Audio X Visual

Shows

Artists

Portland music scene metal hardcore local photographer and photo community nilas photography

Amity Affliction

Roseland Theater (roselandpdx.com)

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Metal enthusiast plays guitar in the dark and smoky pacific northwest woods

Armand Nour

Metal enthusiast, fellow photographer, and great friend.

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Music has always been about connection.

Music has been a source of connection, healing, identity, and community for most of my life.

Shooting with musicians has always felt chill; a little artist-artist connection is always rewarding. Especially when there's an opportunity to chat, swap stories, and meet a person veiled by the performer. Plus, collecting a new portrait while getting a press-pass and enjoying a night-out while collecting for my portfolio is always like a piece of candy; that I can't deny. I'd shoot shows as often as my body would allow if not for a lack of personal time.

But there's something I didn't expect when I started chasing bands as a hobby.

Getting a camera between myself and the stage added something different to the photo/music relationship.

There’s something alive about being close enough to photograph the performance, then turning around and seeing a room full of people screaming their hearts out or stomping circles and leaning on complete strangers. When I point the camera toward that crowd, I love the looks people give back. they’re trying to send some piece of that excitement toward the artists they came to see.

That energy is worth photographing. Especially in a world that is becoming more and more disconnected.

Then add the potential for my studio or off-site. Put a musician in the studio, give us an idea to chase, and suddenly photography becomes considerably less about standing correctly in front of a camera and considerably more about making something together.

Whether somebody lives in front of cameras or would rather avoid them entirely, I know how to turn the pressure down and get us creating.

Having my camera around musicians still makes me feel electric.

Connecting with musicians will almost always make my day.

Book + Contact

Book me or get on my radar.

Shows

Due to very limited time and bountiful responsibilities, I can't take on a ton of trade work. I typically only trade-shoot when the stars align and I can get ahold of a band I love that's travelling through at a convenient time. However, I can always attend if I'm available and it becomes a paid gig! I typically work out a custom rate for shows, so just say hello. I can also provide better options when you pair it with portraits or a concept shoot.

Portraits or artistic session

Portraits can be captured backstage, around the neighborhood, or at my fully-equipped professional studio in SE Portland, Oregon.

(it's actually right by Aladdin if you're travelling through)

I can accomplish portrait sessions in extremely limited time on tour, plan out a day, a concept, or even art projects un-associated with portraits of the musician at all.

A little more

Once we've established a goal, I can provide clairvoyance, pathway, and possibilities. I also like to remind musicians that I can summon an entire creative community in Portland, Oregon. So whether you need portraits or a production, I would speak to you with confidence and say you can put faith in us for larger tasks than portraits. Speak your visual interests, I'd love to guide their acquisition.

You can explore portrait pricing below. For everything else, just start by saying hello.

Portrait Info + Contact

A Few Things Worth Mentioning

The crowd is part of the show.

I’m absolutely photographing the artist, but I’m watching the room too.

Fans, movement, hands in the air, ridiculous expressions, quiet moments, and the connection between both sides of the barricade can tell as much of the story as the person holding the microphone.

You don’t have to know how to pose.

Especially for artist portraits.

Bring the band. Bring an idea. Bring references if you have them.

Or show up with absolutely no idea what to do with your hands.

We’ll figure it out.

The studio is ours.

Nilas Photography operates from Cobalt Studios PDX in Southeast Portland.

That gives us professional lighting, a cyclorama, backgrounds, room for full bands, props, sets, and considerably stranger ideas when appropriate.

If the photographs belong somewhere else, we’ll go there.

The life around the music counts too.

Bandmates. Crew. Family. Friends. Load-in. Green room. Walking around the neighborhood before the show.

Not everything has to look like a press photo.

Sometimes the photographs people care about later are the ones documenting what being there actually felt like.

Music Specific FAQ

Do you photograph live concerts?

Absolutely.

I photograph individual artists, full bills, venues, and event coverage depending on access and the needs of the project.

Tell me who you are, where you’re playing, when the show is, and what you need photographed.

Can we book band or artist portraits without a show?

Yep.

Studio artist portraits, promotional photography, conceptual sessions, album or release-related imagery, and more straightforward band photographs are all welcome.

We can work at Cobalt Studios or find a location that fits what you’re making.

Can you help us come up with the concept?

Definitely.

You can arrive with a complete visual direction or basically nothing.

Music gives us a useful starting point. We can pull from the sound, artwork, themes, wardrobe, locations, lighting, references, or the general visual world surrounding the project and build from there.

Do you work with smaller or independent bands?

Absolutely.

Paid projects are prioritized, but I try to make room for independent artists and smaller bands when schedules and budgets allow.

Send me the details and we’ll see what makes sense.

Do you still do collaborative / TFP music projects?

Not often, but occasionally.

Those depend on availability, the artist or music, the idea, and whether the project gives us an interesting reason to create something together.

For anything date-sensitive or something you specifically need delivered, booking a paid session is the way to guarantee the project.

If you absolutely can't afford a session, I don't mind a soft request or invitation to a show. I wish I had time for every show, but I'll be grinding my ass off for career and family for the foreseeable future. At the very least, I can inform a community member of your needs. I can also, sometimes, offer custom rates for fledgling bands/musicians who truly lack needed start-up support when my schedule allows.

General FAQ