For any music lover, concert photography is truly an irreplaceable art form. Meet Ayami Kawashima, a passionate music enthusiast who took a bold leap of faith, leaving her day job to pursue a career as a full-time freelance photographer. Her creative work spans a wide range of fields, from art and film to welfare and concert photography.
In this interview, we delve into her journey within the music industry, exploring her beginnings, what it takes to take a perfect shot, and the influences that shape her vision. Join us as Ayami Kawashima offers us a glimpse into a world that only few have the privilege to experience.
ー First of all, thank you so much for the opportunity to interview you! Would you mind introducing yourself?
I am Ayami Kawashima and I am a photographer. I am quite nervous as it’s my first time getting interviewed, but thank you for having me (laughs).
ー Thank you! (laughs) To start from the very beginning, can you tell us how your career as a photographer began?
The main catalyst to becoming a professional photographer was meeting my mentor, Hajime Kato. I originally worked for a company unrelated to photography, but I was interested in live music photography and often told friends and acquaintances about my desire to pursue it and that’s how I got introduced to Mr. Kato. He primarily works in fields such as art, welfare, and architecture, but at the time we met he was photographing live performances for various visual kei bands.
Mr. Kato is someone who treats everyone equally ...You often hear that in typical photography based mentor-apprentice relationships, assistants aren’t allowed to take pictures, but he wasn’t like that and from the very beginning he encouraged me to join him at photoshoots and shoot together. Because of that, I got used to the work environment quite quickly. After each shoot, he always gave me passionate feedback, which helped me establish core values that guide me in my work.
Eventually, he trusted me with his concert photography jobs, and fortunately others also began asking me, "Can you take photos for us?". This led me to go freelance and officially launch my photography career.
ー Were you interested in photography since you were a child?
I got interested in photography when I was in university. I attended an art university and was a design major.. When working on graphic design projects, I needed photographic materials and that’s when I first started using a DSLR. During my time at the university I took many photos.
ー Do you still remember your first experience shooting concert photography?
Looking back, the real beginning of my journey into concert photography started with my university graduation project. The university I attended encouraged self-expression and didn't restrict us to just our major’s field, so we had a lot of freedom to create whatever we wanted. So for my project I made the bold decision to organize an outdoor live music event (laughs). Music has always been a huge part of my life, and when I thought about how to express my love for music in my project, I realized that hosting a live music event, especially outdoors, would be the best way to convey my relationship to music. At the event I didn’t take the photos myself; I asked friends and attendees to capture moments throughout the day. In the end, I compiled everything into a book and booklet; from the preparations leading up to the event to the day of the performances. Through that process, I began to understand the importance of photography, the excitement of concert photography, and the value of capturing moments. It made me want to try taking pictures of live performances myself. From there I started taking concert photography for the artists who performed at my event. So, my very first experience photographing live music was with the performers at the event I had organized. That’s where it all began.
– Working in a field that has a special place in your heart sounds amazing! But it must be very difficult and a lot of pressure to shoot concert photography. Isn't it quite an unpredictable environment? With constantly changing lighting and moving audiences. How do you deal with those unpredictable moments?
It’s difficult to explain, but I tend to rely more on my instinct rather than on my mind. I think that concert photography is all about the experience, so it’s crucial to just keep shooting as much as possible. In the beginning I made a lot of mistakes—like overexposed or completely black shots. Those frustrating experiences led me to where I am today. The ability to react quickly is something that comes from intuition, so I think it’s really about taking as many shots as you can and getting used to all sorts of different situations.
ー Are there things that you can prepare in advance or do you have to adapt at the moment?
As for something you can prepare in advance, making sure you have quick-response equipment that performs well in low-light conditions. There are so many moments during a live show that are impossible to fully anticipate. Having gear that can keep up with that fast-paced, instinctual timing, and suits your personal style is key.
ー I see!
My mentor used to say “As long as it’s captured in some form, it’s OK”. While photography requires technical aspects like angles and lighting balance, he also taught me that the most important thing is capturing the moment, no matter how. Live music photography involves a huge amount of pressure, and me being someone who tends to get nervous easily, his words became kind of a talisman for me to overcome that pressure.
ー What great words of encouragement! Thank you for sharing. I find that concert photography is so important for music fans...For those who couldn't attend the show, the photos provide a glimpse into what the concert was like, and for those who were there, they become cherished memories. Do you ever receive any feedback or comments from the fans of the artist you work with?
I don't often have the chance to receive feedback directly, but sometimes I receive some feedback through DM’s and I am very grateful for them. However, out of respect for the artists, I tend to avoid engaging too much, so I usually don’t reply. But whenever I receive comments from fans, I always feel truly happy and thankful reading them.
ー Is there any feedback that you still remember to this day?
Let me see…I’m especially thrilled when people compliment the overall atmosphere rather than just the beauty of the artists' expressions. I always strive to capture the feeling and energy of the entire venue, so when someone says, "This captures the essence of the band; this is the very atmosphere of the band," it makes me really happy.
ー And do you receive any feedback from the artists themselves?
From visual kei artists I do sometimes receive concrete feedback. Usually during regular live shows, we don’t discuss photos in detail, but I had the opportunity to work on a live tour photo book for ΛrlequiΩ. I joined them on their 19-show tour, and after each performance, we would set aside some time to decide together on a solo shot of each member. We would sit down and look at the photos together, discussing which one to select for that day and I could learn about each member's favorite photos and the styles they preferred. Since for visual kei bands branding and their worldviews are extremely important, hearing directly about their vision for how they want to be portrayed taught me a lot.
rather than imposing my vision onto the artists, I aspire to be a photographer who understands the artists vision and brings out their best qualities.
ー That’s true, visual kei artists do have quite strong branding and a certain image. How do you balance your own creative vision with the public image of the artists? Do you ever feel restricted in that aspect?
In the beginning, I sometimes felt constrained by balancing superficial aspects, like the artists' looks and the live performance's atmosphere. However, after years of shooting, I've learned that there are definitely moments during a live show where everything aligns perfectly—both the artist’s appearance and the energy. Since I've started aiming for that ultimate shot every time, I feel less constrained. That said, capturing that one perfect image is still quite challenging, and I often find myself feeling down and feeling critical towards myself afterward. Also, rather than imposing my vision onto the artists, I aspire to be a photographer who understands the artists vision and brings out their best qualities. I want to collaboratively discover the band’s strengths and unique characteristics through photography.
ー Thank you for sharing! Another thing I wanted to ask you is: what was the most challenging period in your career so far, and how did you overcome it?
One of my most memorable experiences was when I was the official photographer at "MUJINTO cinema CAMP", a film festival where you can watch movies on a deserted island, organized by a friend. At the time, I was still a company employee, before going freelance. A wide shot I took there received a lot of praise and was very well-received. That photo was used in various media outlets, and I even heard that some people purchased tickets for the next event just because of it. That success experience boosted my confidence, and that particular photo became the starting point that made me want to pursue photography more seriously.
ー That surely made you very happy!
I’ll send you that picture later, but it was taken from quite a high spot. Many people contributed to capturing it - they brought over a large ladder and supported me as I took the shot. It was a collaborative effort and having that photo so well-received made me even happier.
Ayami Kawashima: This is a wide-angle photograph of the event I mentioned as my most memorable experience
ー It’s so amazing that this photo made others even want to come to the next event. Can you tell us about a time in your career you struggled the most?
I generally always enjoy my work, so it’s difficult to pinpoint a particular time where I struggled a lot. However, not long ago I had the opportunity to do on-set photography for a film and drama production. It involved early mornings and late nights every day. Since it was winter, there were long outdoor shoots in the cold, to the point that for the first time in my life I even experienced stomach pain from being so cold (laughs). It was physically demanding. But despite that, being able to see the actors deliver their lines and perform without trembling, as well as the work of the lighting and camera departments and other professionals working at the forefront of various fields - it was an inspiring experience.
For this project, I was responsible for all kinds of photos related to the production including scene photos, promotional photos, live shots, and behind-the-scenes images. For the promotional photos in particular, I took a wide range of photos to suit the project's image, including family portraits used within scenes, artist shots, poster and merchandise photos, and publicity stills. I’d never been part of a project that involved taking so many different kinds of photos for one job, so it was a big challenge. Although it was tough, it turned out to be a valuable experience that helped me take a step forward in my career.
— So you overcame the hardships by enjoying the process!
Yes, from the start of filming to the wrap, it felt like a marathon, and I had a strong sense of accomplishment from seeing it through to the end. It was a project that gave me an incredible sense of achievement.
ー If you had to start your entire career all over again from the beginning, is there anything you would change? Something you wished you've done or something you are regretting?
Right... My time as a company employee was a valuable experience in its own way, but I sometimes think it would have been better if I had pursued photography a little earlier, or if I had gained more photography experience at a younger age. However, I was fortunate to build good relationships during my time as a company employee, and even now, some of those people now ask me to take pictures, which has helped expand my career. But yes, I do sometimes think it would have been nice to start a bit sooner.
It's advice you hear a lot, but if you have a goal or dream, it's best to just tell everyone around you about it
ー I am sure that many people have a dream of becoming a photographer. What kind of process and approach do you think are necessary to achieve your goals and dreams?
It's advice you hear a lot, but if you have a goal or dream, it's best to just tell everyone around you about it (laughs). By telling things, they start to connect naturally. While skills are important in photography, I believe you gain those with experience over time. What matters most is how well you can network and how many opportunities you can seize.
ー That’s amazing advice! Back when you still worked an office job, did you also tell people a lot about your goals?
Yes, I mentioned it here and there, telling people “I want to take pictures”. I would also post concert photography on my social media in my free time. I think that may have helped people take notice of me.
ー Speaking of dreams, do you currently have a dream?
My current dream…well, since photography is all about connections with people, I want to continue meeting new people, getting requests for different projects and capturing moments in people’s lives….to the point that eventually I’d be asked to take people’s memorial portraits (laughs). I hope to continue to build these kinds of lasting relationships through photography. As for a more immediate goal, the live event I organized long ago has become a part of identity and when I feel discouraged, I often think back to it. One day, I secretly hope to create a space like that again, a place where I can meet people I care about and share meaningful moments.
ー That’s a wonderful dream! By the way, what kind of music do you like to listen to outside of work?
I listen to all kinds of music, but I've always liked Japanese rock artists from the 90s and 2000s, as well as some older rock from the 60s and 70s. I especially like genres like indie rock and garage rock. My favorite artist is Chiba Yusuke, and I love the band Thee Michelle Gun Elephant. Their frontman, Chiba Yusuke, has been involved in various band activities, and I've followed all of them and attended their live shows. Chiba is definitely my favorite artist. By the way, I'm wearing his merch right now! (laughs and stands up to show her t-shirt) It's Chiba's!
ー Ooooh, that’s a cool design!
Right? It's so cool! I love the photographer who took this picture.
ー Would you also want to take photographs for your favorite artists? For example their merch or even live performances?
Yes, of course I would like to. But as Chiba Yusuke passed away last year, that dream won’t come true unfortunately…But there are other artists I love, so if I ever get a chance, I would love to meet them. But I would probably be very nervous (laughs). I wonder if I even would be able to do my job properly? I would have to get my act together (laughs).
ー That’s probably the most difficult part (laughs).
Right…people are split on this, aren't they? There are people who want to meet their favorite artists, while there are also those who don't want to.
ー Ah, that’s true!
If it comes to meeting them in private, I think I’d prefer not to, but for work, if there is an opportunity…I’d love to.
ー I can imagine it’s difficult to hold a camera when your hands are shaking out of excitement…(laughs)
Right, I am pretty sure I would be extremely nervous (laughs).
ー But on the other hand, if it’s your favorite artist you probably also know their best angles well!
Ah, that’s true! Indeed!
ー Like, “If I shoot from this angle, then it will come out best…”
There is definitely such a thing as a fan perspective….so I would like to do it someday. I actually had an opportunity to work with a favorite artist of mine in the past, and I did take those pictures from a fan perspective. It was so much fun! (laugh)
I think that during a photo shoot I am the person who has the most fun...(laughs)
ー That’s amazing! The next question will be the last main one, but what would you say is the biggest reason why you’re doing what you’re doing?
I guess because I am the person who can find enjoyment in everything. I think that during a photo shoot I am the person who has the most fun...(laughs)
ー Ah I can totally imagine! Talking to you, I had that impression as well (laughs)
Yeah (laughs). I love creating things with other people, so I think a big part of it is my ability to have fun and find excitement in everything.
ー That’s a great answer, thank you so much! If you don’t mind, I would like to do a small speed round Q&A with you! No need to explain your answer, just try to answer intuitively, no need to think long about the questions! Are you ready? :)
Yes! (laughs)
ー Your favorite camera brand?
NIKON!
ー Concert shoot or studio shoot?
Concert shoot!
ー Morning or evening shoot?
Morning!
ー Natural light or studio light?
Natural light!
ー Digital or analog?
(thinking) That’s a difficult one…I guess digital? … No, if it comes to what I like more it would be analog (laughs)
ー Favorite editing software?
That would be LIGHT ROOM!
ー The atmosphere before or after the concert?
Before!
ー If you weren’t a photographer, what would you do?
I would be….working in planning business!
ー What do you do on your days off?
On my days off…I just relax with my cat.
ー That’s it!! Thank you so much (laughs)!
Thank you! (laughs)
Interview & Translation: Olga Mazlina
Photographs: Ayami Kawashima
To find out more about Ayami Kawashima, check out her social media:
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