Meet Sean Day | Music & Fashion Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sean Day and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sean, other than deciding to work for yourself, what else do you think played a pivotal role in your story?
Honestly, just going for it. The most important decision I’ve ever made was just jumping myself into the industry. I was just young enough to not have second guess myself into becoming a photographer. It’ll be ten years this year and I have zero regrets about it.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I literally just jumped right into it. I woke up one day and said “I’m going to become a music photographer!” So I looked up local shows and asked a band if I could shoot their gig. They gave me a free shirt as a thank you. My brother stole it from me but at least he can still fit into it. There were so many challenges. Most of it was me thinking I was a great photographer when I indeed was not. And once I became decent everything became so oversaturated that it became hard to stand out. It turned to who you know instead of what you know. Which taught me to network as much as possible! Even if that means just mentioning your occupation lightly too. someone. You never know what happens next. Worked for me!
Challenges can be personal life too. Not a lot of people knew I lived in a rough neighborhood growing up. I remember photographing a show knowing that once I get home my power is still out. I had moments where my depression was bigger than everything. My clients would ask if I’m okay and I would lie and say yes, knowing darn well that I didn’t want to be alive anymore. But thats a whole separate story.
So I don’t know if this sets me apart of everybody but over the years I became super influenced by everything 90s! The fashion, the marketing, the advertising, everything! So I try to put that into my work today.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
So I’m kind of the worse person to ask this because I can never find set locations. I was such a homebody growing up that I still don’t know where a lot of cool spots are in my hometown. I’m from Cleveland, Ohio so in the summer I do like going downtown for portraits! I love doing high fashion in urban cities. Lakewood, Ohio is also a great spot. I like going to a lot of shows and they have beautiful venues up there. Shoutout to Mahalls/The Roxy!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My mom definitely deserves credit. She raised me and my siblings into music. It’s to the point where literally all day I would think about a full album just to get through the day. I learned years later that taking pictures of concerts was a thing and I was like “I can do that???” and that turned into “I’m going to do that!”

Instagram: seanoday

Other: Website coming soon!

Image Credits
Zak as Harry Styles Snoop Dogg Boston Manor You Me At Six Eric From Heart Attack Man June Bug