Austen Risolvato likes people and invariably loves their personalities through her lens. Capturing the unique essence of every individual she photographs begins with an almost intuitive understanding of their emotions and passions. The interpretation echoes in the images as if each photograph had a voice to its story.

This is her story: While studying photography at Savannah College of Art and Design, Austen had the occasion (some might call it an opportunity, others might call it a caper) to run off with a multi-platinum selling rock band and capture their images, along with some of their stories, which she has never told, and never will.

That was ten years and 100,000 road miles and dozens of musicians ago. Like many of the artists she has photographed, Austen also started in garages – those of the local bands she began shooting at age 14 in Atlanta. She was smitten – not as much with the bands, but with the shots. She began to see her own emotions and passions in the moments when the images looked like the music that was being made and played.

Austen chose not to return to art school, but rather to study her craft via a curriculum fueled by resourcefulness, steady experience, and belief in her interpretative eye. She also studied under, assisted and archived for David LaChapelle in his Los Angeles studio. She can see, source and shoot the inimitable, and after all, aren’t we all inimitable?

Austen moved to Los Angeles at age 19, where she currently lives. She has been the official tour photographer for numerous multi-platinum artists, including 311, Daughtry, and the All-American Rejects. She has also toured with Porcelain Black, Sugarcult, Zebrahead and Zack Hexum. Over the years, Austen has also photographed many other artists including: Travis Barker, Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, New Kids on the Block, Bon Jovi, No Doubt, Green Day, Snoop Dogg, Better than Ezra, Bush, Bone Thugs N Harmony, Res, Hoobastank, Incubus, and more.

From live shows, to promotional photos, endorsement ads and album covers, Risolvato recognizes the split second to document. She also understands the pinnacle moments within the choreography and lighting in a live show, yet calls on those visions for album and promotional shots, acknowledging that these are the moments of magic that resonate with the fans.

As much as Risolvato admires the musicians, their musical instruments admire her lens, posing with an attitude of precision and relationship to the player, as if they are … well, instruments of art. For this reason, Risolvato’s photos have often been sought for endorsement ads among the likes of Paul Reed Smith Guitars and GHS Strings and appearing in such publications as GUITARPlayer, GUITAR World, BASS Player, BASS Japan, DRUM Japan, and BASS Guitar, among others.

Risolvato respects the artists, management, stylists, crews and others involved in musical career development. Discretion is among her skills and services.

 

Of all of our inventions for mass communication, pictures still speak the most universally understood language.  -Walt Disney