Jeremy Charles Photography + Design

I shoot lots of bands – it’s my favorite subject. From whimsical to just plain disturbing, here’s a monster post of backlogged band promo shots from the past several months with a bit of story behind them.

Let’s get the creepiest one off the table. This is bro/sis electronic duo Stevedore. Their music, which is marked by retro synths and drum machines, really has nothing in common with these shots. But Jeff thought “parity,” and I went along. We constructed a set with found objects from the warehouse, the key being the sweet absynthe dispenser. I think we nailed the worm-wooded mentality. I should tell you about the ‘magic shop’ with the surgical table and other hospital accoutrements. Oh, and live doves. But i won’t.

Above and below is rock band Eric and the Adams. Eric Himan brought bro/sis duo (again?) on drums(Angela) and bass (Jimmy) to fill and add a rougher edge to his sound. It’s working. They are touring their buns off.

The young kids are full of energy and style and can pretty much be talked into anything. So I thought, ‘let’s handle some raw beef’.  The modern pop punk rock band Head Over Hills gladly obliged. Below, it’s carnivores vs. herbivores.

We held all kinds of fun meat themed events such as “taunt the bulldog” and “meat ball” which has the same rules as wall ball, but the meat doesn’t bounce.

Also, there were “Balls Here.” Just FYI.

Let’s see. You want something less offensive and/or wrong? Below is one of my favorite new bands Crocodile. I was in their hometown (Oklahoma City) shooting several assignments.  We met up for a quickie, but it was a good one, and we’ve become friends since. A fantabulous new shoot is in the works. The first shot below can be seen in this months’ Oklahoma Magazine.

Below is one of my favorites from a shoot with the Christian rock band Skyline Circle.

The band below is called Redwood Rising.

You tired of this long post yet? Too bad. Below is another quick shoot for the band Wighead. Good times at the wig store.

Refuse Thy Name (below) is hard rock which is always a fun time for me. There is  an endless palette of decay around here. Right after we took this shot, we had to leave in a hurry – there was a cantankerous man with a gun (supposedly) threatening us, who was in retrospect really just trying to get some money.  Not only was my life threatened, but I got a TERRIBLE case of the poison ivies. It was worth it.

See that shot below left? I was standing in poison ivy. Ya, it sucked.

Next is William Joseph Band. That’s  Mr. Joseph on the right. I somehow keep finding new abandoned buildings to invade for photoshoots. This one was particularly sweet with a beat up old  piano, old paper documents and books, and a collapsed ceiling that emitted awesome soft light. Great for a polaroid. This is actually scanned polaroid, not photoshop.

Good times with the polaroid and accidents can end up being pretty compelling. Left is a 4x multiple exposure, right is me totally messing up loading the film. Northern Lights.

Above is William and Nicholae, of William Joseph Band. TTFN, Ta Ta For Now.