Behind the Lens with Cara Kealy

It’s often a rarity that you’ll find someone that can so effortlessly capture small intimate moments of a bigger picture. But for our friend Cara, it’s second nature. Earlier this year Cara hit the road with Arcy Drive as they embarked on their first tour abroad capturing their life on the road. After seeing the photos from the tour, the team downstairs grew ever more curious about life on tour, stories behind the photos and what it’s like to be a music photographer. So we asked Cara some questions and she was kind enough to give us some answers. Thank you, Cara.

What drew you into music photography?

The reason I picked up a camera in the first place was due to finding Nirrimi Hakanson’s work back when I was 13, when she was only 14. Something about her work spoke to me, I can’t explain why. I loved the softness to her work mixed with a grittiness and how she brought out a wide eyed, almost fairy-like feel to the subjects she shot. There’s a sense of calm and wanderlust she manages to capture in people. When I look back over my work I can see just how much her photography influenced the way I shoot today. I seem to seek out the softness and intimacy in someone, juxtaposing it to the chaos when shooting on tour.

How I got into music specifically was during university my close friend started dating a musician - we all became friends. We ended up skipping lectures to join him on tour and taking my camera along to document what was happening around us felt like second nature. I fell in love with capturing the late nights, the pre show anxiety, the post show party, the travelling to and from venues squished up in a car looking out at the new cities we were passing through. I unintentionally built up a portfolio and coincidentally, the week after I graduated I was offered my first paid gig. I thought to myself “you can get PAID to do this?!” I guess it was never an intention for this whole thing to end up as it has..I ended up here because I just love taking photos (and I have no idea what plan B would be).

How did you connect with the Arcy Drive crew?

I had an Instagram DM from their manager (shout out Lou!). From what I could see, we had no mutual connections which made me think it was a spam message. This job relies so strongly on recommendations and I very rarely have a cold job. We jumped on a group FaceTime a month or so before they hit the road to say hey and talk through what they were after for their tour content (and I guess suss the vibe from both sides?!) Turns out someone over in America had passed my name on when Lou was scouting for U.K. based tour photographers.

Do any shows in particular stand out from the tour?

It has to be the London Headline. The crowd was electric, singing every word. It was the crowd the band deserved. Everyone in that room was beaming from ear to ear.

One memory that stands out from the tour?

You can’t make me pick just one?! To name a few..Nick climbing the venue rig in Southampton during their set, Brooke and Austin speaking in an English accent for 95% of tour, lasering Pat’s face into pints of Guinness, sharing endless stories in the van travelling city to city, exploring an abandoned building somewhere up north and the views at the top of Conic Hill, Loch Lomond in Scotland.

Was there a favorite piece of UK culture or slang you shared with the band?

We picked up seaside fish and chips before their set in Brighton. I’m not sure how sold they were on the mushy peas or curry sauce..

Favorite camera to use on tour?

I have a little vintage camcorder which I bought off Ebay for £40. I didn’t think much of it when picking it up but the camera quickly became a key piece of kit for me on tours. It’s such a non-invasive piece of gear which weighs nothing and you can always have it over your shoulder for capturing little off the cuff moments. It almost works like a point and shoot for me, with no need to worry about changing settings etc. I have hours of footage on the memory card, some of which is forgotten about until after the tour when I’m putting together a recap video. With it being so affordable, I’m less precious about it getting knocked around in mosh pits or taking it out when the weather isn’t working in our favour. It’s also a million times lighter than my main camera set up which is always a plus when walking around a city pre show.

If you can sum the tour up in 3 photos what photos would you choose?

1) There’s a shot backstage in Southampton of Nick doing a handstand with Brooke, Pat and Austin’s reaction in the background. I think it showcases them all so well.

2) The film shot of the band running down the Scottish hills barefoot, happy, sun glowing behind them, looking out over Lake Lomond at golden hour.

3) The photo of the band climbing up a watch tower in Winchester, looking like they’re in the Stand by me movie. Thinking about it now.. there’s a lot of photos of them climbing anything and everything including a roadside tower during stand still traffic somewhere on the motorway.

Now pick the photo you’re most proud of?

Honestly I can never pick just one photo from a whole tour (sorry?!) however I’d like to think I captured their first U.K. run pretty representative to them as a band. I try to shoot as off the cuff, fly on the wall as possible simply because when I see tour photography I love feeling like I’m there in the dressing room, van, hotel rooms, experiencing little moments you’d only know about if you were there. They really are just four friends with a love for life who frickin’ love music, experiencing this mad music world together. It was a really great tour to be a little part of.

Dream band to go on tour with?

The tour I’m leaving for in two days is with an Irish four piece rock band called Florence Road who I adore working with. They’re actually supporting one of my favourite artists, Wolf Alice. I very rarely get star struck but I think it may happen this time around..

Do you have any advice for someone looking to shoot shows or musicians?

Music/tour specific…. understand that the trust and privacy you have between yourself and the artist is more important than getting the shot. This industry is exhausting, exciting, stressful, overwhelming, filled with early starts and late nights with beautiful movie-like moments all mashed into one experience you live together for a stint of time. With how crazy it all is, sometimes the last thing someone needs is a camera in their face. Being able to read the room is so vital.

Have fun, be kind, have a seamless hard drive filing system for backing up shots from every show (trust me), always wear all black (music photographer specific) and remember to celebrate your little wins and find little moments of calm to be present and take it all in :)

More about Cara below:

• Instagram - @cara.kealy

• Website - www.carakealy.com

You can also find more of Cara’s photos in Basement Demos: Arcy Drive UK/Ireland Tour ‘25 -a collaborative project between artist and publisher that ventures beyond the walls of the basement.