot in California is already so easy to get, making it legal isn't going to drastically change the amount of users. I'm sure as hell still not going to smoke it. Making it legal is still not going to make it a lethal drug. Who knows it might actually make it less desirable. It's not that cool to rebel against your parents unless you can get in real trouble for it anyway.

Saint Motel of course...

2010-01-11T15:09:00.000-08:00

Saint Motel is releasing the fancy boy promos we did back at the holiday shoot, so here's a special peek at them in all their boy band glory! Eat your heart out Boyz2Men! Big things in 2010!

Tom Delonge

2010-01-10T22:58:00.000-08:00

Tom Delonge photographed at the Forum during Blink 182 rehearsals for their summer reunion tour.

2010-01-09T18:01:00.001-08:00

Binks
This is my friend Binks from I am the Ocean. I photographed the band while I was stranded in Salt Lake last month, and shot this as a light test. It's going to end up in the book I'm half working on of portraits of my friends.

Bryant

2010-01-09T13:54:00.001-08:00

This is my roommate Bryant. He modeled some jeans for the Glamour Kills shoot yesterday so I made him hold still for a second and snapped a couple photos of him.

Brittany Flickinger for OMGee Magazine

2010-01-07T13:44:00.000-08:00

My favorite from the shoot, but cut from the spread.
Photographed for OMGee Magazine
Hair by Catherine Horn

Blog-o-Tips and shit.

2010-01-07T13:08:00.000-08:00

Here is my list of the top five things I think all of you aspiring photographers need to do.
1. The biggest glaring reason I'm writing this is because WAY too many of you are using Flickr and Myspace as your "websites" Get a real website, or nobody, and I do mean nobody, will take you seriously as a photographer. They're great networking tools, but nobody wants to sift through your spring break photos or wall comments about how drunk you got last night, or how hot you look in your profile photo.
2. Use your REAL name! I mean your full name. Unless your name is like Ursula Flaberfatz or something, and you want to be a wedding photographer, in which something like "Special Moments Photography" is appropriate. Using your real name will allow you to be recognizable, and people can remember a name. Nicknames are another thing. I got stuck with Megan Picturetaker about five years ago in Montana, so it's on my blog, and myspace, but not my website URL. Most of my friends have nicknames, and they do just fine because they've gotten to a point where people recognize their name just as much as their nickname. Sometimes your name is John Smith and you're screwed, so come up with a creative solution, like John Smith Media, or John Smith Images.
3. Get business cards... and put a GOOD photo on them. By good I mean one that reproduces well in such a small format. Live photos are sometimes okay, but for the most part I find them way too busy. The more simple a photo on the card, the more I connect with it and am likely to check out the site. At the same time don't put a really beautiful landscape on your card unless you're a landscape photographer.
4. Stop using your camera as an excuse to be a jackass at shows. Just because you have that shiny new Canon Rebel doesn't give you a license to walk out into the middle of the stage while the band is playing, unless that band has given you specific permission to do so! I can't tell you how many bands complain to me about kids with cameras getting in their way at shows. I've said this thousands of times, but no one in that audience paid to see you on stage, they paid to see the bands and you need to respect that!
5. Stop working for free. You might live in your parent's basement, and not have bills but the rest of us professionals are trying to eek out a living. It's totally okay to hook up your friends once in a while, but if you get a rep for working for free, it sticks. I know this as a fact because every time I go home every band in Montana expects a hookup because I didn't charge when I was starting out. Photographers that work for free drive down the market so that no one can make a living. Think about how much your time is worth, and go from there. It is a job, the only difference is that we enjoy what we do from 9-5.

These are all my opinions, so take them or leave them. This is just based on some questions I've gotten from my formspring.com account. Feel free to click and leave me more questions for more blogs-o-substance in the future.

A valid idea...

2009-12-22T17:34:00.000-08:00

I'm seriously considering making "The economy sucks, LET'S TOUR!" my mantra in 2010. Thinking about it, well over 50% of my income goes to paying my rent and utilities each month. If I were on tour that wouldn't be an issue, I could reach as many bands as possible and just couch surf around the country. I guess I could get used to editing on my laptop, put my stuff in storage come March, and just skedaddle. Warped Tour is looking like a realistic probability this year, and I'm already planning on SxSW taking up a chunk of my life in March. In the fall there's a chance I'll be heading out with another tour to work on a book... sooo I guess the question is, why should I pay rent on somewhere I won't be?
Stay tuned crime fighters. I'll keep you posted. I'm currently hanging out in the resort location of the Salt Lake City airport because my flight home was canceled. It's not looking good for flying standby, so here's hoping some seats open up on Emily's flight to Helena.

Last Minute iTunes gift suggestions

2009-12-21T18:45:00.000-08:00

So it's Christmas on Friday and you forgot to get that special someone something special. Oh and they live across the country. Oh and you only have about $10 to spend. Crap. What do you do? Well here are my top eight iTunes giftable album suggestions. Why only eight? Because I have to pack for my trip home to Montana... chah. This is also mildly biased towards bands I may have worked with... yeah.

8. Goodnight Sunrise- "Stop, Drop, and Roll"
This EP makes me smile. Perfect for anyone you know who loves a good pop song with a little heart. It's also less than five bucks so you can't go wrong!

7. The Jakes- "Shake my Hand"
Simply put this EP is completely infectious. Seven perfect little songs for your loved one's digital stocking. $6.93 is all this album costs and I recommend it to anyone who loves a good indie rock pop song as much as I do.

6. This Providence- "Who are you Now?"
Who doesn't like dreamy tracks sung with an Aussie lilt? Buy this for your ex girlfriend that dumped you. Maybe she'll get the message.

5. Astronautalis- "Pomegranate"
For the dignified indie rapper in all of us. I got this album when it came out and it still hasn't left heavy rotation in my iTunes player. Andy has a way with words and rhythm that I've never been able to put my finger on. Trust me, even if you don't think you like hip hop, you will LOVE this.

4.We the Kings- "Smile Kid"
If you're bundling a couple albums together you might as well pick up "Smile Kid" for the Goodnight Sunrise fan on your list. This album's catchy and intricate, and if you buy the special edition on iTunes you get a free music video!

3. The Used- "Artwork"
Crunchy, dirty, growling, mean... what else would you expect?

2.fun.- "Aim and Ignite"
The only band on this list I haven't photographed, but not for lack of trying. This album is perfect. Their live show is perfect. It's all just perfect! "Aim and Ignite" gives me faith in music being good again. More bands need to do this right here.

1. Saint Motel- "For Play"
It shouldn't surprise you that Saint Motel came in at #1 in this list... even though it wasn't really in any particular order until this point. This EP wins because it gives you THE MOST bang for your buck of any EP in iTunes history. How you ask? It's the first album ever to feature a music video for each song on the EP. So not only do you get six fantastic sexy songs to dance to, you get six visual treats to feast your eyes on. If you get one EP on this list get this one. Do it.

Watch this.

2009-12-21T11:31:00.001-08:00

This is ridiculous!

Blake & Sierra

2009-12-20T21:12:00.000-08:00

I took some photos of Sierra and Blake from Versa Emerge while they were out here in LA writing for their new record. They are such amazing kids! I love hanging out with them, and can't wait to hear their new songs.

Oh Byron...

2009-12-20T19:00:00.000-08:00

Going through old batches of photos making space on my hard drive and I stumbled upon this photo I shot of Byron. I made him stand in for the models during the Hide&Seek Clothing shoot in October. It makes me smile. One day I'm going to make prints out of all of these random photos of my friends, and cover my wall. Might go on my to do list while I'm home in Montana for two weeks avoiding snow and driving.

Stefan Toler

2009-12-14T00:41:00.000-08:00

Stefan Toler
I met Stephan almost exactly a year ago in Palmdale California while he was playing a show with his old band Lower Definition. We'd been talking about doing promos for a while, so I drove out to see them play. He's since left Lower D to focus on school and moving in a different direction musically. He drove up from San Diego last week to hang out and take some photos. At the end of this shoot I made him sprint up our back alley like he was in the movie The Sandlot. The fact that he remembers that movie made me feel not quite as old.

Sleepy...

2009-12-13T23:31:00.000-08:00

Today was a long day but a fun one. I photographed Call the Cops out of my house. I haven't done that for quite a while, but we made it work out really well. I'm excited to get started on editing them. After the shoot we went to one of my favorite Mexican places down the street and filled up on enchiladas and margaritas. I don't think I've laughed that hard at tour stories in a long time. Then we made it back to the house and ended the night with an acoustic singalong that we broadcast on my Stickam account. I forgot to take a screamer with the band so I'll have to make sure to do that at their show on Thursday when they play with Sugarcult at the House of Blues.
Tonight I'm taking it easy and catching up on some portraits I did of Stefan Toler last week and editing down the three hundred live photos I did of the Syncope Threshold last Tuesday.

Happy Birthday Andy...

2009-12-13T09:56:00.000-08:00

Schemes...

2009-12-11T17:55:00.000-08:00

Bleubird and I just finished up a very special video collaboration. I'll be releasing the magic on Sunday, so stay tuned to the blog, facebook, twitter, and other social networking for the debut.

A song for Thursday...

2009-12-10T14:23:00.000-08:00

I feel like I should write something substantial... but I'm feeling more unmotivated. I rescheduled this whole week and it ended up all being rescheduled just enough to make me completely broke for Christmas. So I'm in a bummer mood listening to Astronautalis' album The Mighty Ocean & Nine Dark Theaters like it's my job. So here you go, I'm going to let Andy write this blog entry.

I'm pretty sure a lot of these lyrics are wrong, but it was the closest I could find on the interwebs.

Skeleton (Everyone's Favorite) by Astronautalis

You’re very beautiful he whispered at the girl on the beach
It’s amazing how the days will slip away from you and unfurl in a week.
She didn’t speak or even smile in reply
Repeated it again but the words just swallowed all the words alive
Sand pipers chasing the torn paper edges of the waves
Another just of wind that paints her hair across her puzzled face
One of these days he’s gonna escape and change the world
Come back to his hometown with a trophy and a girl
A girl like this with soft hands and a wise kiss
She’ll teach him how to dance and dance her fingertips across her lips
But this, this is just another awkward pause, a pretty pair of eyes
Uncomfortable in front of all his flaws.
He feels himself going bald in little bits and patches
He used to spell out “love” in them but now the letters come out all backwards.
His pants never fit him right anymore, forgotten how to cook,
He used to take the room and run but now he’s happy with the second look

Pardon me miss, could you blow me a kiss?
Last night a couple lovers tossed each other off that bridge.
I think I better just call it all quits,
I used to run this town but it just ain’t the same place that it ever was.

He cut his finger just yesterday (tracing slitter on a red?)
and watched it drain into the sink the only thing that’s left
a fingertip dripped down and drew another half a pint into a perfect portrait
of himself. Subtle beauty and still life.
Everyone asked him, “Oh, what happened to your hand?”
“It’s just another accident cutting vegetables, I guess.”
Everything’s a trap these days; we’re all working to defend
No one ever thinks of a story just take the hit and bang out the dents?
You don’t know why he’s standing here or how he got this far running up the beach
And out of reach, a running rusted car.
The waves are louder than a train, crashing down upon his chest
He can’t be dragged down like the rest and wait patient just for his death.
Taking off his hat he steps and brushes her hair away
Kisses her cheek gently and asks her for her name.
She bows her head and smiles at feet and takes his shaky hand
He has no idea just what she said over the waves crashing in his head.

Pardon me miss, could you blow me a kiss?
Last night a couple lovers tossed each other off that bridge.
I think I better just call it all quits,
I used to run this town but it just ain’t the same place that it ever was.

Pardon me miss, could you blow me a kiss?
Last night a couple lovers tossed each other off that bridge.
I think I better just call it all quits,
I used to run this town but it just ain’t the same place that it ever was.

Greg and AJ... times three

2009-12-09T04:56:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays from Saint Motel

2009-12-08T17:11:00.003-08:00

There's a reason these guys are my favorites.

Saint Motel for the Holidays

2009-12-07T13:35:00.001-08:00

This was a fun night...

Fellow

2009-11-25T17:25:00.000-08:00

Fellow

Johanna
This duo is called Fellow. Jake and Johanna are also husband and wife and we followed up this band shoot with a wedding session. I love how everything from this day came out! We photographed in Visalia and all the parks were shedding leaves. It didn't look at all like California.

Glamour Kills ad in AP

2009-11-25T15:37:00.000-08:00

This ran as a two page ad in the January issue of Alternative Press. I photographed Alex Gaskarth of All Time Low during their set at the Fort Lauderdale stop of the Glamour Kills Tour. I don't think I've ever been this nervous to take a photo. They stopped playing, brought up the house lights, and I ran out on stage as Alex posed while the crowd was screaming so loud I couldn't hear myself think! Talk about a high stress work place. Thanks to Kris, Courtney, Matt, Kyle, Marky and everyone who helped make this photo happen!

If you haven't seen it, see it.

2009-11-24T08:02:00.001-08:00

Wired had this amazing making of video for The Fantastic Mr. Fox. I can't imagine what working on that film must have been like! If you haven't seen it yet, make sure you do, it's incredible!

See an Exclusive Behind-the-scenes Video from This Providence!

2009-11-20T14:14:00.001-08:00

I shot all the footage in this behind the scenes video from the This Providence for Keeping on Without You. I gave it to Luga and Christian and they polished it and made it into this jem that is now on Seventeen.com!

See an Exclusive Behind-the-scenes Video from This Providence!

Posted using ShareThis

Are you KIDDING me?!

2009-11-19T19:01:00.000-08:00

This puppy is up on Petfinder.com. He's a Cocker Spaniel Boston Terrier mix! CUTEST THING EVER OH MY SWEET GOD! I need to volunteer at a shelter or something.

Sometimes I find these things...

2009-11-18T11:48:00.000-08:00

Every once and a while I poke around on the websites and blogs of my friends. Before I know it I'm watching amazingly ridiculous videos of my friends Andy (Astronautalis) and Jacques (Bleubird)...

astronautalis mr. blessington's from alex saavedra on Vimeo.

clean yo' plate! bleubird and astronautalis celebrate thanksgiving from alex saavedra on Vimeo.

One day we'll travel and make a book about cats...

Amazing...

2009-11-16T14:29:00.001-08:00

And there you have it...

More exciting things I can't yet talk about!

2009-11-16T12:23:00.000-08:00

I was just hired to shoot a super conceptual project with an amazing band! I'm super excited, it's been in the works since way back in May, and I can't wait to see it finally come to fruition.
We're going to be building sets, using a lot of composite techniques, and some crazy lighting. I'm definitely going to be doing another behind the scenes doc for it. Just goes to show how much patience plays into the game. This will be really fun!

WTF

2009-11-13T08:50:00.001-08:00

Ok Go's new video makes me smile a ridiculous amount. I can't wait for their new album!

If Work Permits

2009-11-13T08:44:00.000-08:00

The Format- If Work Permits

So the wind that blows across your room
Carried cheap perfume onto your dresser
It rained for jewelry and for credit cards
Two tickets to a film I don't remember
One day you'll kiss your rabbits nose, pick up the phone
To find I've been turned over
And you'll grab that piece of gold
Only to find that the smell has taken over
Now all the things you had, they aren't the same...
As what you hold

I'm standing in a room,
It's filled with older folks pleading "baby listen"
And I scream as loud as anyone,
But when asked to make a point I tend to whisper
Now highways turn to tidal waves
They're asking me to export all of your insecurities
But that wind that blows across your room
It's gonna set the sails, and send me back to you

Sometimes, when sailors are sailing
They think twice, about where they're anchoring
And I think, I could make better use of my time on land
I'll drink less
'cause lord knows I could use a warm kiss
Instead of a cold goodbye
I'm writing the folks back home to tell them
"Hey I'm doing alright"

It's a shame what your father did to your brothers head
He smashed it with a telephone
And your mother got scared and locked the door
You were only four, but lord you remember it
So now you're scared of love
I'm here to tell you loves not some fucking blood on the receiver
Love is speaking in code
It's an inside joke
Love is coming home

Sometimes, when sailors are sailing
They think twice, about where they're anchoring
And I think, I could make better use of my time on land
I'll drink less
'cause lord knows I could use a warm kiss
Instead of a cold goodbye
I'm writing the folks back home to tell them
"Hey I'm doing alright"

Yeah I'm doing just fine
And if she seems as lonely as me.....
Let her sink.
Let her sink.
Let her

More fun.

2009-11-12T16:59:00.000-08:00

When I was on Warped my friend Kristine asked if I could do behind the scenes photos on this video... I am SO ridiculously bummed I was out of town. Mom you should watch this. I think you'd dig this band.

Rewards...

2009-11-12T00:24:00.000-08:00

This week is non stop meetings, phone calls, shoots, booking more shoots, shooting shows, doing interviews, interviewing for a job that I'm not sure I want as much as I need it, phone calls to agencies... I'm running on fumes. So after we interviewed and photographed The Jakes tonight, I rewarded myself by putting my camera in my bag and just watched Fun's set. No pictures, no working, just watching. I love the little things some nights. Their set was so perfect and intimate, it brought me right back to a full tank, and I'm ready to attack the rest of the week.
Hey my birthday is on Tuesday... I totally forgot. Here's my wishlist of nerdy books I guess. I also want a Boston Terrier, and a pair of Toms shoes... and... um... a hug?

Dabe had another sitting...

2009-11-11T09:49:00.000-08:00

Dabe Allen, had another sitting for his photography geek sleeve and did another time lapse. This is just so damn cool!

What a weekend...

2009-11-09T13:09:00.000-08:00

Dear Saint Motel,
Why are you so damn much fun?
Love,
Megan.

Ugh.

2009-11-09T01:55:00.000-08:00

Today nearly killed me. I just got home at 1:30am, and left the house at 6:45am to drive to Visalia.
So that roughly equals a 19 hour work day with 7 hours of it spent driving in the car. Did I mention that I did all of it on 3 hours of sleep... I would like to sleep forever, but I don't see that happening as Bassett and I have to pick up Stu Brown from Pasadena tomorrow at around 8am and take him to breakfast... Then I have to edit about a million Hide&Seek white wall photos, and somehow figure out how to spring Courtney from the GK tour so she can get away from it all for a couple hours.
I am so in need of a break from this weekend.

Maybe he's rich and I should get his number...

2009-11-07T10:52:00.000-08:00

One of the sites I used to frequent in my work procrastination was ModBlog over at BMEzine. My white ink chest piece was even featured on it once. I stopped by to check up today after not browsing it for a few months. While I find most of the tattoo work on BMEzine really beautiful, I've never ever been a fan of neck tattoos*. Necks don't usually age well, and I'm a big proponent of people getting tattoos that will look good as you skip on down that path into middle age. But this? I just don't understand why you'd get this as a tattoo. I really hope he's got one hell of a trust fund tucked away somewhere. I totally don't think people should be denied work because they have tattoos (tasteful ones of course) but I wouldn't even hire this guy to mow my lawn**!

* Let the record state (mom) I WILL NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER tattoo my face or neck!
** Let the record state that I don't have a lawn, I have a weird cement patio that extends all the way from the door to the sidewalk.

Timeline for the weekend.

2009-11-05T20:07:00.001-08:00

Saturday...
Pick up Kyle from Glamour Kills at the airport
Head to House of Blues to do some portraits for the Glamour Kills tour
Shoot as much of the show as I can
Go up the street to The Roxy for Saint Motel's Black and White homecoming show!
Go back down the street to House of Blues and find the after party
Try my best to avoid drinking anything...

Sunday
Wake up at 6 (IN THE MORNING) to drive to Visalia
Shoot promos for a duo called Fellow as well as their belated wedding photos (Awwwwww!)
Drive all the way back to LA, then to HOB in Anaheim to do live photos for Glamour Kills

SLEEEEEEEP!
Monday
Do another shoot
Take Kyle back to the airport so he can fly home to New York and tell everyone I didn't kill anyone.

Tuesday
Edit until my eyes fall out.

Behind the Scenes in Florida

2009-11-05T14:07:00.000-08:00

Here's a little time lapse I made of our Glamour Kills Clothing shoot in Florida

Hey Monday

2009-11-01T22:27:00.000-08:00

I photographed Hey Monday for Glamour Kills Clothing the other week in Florida. Here's a pretty good aftershoot screamer from their session.

Tour Managers

2009-11-01T21:22:00.000-08:00

While in Florida I had the idea to start a new portrait series. While I work mostly with bands, I wouldn't be able to do so a lot of the time if it weren't for the hardworking people who manage these bands on the road. Too often I feel that people lable tour managers as "jerks" for simply doing their job. They make a living making sure the band is all where they're supposed to be, at the venue, in the bus, as well as making sure the band gets paid and is kept safe. I've been meeting so many great tour managers lately that I feel they deserve their own series in my portfolio. In Fort Lauderdale I had the privilege to begin the series with Duncan and Courtney. Duncan was managing Hey Monday, and was cracking everyone up during our time shooting the band. Courtney on the other hand was someone I met this summer on Warped Tour while she was managing 3oh!3. Without her help there's no way the shoot with the band would have gone so smoothly. She's a badass and a fellow 6' lady, we're going to start a club or something.

Hoodies and squid

2009-10-29T09:10:00.000-07:00

We're shooting the new Hide&Seek line today! I'm so excited about all the new goodies! There's a squid shirt!! Our models are all professionals this time too, which will be awesome. One of the guys is from New York and has been in Nylon and Inked, and one of the other girls is a runway model. Taking it up a notch in Hide&Seek land!
Off to snag some snacks for the skinnies, and set up a backdrop.

I want to find this as an MP3...

2009-10-27T16:44:00.001-07:00

I love you Rivers, you crazy little man, you.

I survived Florida, All Time Low fans, and test tube shots.

2009-10-26T19:07:00.000-07:00

Bleubird!

DANGERCATS!

Friday I flew to Florida on standby (never again) with my friend and fellow photographer Kris Ross to photograph All Time Low, We the Kings, Hey Monday, and Friday Night Boys for Glamour Kills Clothing. While on the trip I met up with indie rapper Bleubird to shoot some portraits, and made fast friends with Beth, Courtney, and Cassadee AKA Dangercats. The Dangercats are the only three women holding down the Glamour Kills Tour and have created quite an intimidating gang, that I was honored to photograph. I love those ladies and can't wait to throw down with them when they make it to the left coast in a week or so.

I want a Boston Terrier

2009-10-22T11:28:00.000-07:00

I'm easily amused.

2009-10-21T23:00:00.000-07:00

Photographer Dave Shepherd made this pretty amazing time lapse of his tattoo session. I dig.

3oh!3's New Website...

2009-10-20T23:48:00.001-07:00

Those dashing gents over at 3oh!3 got a new website and there's quite a bit of my photography hiding out there. Take a look!

The Bled

2009-10-20T22:53:00.000-07:00

Today I photographed The Bled in Tucson, AZ for Rise Records. They were absolutely awesome to work with! I know I say it all the time, but they were the nicest dudes ever. Such a fun day!

Where's Megan this week?

2009-10-16T16:43:00.001-07:00

Sunday: Taking in Manchester Orchestra not once, but TWO times.
Monday-Wednesday: In Tuscon, Arizona to photograph a little band called The Bled.
Friday-Sunday: Fort Lauderdale, Florida with Mr. Kris M. Ross to photograph All Time Low, We The Kings, Hey Monday, and the Friday Night Boys for Glamour Kills. Also trying to fit in a shoot with the "Mayor" of Indie Hip-Hop, Bleubird
Best week EVER? I think so, I really do.
I'm going to be all over the country this week, and getting paid to do it! Hey Ma, look at me! I'm jet setting!

GOOD THINGS!

2009-10-15T14:47:00.000-07:00

This one's for the Los Angeles Department of Motor Vehicles!
So today during my horrid 5 hour nightmare at the LA DMV, I decided to make the most of it and enter 98.7FM's contest to win tickets to see Manchester Orchestra in a private show... over and over and over again.
Well as soon as I returned home, mixed myself a STRONG Bloody Mary, and calmed down I got a call from 98.7 that I had WON! So being stuck at the DMV proved worth the hell, as I get to see one of my favorite bands (see wrist tattoo) TWICE on Sunday! Now the only problem is deciding who I'll take with me... hmmmm....
BIG FAT WOO HOO!

Astronautalis

2009-10-14T17:42:00.000-07:00

I was super excited to get the opportunity to photograph Andy Bothwell, AKA Astronautalis, today. He's definitely one of my favorite musicians, and a super nice guy too.
We shot these at the end of my street in the rain. Andy's from Seattle, so I find it pretty amusing that he came down to sunny LA, and had a rainy shoot. But then again I get excited to even shoot with clouds in the sky, so I'm really happy with how these came out.

This Providence

2009-10-14T17:16:00.000-07:00

I had the awesome opportunity to work with This Providence after they wrapped filming on their new music video. Super super nice bunch of guys, and really funny. I wish all my shoots went this smoothly!

What a week...

2009-10-13T23:40:00.000-07:00

Published in People, photoshoot in Bakersfield, promos for This Providence, set photos for 30 Seconds to Mars, amazing shoot with Drake Bell, booked to shoot The Bled in Tuscon, photoshoot with Astronautalis, shoot for OMGEE! Magazine, and I get to FINALLY see Manchester Orchestra!
It's nice when things start to look up :)

We the Kings

2009-10-13T19:08:00.000-07:00

Finally able to release the We the Kings promos I did a few weeks ago!

This is for you Dad

2009-10-10T23:45:00.000-07:00

Today we shot a music video for This Providence (check them out!) out next to the Salton Sea. It was the worst smelling, but most beautiful location I've ever had the chance to shoot at. I snapped this while setting up lights for band promos. This place was like a painting!

Sean says, "Don't Forget"

2009-10-09T23:06:00.000-07:00

I'm thinking of making this my official stationary... what do you think?

People Magazine...

2009-10-08T20:21:00.000-07:00

My photo of 3oh!3 (above) was in the last issue of People Magazine with John Travolta on the cover! I only wish someone had let me know. I walked past it for the last week in stores with no idea my photo was inside. Now it's off the shelves, so if anyone has a copy they'd be willing to part with, I'd really appreciate it. I need it for the magazine tears section I'm working on for my site. My first tabloid haha!

Oh and Kyle took this...

2009-10-07T17:43:00.000-07:00

Kyle stole my camera during their shoot and turned it on my sunburned dirty self.

Friends is friends...

2009-10-07T17:12:00.000-07:00

In the past year I've had the opportunity to meet some really awesome new friends. Not the least of which are Kyle and David from Breathe Carolina. These guys and their crew are possibly the nicest group of guys I've ever met. I met up with them at their House of Blues show yesterday and spent the whole night catching up in a kitchen and swapping stories. I'm so happy for them and their new found sucess. Love or hate their music, they make it for all the right reasons, and have more fun on stage than most bands. I'm glad I get to call them my friends.

RIP Irving Penn

2009-10-07T14:12:00.001-07:00

There's a really great article in the New York Times about Irving Penn's life and work. I just saw his Small Trades series at the Getty this weekend and his work was truly amazing. I don't think people realize how much influence he had in today's fashion and editorial photography. Take a few minutes today to revisit his work in his memory.

Another one surfaces...

2009-10-06T12:21:00.000-07:00

This time it was on the Barnes & Nobel site...

Megan Picturetaker Blogs

Published work

Substream Cover #2!

Andy in bandannas

Busy busy...

Andy on Roller Skates...

Jaxin and Ladybird

Sorry...

For you Dad...

Cool things...

Wooo!

Jerry

Bamboozle Left!

Hey Mom, doing fine...

Astronautalis for Hide&Seek

I'm alive...

:)

Brit

Please...

T-12 hours... oh and Mandatory Monday...

Mike Prim

Reasons I'm deaf... Part 2

Reasons I'm deaf...

Hey Mom...

Special Moments with Of Mice & Men

YES YES YES YES YESSS!

Implusive purchase of the week...

Mandatory Monday...

I love you Jimmy Kimmel!

Drake Bell...

I want a dog...

Mandatory Monday...

Halvo

Maybe I'll make Mondays Mandatory...

Hide&Seek Clothing Behind the Scenes

Happy Valentines Day from Saint Motel

Bolten Inc. Interview Translated...

Julien gets a Tattoo

Hello Astronaut

Hi Mom and Dad

Soap box about weed

Saint Motel of course...

Tom Delonge

Bryant

Brittany Flickinger for OMGee Magazine

Blog-o-Tips and shit.

A valid idea...

Last Minute iTunes gift suggestions

Watch this.

Blake & Sierra

Oh Byron...

Stefan Toler

Sleepy...

Happy Birthday Andy...

Schemes...

A song for Thursday...

Greg and AJ... times three

Happy Holidays from Saint Motel

Saint Motel for the Holidays

Fellow

Glamour Kills ad in AP

If you haven't seen it, see it.

More video magic...

See an Exclusive Behind-the-scenes Video from This Providence!

Are you KIDDING me?!

Sometimes I find these things...

Amazing...

More exciting things I can't yet talk about!

WTF

If Work Permits

More fun.

Rewards...

Dabe had another sitting...

What a weekend...

Ugh.

Maybe he's rich and I should get his number...

Timeline for the weekend.

Behind the Scenes in Florida

Hey Monday

Tour Managers