When Mei Okabe was handed a camera to take some photos at university, she had no idea it would completely change the course of her life. What began as a simple favor quickly grew into a deep passion for photography, leading her to take a bold leap of faith from a stable path into the world of concert photography.
Today, you can find her at concerts for artists across genres, capturing lively shots that make you feel like you\u2019re right there in the crowd. But how did it all start? What sacrifices did it take to be where she is now? And what\u2019s it like being a woman in a still mostly male-dominated field?
Join us for a conversation about the risks, the rewards, and what it really takes to chase a creative dream!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014<\/strong> Thank you so much for this opportunity to interview you! To start off, can you tell us about yourself?<\/strong> There wasn\u2019t one clear moment when I thought, \u2018This is it!\u2019, but what really pulled me in, little by little, was simply how much I enjoyed capturing those fleeting moments of one-of-a-kind live shows. In fact, I\u2019ve had many moments during shoots where I felt, \u2018This is exactly what I want to do!\u2019. Each time, those moments made me want to turn photography into my career even more. I think I started seriously considering it as a real career once I began getting properly paid for my photography.<\/p>\n\n\n
Thank you for reaching out to me! \nI was born and raised in Tokyo. From elementary to middle school I was into kabuki, so I guess you could say I was a bit of a weird kid. I used to go see kabuki plays by myself twice a month. In junior high, I played Japanese taiko drums; in high school, I was a soccer team manager; and in university I joined the university music club. I spent my days without really following any consistent path.\u2028\u2028
\u2014 And now you are working as concert photographer! Was there a moment where you knew that this is what you want to do?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n