Author Archives: annaleemedia

BEST OF 32

Posted by annaleemedia in Best Of | Concert | Personal - (6 Comments)

Welcome to my “virtual” art show!

STORY TIME: Once upon a time (5 years ago), I decided to start an annual “Best Of” blog post series to share on my birthday. It contains 100 of my favorite photos taken over the last year. Today is not my birthday, so I’m a bit late, because I was on tour on February 18th this year. But here we are as promised!

It’s a huge undertaking to review an entire year’s worth of photo catalogues, and then to narrow all of those images down to 100 (from tens of thousands!) which I have chosen to represent my 32nd year. I commit to this each year, mostly a promise to myself – to reflect on every place photography has taken me, the people it’s brought into my life, and to celebrate the creative career I’m blessed to have.

During my 32nd year, I spent about 150 days on tour, took more than 20 flights, shot 10 weddings, worked with tons of new and old client-friends, and shot about 100k (yes, k) photos. Like the previous year, this was one of my biggest pivots yet into music photography, having spent more time shooting artists and shows (upwards of 150) than anything else.

The 100 photos in this collection represent an endlessly deep catalogue of content. These photos were selected for either the aesthetic, the beauty, the feeling, the memory, the moment, or any combination of these intangible reasons they stand out in my mind. I just like them okay?? There’s also some bonus video content at the end of this post – a recap I shot and edited from tour.

This round-up was particularly nostalgic to put together given the times. Reflecting on the freedom to gather as humans, for celebration and collaboration is bittersweet. It’s wild to think I LITERALLY got to travel the world right before that became indefinitely impossible, and I am SO grateful for that. If our paths intersected anytime during this last year (at a concert, wedding, photo shoot, etc), I hope these memories bring you joy.

If you have time (and I know you do right now, because… coronavirus), I would love for you to check out the past years’ “Best Of” posts as well – it’s quite a trip for me. The links are below, or you can select “Categories” from the navigation bar, and click “Best Of”.

Best of 31 | Best of 30 | Best of 29 | Best of 28 | Best of 27

Side note: I also launched a greeting card brand last year – Whatever Forever Press. Check it out for sassy & relatable cards and more. Also keep an eye out for some new quarantine-themed goodies to keep in touch with friends during this time! Follow on social here: @wtvrfvr.

As always, thank you SO much for following along in any capacity and supporting me as you do! If you have a favorite image from any of the “Best Of” posts, let me know in the blog comments or on social media!

Website: www.annaleemedia.com
Instagram: @annaleemedia
Twitter: @annaleemedia
Facebook: Anna Lee Photography


We survived the worst of the cold, by evidence of the photos below in the next portion of my Walk The Moon tour photo journal! Still joined by our friends in Bear Hands, here is part 2 of the headline tour shows, spanning Virginia back to Tennessee. Enjoy!?

Find Part 1 here.

Anna Lee is a Los Angeles-based music and tour photographer.
Website: www.annaleemedia.com
Instagram: @annaleemedia
Twitter: @annaleemedia
Facebook: Anna Lee Photography

This year I was reunited with my dudes in Walk The Moon for their first headline tour of 2019. Did you know that Canada is cold in January? It is. I have photo evidence of this. Along with photo evidence of many amazing shows, backstage shenanigans, and several birthdays. Like, so many birthdays. (Including my own first tour birthday!) We also had the pleasure of being joined by our friends, Bear Hands, as the opening band!

Below is part 1 of the headline tour photo journal, spanning Tennessee to Maryland. Enjoy!

Anna Lee is a Los Angeles-based music and tour photographer.
Website: www.annaleemedia.com
Instagram: @annaleemedia
Twitter: @annaleemedia
Facebook: Anna Lee Photography

BEST OF 31

Posted by annaleemedia in Best Of | Personal - (0 Comments)

Welcome to the 5th annual installment of my birthday blog post roundup! Below are a selection of 100 of my favorite photos (and a video) from 31.

Thirty-one was officially the “Year of Tour” for me. During 31, I was traveling 239 days, and 164 of those were on tour. I worked once again with The Struts, MisterWives and Walk The Moon, and went out for the first time with Joywave and Gavin DeGraw. Among the headline tours, I also had the opportunity to support Foo Fighters (check out the recap video at the end of this post) and Thirty Seconds to Mars with these artists. #ALMfancam also turned 4 years old!

Thirty-one also saw (and shot) several dear friends getting married, two moves in LA, and a re-up on the blue hair. While I wasn’t on tour, I traveled to several places I’d never been before- from the desert to Hawaii.

These annual “year in review” posts have been a really fun way to chronicle my life over the last 5 years, so if you’d like to check out past round-ups:
Best of 30 | Best of 29 | Best of 28 | Best of 27

As always, thank you SO much for following along in any capacity and supporting me as you do!

Website: www.annaleemedia.com
Instagram: @annaleemedia
Twitter: @annaleemedia
Facebook: Anna Lee Photography


Right photo by Rachel Martin


^ Photo by Matty Vogel


^ Photo by Matty Vogel


^ Photo by Rachel Martin

Following our April run with the Foo Fighters, The Struts did a month of headlining shows across the US (supported by The Glorious Sons and Spirit Animal). There’s a lot more photos to come from my summer adventures with these guys! Check back for highlights from our residency at The Roxy in West Hollywood, more Foo Fighters shows, and Part 2 of the summer headline shows.

Ain’t no party like a Struts party. Summer Headliner Recap Video | Episode 1:

Anna Lee is a Los Angeles-based music and tour photographer.
Website: www.annaleemedia.com
Instagram: @annaleemedia
Twitter: @annaleemedia
Facebook: Anna Lee Photography

I’ve spent much of my 2018 with The Struts, for what has turned into quite an amazing year and experience. This summer, the guys continued their run supporting the legendary Foo Fighters.

During the Foo’s set, Luke came on stage to cover “Under Pressure” with Taylor Hawkins, while Dave Grohl hopped on the drums. Almost every night following that performance, Dave blew us away with generous compliments about The Struts proclaimed to thousands of people every night. Check out my tour recap video below for an interview with Luke, and a peek into that experience.

This post covers the weeks we spent with them in April in the Southern US, before starting a month-long tour of our own headliners (stay tuned for those photos in the next post).

Anna Lee is a Los Angeles-based music and tour photographer.
Website: www.annaleemedia.com
Facebook: Anna Lee Photography
Instagram: @annaleemedia
Twitter: @annaleemedia

JOYWAVE | 30STM Monolith Tour 2018

Posted by annaleemedia in Tour - (0 Comments)

This summer on the Monolith Tour, I also had the pleasure of working with Joywave. Any amount of time with them is not enough. Amazing people, and they may or may not play more than one song in their set. Because they do whatever the hell they want.

Anna Lee is a Los Angeles-based music and tour photographer.
Website: www.annaleemedia.com
Facebook: Anna Lee Photography
Instagram: @annaleemedia
Twitter: @annaleemedia

MISTERWIVES | Monolith Tour 2018

Posted by annaleemedia in Tour - (0 Comments)

I never know what to expect going into each tour, and I certainly can never guess which ones will be the most amazing and meaningful. The live set is always at the center of everything, but what you can never account for is the incredible and specific chemistry that each bill of bands produces backstage and on the road. It’s the memories that only those on the tour get to take away. With MisterWives we had the pleasure of supporting 30 Seconds To Mars along with Joywave and Walk The Moon, so there were quite a few new and long-time friends on this tour for me!

Here are just some of my favorite images of MisterWives on the Monolith Tour this summer. At the end of this post are some of my images of WTM and 30STM. And check back soon for a full Joywave post!

MISTERWIVES:

WALK THE MOON:

30 SECONDS TO MARS:

Anna Lee is a Los Angeles-based music and tour photographer.
Website: www.annaleemedia.com
Facebook: Anna Lee Photography
Instagram: @annaleemedia
Twitter: @annaleemedia

The Night Game supported by The Band Camino at El Rey in Los Angeles. I’m so impressed by both of these bands and got completely lost in this show. Didn’t know what to expect, but was blown away! The Band Camino gives me all the feels, and I highly recommend seeing TNG live if you have the chance. Vibe city.

The Band Camino:

The Night Game:

Anna Lee is a Los Angeles-based music and tour photographer.
Website: www.annaleemedia.com
Facebook: Anna Lee Photography
Instagram: @annaleemedia
Twitter: @annaleemedia

My first time seeing these two thanks to my buddy/TM Ryan. Was blown away by both, and can’t wait to see what’s in the pipe for Ms. Chelsea!

Chelsea Cutler:

Quinn XCII:

Anna Lee is a Los Angeles-based music and tour photographer.
Website: www.annaleemedia.com
Facebook: Anna Lee Photography
Instagram: @annaleemedia
Twitter: @annaleemedia