Not sure this qualifies, but…

I’m a pretty low-tier, nobody photographer. I base my success on IG likes. I’ve got a few model collabs that have gone into the hundred or very rarely thousands, but typically anything north of 30 is a good day. So with that intro…

I had a met and greet with Alice Cooper that included the opportunity to tour his stage set before the show and take photos with some of his props for which you were permitted to bring your own camera, no restrictions. I’m sure the intention was cell phones but also allowing point and shoots and such, but I brought the big boy. The tour happened and then we had to go back through the line to get into the show. Nobody in security batted an eye, so I walked right in with my full rig.

Ended up shooting the show and later on, both Alice and Nita Strauss shared a couple of my images that did 17K likes.

Got to photograph Big Noon Kickoff Show at my college campus a couple years back. I told them it was for a school project but they thought it was for the campus newspaper. I corrected them once but not sure if they heard me because they kept referring me as a reporter for the newspaper.

On the day of shoot. (I reached out earlier that week) I saw photogs from the newspaper there but they didn’t have much access as I did that day.

I was taking photographs at a Halloween party in my hometown and Steve Harris of Iron Maiden approached me and started asking about my camera because it was film - was some kind of Minolta remembering rightly. Years went by and I passed a message by a friend from Steve Harris if I would come and photograph his side project band down the road… I got paid £50 cash and had to hand over a £70 drive… but then a call came through months later to ask if I’d like to join Iron Maiden in a photo position on the book of souls world tour 2016. I went to China and Japan with the band and whilst I am a Carpenter full time always appear on their tours and have just got back from their Future Past Tour! Very lucky

20+ years ago I brought my cameras to a show in Vegas. Outdoor venue. Cocky me was like “I’m press” and got a press pass, backstage etc.

Best part? I met a girl, she was a huge fan of one of the bands, and after their gig, I walked her to the back, they were chill and took a group pic with her.

17 year old me had game, what happened?

I somehow managed to get myself allowed to photograph these wildfire ruins with these safety supervisors permission. I was primarily going around them and never even asked to go into the burnt forest part, but these guys saw me carting all my stuff around and asked me what I was doing. I explained I’m doing a photo series on wildfires and their aftermath to advocate for more attention to climate change and such. They liked the idea, asked if I wanted to go into the area somewhat to get wide photos and closeup of ashes, etc. (couldn’t go too far in because there still might be embers which is why they were there). They were super nice, just said they hoped it worked out well for me and I got into a gallery lol

Idk who they were personally, but if I get this into a gallery, I will definitely be dedicating it to them

Im just a hobby person, but I chase fire scenes and take pictures of them. One time we were out getting something from the store and I just look to my left and see a huge black plume of smoke less then a mile from us. So we started over there and managed to catch the fire in the early stage, not too many units on scene yet. It was in a junkyard filled with immobile RVs and cars and god knows what in there, homeless inhabitated it. But we were no less then a 100’ from some pretty huge flames, and some small explosions. Got to see them put it all out and watch the sunset as it cascaded over the scene, arguably one of the best fires ive been on. There were a lot of people around and where we were the fire was going away from us so no one was kicking us out, such a fun time.

I always said in the day that a 400 2.8 lens on a monopod hanging over my shoulder, and another body and lens on the other shoulder, was an instant press pass. I walked into a few football games and right down to the field without anyone questioning me. I don’t think that would work for NFL, but it works for the lower leagues sometimes.

I didn’t have my camera with me for this but it inspired me to start doing some sneaky shenanigans with my gear since.

I was visiting Toronto for a week last year for a concert and decided to walk to Budweiser Stage from the opposite side of the city so I ended up at the venue like 4 hours early. They must have thought that I was a vendor but it was great because I was was able to watch the artist warm up for ~45 minutes before the head security person figured out I wasn’t supposed to be there. I was still allowed to hang around the event inside but just not by the stage. I got some free food and merch from helping some vendors set up since I had nothing else to do for a few hours.

Because of that I have started doing some light googling prior to going into buildings/events and printing out some fake buisness cards/press passes for news stations, advertising agencies, parent companies and more. The combination of that and a cheap safety vest has given me access to photograph a bunch of interesting places. If you plan to do this please be respectful, if you are asked to leave or are figured out just cooperate and leave quietly without making a scene. Also know that you may not be able to get back into the event even as a paying customer depending on the security personnel.

Many years ago at the SXSW festival in Austin, TX a few colleagues and I won tickets to a BigBoi concert from Pepsi or something.

We got ready but we’re delayed getting to the venue. So by the time we got there everyone was already admitted. But we checked in at the wrong gate and we’re at the PRESS check in. Well just so happened that we worked for Reuters but not in a journalistic capacity. I just proclaimed…”Oh, we’re with Reuters” they asked for credentials, I asked if a business card word suffice. They looked at each other and said yes and let us in. There we were front row with our crappy cell phone cameras in the press pit!

Inside the arena at a rodeo, with the bull riding going on and everything. What a rush to climb up a fence with a massive animal charging at you and a 1k camera lens in your hands.

All the people who do Urban Exploration are like “You guys get permission?”

Tutankhamens tomb in 2004

Court side to the Tennis Shanghai Open, no tickets, no credentials, nothing. Just walked right into into welding a big lens and a “fuck off, I’m working face”

Area 51

Private event with the Stanley Cup. It was assumed I was with the local newspaper until someone asked me how so and so was doing in the sports section and I had to admit I didn’t know them