capturing our connection to the music through the lyrics
Fan Portraits is a black and white portrait collection of fans dedicated to the music, and the lyrics that mean the most to them. Our goal is to capture the connection to the music that we all have and share, while documenting the passionate fan bases of various music communities.
We take photos of fans at concerts to document the avid, passionate concert-goers. To make each portrait personalized, you write down your favorite lyrics. We provide the paper and markers, but feel free to get creative and bring a sign with you. We post updates on our social media accounts of which concerts we will be attending and details of where we will be taking Fan Portraits.
Many musicians remember a certain song or lyric that has helped them along their journey and had an impact on their life, leading them to where they are today.
Musicians remember and know what it’s like to be a fan – that feeling of how much a band, song, and lyric can mean to us.
If you’re passionate about music, you can’t help but let the music you love shape you. The music you listen to helps you define yourself and make sense of the people and world around you. It can give you a sense of belonging. It becomes a part of who you are. The music you choose to care about can say a lot about you – what you value, what you believe in, what you stand for.
We sing along with lyrics that have deep emotional resonance for us. We sing our lungs out to songs that have guided us through dark days or give us hope for a brighter tomorrow. We sing along cathartically to songs we have used to cope with great loss in our lives. We sing elatedly along with songs that have brought us great joy. We sing along with lyrics that articulate how we’ve always felt.
What is Music Fan Portraits?
Music Fan Portraits is a black and white portrait collection of dedicated Pearl Jam fans with lyrics that mean the most to them.
We started this project in 2012 to document and capture our dedicated, passionate and awesome fan base. To do this, we came up with the idea of capturing fans with their favorite lyrics.
DO I HAVE TO BRING MY OWN SIGN WITH ME?
We provide the paper and markers, but you’re encouraged to get creative! Make your own sign and bring it with you if you’d like.
How Does it work?
You write down your favorite lyric (or the lyric that is most meaningful to you or the lyric that you’re really connecting with right now – whatever it may be!) on a sheet of paper, and we take your picture to capture your connection to this lyric and song. After the tour, we post the photos right here on our website and you can order a print.
WHERE DO I GET MY PORTRAIT TAKEN?
Before the shows I announce on my social media accounts where and what time I will be taking Fan Portraits. Usually in the afternoon and near the venue entrance. Often before a tour, I take advance sign-ups to accommodate the demand.
WHAT’S THE BOOK ABOUT?
There’s a couple books in the pipeline. First, we’re working on the Pearl Jam Fan Portraits book as we’ve captured hundreds of Pearl Jam fans over the last few years. We’re now creating a book to beautifully show the collection of photos documenting the Pearl Jam community and fan base.