Personal Photographer

From 2016 - 2018, I was the personal photographer for Def Jam/Mass Appeal Recording Artist Dave East. I took my first shots of Dave East well before we officially met. On February 10, 2016 he performed at Webster Hall in New York City. My wife Sarah and I arrived right as he was entering the building. We crossed paths and greeted each other with a head nod. We followed right behind him and a few other people he had arrived with as if we were already a part of the entourage. It was a foretelling entrance. Normally I bring my camera to venues, but I wasn’t familiar with Webster Hall policy so I left it at home. During “No Coachella For Me,” Dave East jumped into the crowd (see video below). Without hesitation, I started recording using my cellphone as he performed surrounded by concert-goers in the standing room only venue. Shortly after the show I posted the clip to my Instagram. He later reposted my clip on his Instagram. Less than a week later, on February 16, 2016 he had a show at SOB’s in New York City. I know that venue pretty well. They have a photographer friendly camera policy. I took pics of his performance (this picture is from that night) then hustled home to edit and posted on my Instagram. Shortly after, one of his former managers, Profit, sent me a message asking for any additional shots that I may have taken that night. I sent him a few more, some of which Dave East posted. After that, I would pop up at events where Dave East was scheduled to appear and follow the same process: shoot, hustle home, edit, and send to Profit. I repeated that process for most of the year without Dave East knowing or remembering who I was. In October 2016, Profit invited me to his own birthday event. That was when I was introduced and officially met Dave East. In November 2016, I was invited to the studio. Some of what transpired during my tenure is below.