Nothing is Off Limits

Photography By Nikki Neumann

Los Angeles music and portrait photographer Nikki Neumann opens up about being inspired by other creatives, capturing onstage magic, and learning how to never stop experimenting.

Los Angeles, USA

How did you begin your journey as a photographer?

I picked up my dad’s point and shoot camera when I was 13 and I couldn’t stop taking photos. I would take it on dog walks with my mom taking photos of grass and snails, having the time of my life. From then on I always had a camera with me. I started the freelance journey, going full time in 2019.

What have you learned along the way?

Never stop experimenting, to me that’s what makes taking photos exciting. Trying out new techniques or new film is always a delight when it reallyyy works out.

How would you describe your style? What makes your perspective unique and different?

Experimental, colorful, dreamy. I like playing around with different textures and seeing what happens in the images. I like taking the approach of childlike wonder. Nothing is off limits.

Your work primarily focuses on live music and musician portraits. How did you start shooting music? Why does it inspire you?

I was obsessed with music growing up. In high school, I would come home every day and log onto my dad’s computer and hunt for new music. I couldn’t get enough of it. My love of photography and music were growing together simultaneously. I started finding live shows in my tiny hometown of Santa Rosa shooting there and then graduated to shooting shows in San Francisco once I got to college. When I got approved for my first show that had a proper photo pit, I actually couldn’t believe I had pulled it off. I was so excited.

There’s a certain magic up there. The energy on stage is like nothing else. I felt so passionate about capturing it, so I could show people and remember those unique moments forever.

What is a typical shoot like? What is your process from start to finish?

I first schedule a call and get to know the artist I’m working with a little bit better. What their intentions behind creating music is, where they feel like they are creatively, what their vision is or how we can create that vision together. Creating a moodboard usually helps to get my ideas flowing and make sure we’re on the same page. Then find a location. I love working with locations that the artist has a connection to in some way, whether it be their living room or studio. Then the shoot day. I feel like these days are always so fun making magic together. Then the post-processing comes. Then send em off!

Tell the story behind one of your favorite images.

The first image that I took that felt like an iconic photo was of Kristen from The Shivas. I had just moved to Los Angeles and Kristin was in town so we decided to do a shoot together. I brought her over to my in home studio and we just starting shooting different looks. It was a pretty casual shoot, maybe shot for 45 minutes. A few days later when I was going thru and editing the photos, I came across this one photo that just stopped me in my tracks. It had this timeless quality to it, it’s still one of my favorite photos i’ve taken to this day.

You live in Los Angeles, California. How does the city inspire your art?

I don’t think I’m inspired by the city very much, but rather the creatives in the city. Seeing people that live here, having a vision for their life and their creative pursuits, fully devoting their life to see it through and let it encompass their life is really inspiring. Seeing other people do it, inspires me to dive deeper into my own creative practice and really develop the ideas that might be “too much” somewhere else.

What is the music scene like in Los Angeles? Who are some up and coming bands we should check out?

It’s been a really fun scene to be a part of while i’ve gotten to know LA. There are so many different pockets in it. I love meeting new people and being introduced into their corner of the music scene. I’ve been really into the East Los Angeles soul revival. The Altons, Thee Sinseers, Bobby Orza, Brainstory, plus some others.

Which music scene, other than Los Angeles, would you want to document?

I am curious about New York City. I haven’t really tapped into that side of the music world yet.

What are some joys and what are some struggles you've come across as a music photographer?

Co-creating with different artists is so rewarding. I love being a part of the creation process with them. Shooting on the Desert Daze photo team has definitely been a highlight. When I moved to LA in 2019 I made it a goal to get on the team and it happened in 2021.

The struggles been finding consistent gigs, it feels so sporadic at times. I’ve been working on planting more seeds and casting my net wider.

If you could tell 10 year old Nikki anything, what would it be?

Listen to that voice in your head, the one that got you interested in art, the one that told you - you needed to be an artist, the one that told you the weird the better. Listen to that source and keep being you, because pretty soon the world is going to try to condition you into being “normal”.

What's next for you?

I’ve been dreaming up some projects. I’ve been wanting to do a risograph photo zine for yearsss. I think it’s time I actually start my personal projects haha.