Today we’d like to introduce you to Jade Alex.
Hi Jade, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
In 2015, two things happened at once: I started going to concerts, and I was gifted a camera. I did a few portrait shoots at first, but I quickly realized I loved being at concerts more than anything. When I was 17, I snuck my camera into a festival in my hometown of Shreveport, Louisiana and that was it. I was hooked. I loved every part of it.
Soon after, I began shooting small local shows in bars around Shreveport, even though I was technically too young to be there. By early 2017, I was traveling to Dallas, Fort Worth, and Denton almost every weekend to photograph shows. I dropped out of high school and earned my GED early so I could focus on shooting full-time. During that period, I photographed portraits, a couple of weddings, and just about anything else that could help me make a little money.
In late 2017, I was diagnosed with Level 1 Autism Spectrum Disorder — and suddenly, so many things started to make sense. Why the thought of craft styrofoam made my skin crawl. Why strobe lights at concerts bothered me so much. Why I always preferred the seclusion of the photo pit to the chaos of the crowd. Why I had been selectively mute as a child. Why eye contact felt unbearable.
By mid-2018, I officially moved to Denton to truly pursue this career. I left behind everyone I knew. Every family member and friend left in the dust to chase what many would call a pipe dream. And I’ve been chasing it ever since.
I won’t pretend it’s always been easy. There have been times when, because of being on the spectrum, I’ve had to cancel shoots due to burnout — moments when I simply couldn’t pull myself out of bed without breaking down. Financially, concert photography isn’t exactly sustainable. Sometimes I wonder if I made the wrong choice. But then I get *that* shot. or I find myself photographing one of my favorite artists like Latto, Sabrina Carpenter, Chunk! No, Captain Chunk!, SPITE, or Kesha, and something inside me flutters.
That’s when I remember why I started in the first place: to create. It was never about the money. It was always about creation — and it still is.
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 absolutely hasn’t been a smooth road. My two biggest struggles have definitely been the financial aspect and navigating a hidden disability in such a loud, chaotic industry.
I collect vintage toys as a fun hobby, and when I’m out thrifting, I’ll sometimes pick up toy lines I don’t personally collect and resell them online to help make ends meet. I also DoorDash on the side. It is possible to make a living from concert photography, but it’s hard. Lately, I’ve been trying to branch out into other areas like restaurant and food photography, or family portraits — things that tend to pay a little more consistently.
Being on the Autism spectrum isn’t easy. I’m not ashamed of it, and in many ways, it allows me to hyper-focus on my craft, but it does come with challenges. The strobe lights at concerts can be overstimulating, so I’ll close my eyes and look away when they start flashing. I wear earplugs not just while bands or artists are playing (which everyone should do! protect your hearing!), but also between sets, because the chatter of hundreds or thousands of people can also be overstimulating.
Sometimes, communication can be tricky if instructions aren’t given in a very direct way. I’ll never forget one time in 2019, I was borderline yelled at and got an eye roll because I didn’t fully understand what I was being told to do and I ended up doing it wrong. Experiences like that stick with you.
I’ve even had full-on meltdowns while touring because of the exhaustion. Once, in 2019, somewhere between Tennessee and Pennsylvania, everything hit me at once. Being cramped in a tiny van, the constant work, the lack of familiarity. We stopped at a CVS, and the bright fluorescent lights just pushed me over the edge. I ran into the bathroom and completely broke down. One of the band members came to check on me, and I’ll never forget that. A lot of people would have just brushed it off or gotten annoyed, but he didn’t. And that small act of kindness meant so much.
So no, it hasn’t been a smooth road. But I’m still here. And I’m still trying my best.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I specialize in live concert photography. A lot of people have taken notice of how my photos have an almost hazy effect on them and will even ask how I achieved it. And the truth is, I simply do not know. I have thousands of Lightroom presets that I’ve created over the years and I build on top of those, tweaking them, and just end up creating a new preset. My creative process is pick a preset and throw things at the wall until it sticks. I also have very bright and vibrant tones. I love a blue highlight and a yellow shadow.
I think what sets me apart from others is the fact that I *am* Autistic. It has its pros and cons. I have very sharp eye and I pay attention to detail. I love music, I have my own music project that I do on the side, and my intuition is extremely powerful, so I just *know* when the vocalist is about to jump in the air. I know when the bassist is going to swing their bass around their neck. I know exactly when to hit the shutter button when a guitarist is head-banging to get a flattering angle. I know exactly when a drummer is going to hit a cymbal, so I position my wide-angle lens inches away from that very cymbal. I just *know* when I’m about to capture an incredible moment.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
My aunt, Marilyn Miller gifted me that first camera, so without her I would not be where I am.
The first bands to ever take me on tour were Unity-TX, Be//gotten, and Catbamboo, so I specifically would like to thank them.
I have a deep love for Be//gotten. They’ve trusted me with almost all of their live visuals since 2019 and they hold a very special place in my heart. They’ve always advocated for me and cheered me on.
I’d also like to shoutout Gracefails, Ella Red, AeroLife Shows, Dispositions, Kord, Leno Lavish, Penny Bored, Third & Delaware, SPITE and Bodysnatcher for always believing in me and trusting me with a camera.
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