I Photographed Dave Matthews Band DMB As A Professional Concert Photographer

Dave Matthews Band In Concert At Riverbend Music Center June 2018

Professional Concert Photographer

I am currently in my 4th year as a professional concert photographer in Dayton, Cincinnati, and Columbus. Two weeks ago I accomplished one of my bucket list items.  After months of emails and work, I got approved by DMB’s awesome public relations team to photograph the Dave Matthews Band in concert 2018 at Riverbend Music Center on behalf of CityBeat Cincinnati.

I wanted to publish these concert images starting the night of the concert, June 7, 2018, but the photo release I signed forbade this.  Written permission to post these photos followed.  I would rather ask the P.R. people for permission than get in trouble with them. CityBeat published many of these images (legally) the day after the show as they were allowed to.

What Made Photographing Dave Matthews Band In Concert 2018 So Special

This is my 20th year seeing Dave Matthews Band and my 18th time seeing them live. I never thought that I would get to photograph my favorite band. Not only did I do this, I did it from the pit. This means that I was mere feet away from my favorite singer ever. This was a career highlight for me!

Dave Matthews Band Concert Riverbend Music Center 2019

Dave Matthews Band 2019 version played another sold-out concert at Cincinnati’s Riverbend Music Center. As a long-time fan, this show was awesome. It was so great to be able to photograph it as well! It is so cool being a concert photographer!

I have been a loyal fan for 21 years and try not to miss a local appearance.  Never did I think I’d get to photograph the band, and here I am photographing them for the second time.  I always take 15-30 seconds, put my camera down, and remember how lucky I am to do what I do.  Knowing DMB’s catalog inside and out allows me to anticipate the members’ moves and positions.  I can then place myself in the most likely spot in front of the stage.  As they reach the spot in the song, Dave breaks into dancing, and I am there to capture it.  Success!

Will Dave Matthews Band 2019 be the last time I photograph them?  We’ll see!  I have a good relationship with my publication, the band’s publicist, and the local concert venues.  With concert photography, maintaining relationships is essential, even though I work for free.  Here’s to another great concert season!  Thanks, DMB.

2022 Nutter Center Concert Featuring Dave Matthews Band

In November 2022, I accomplished a photography goal of mine. I photographed the Dave Matthews Band concert in Dayton at the Wright State University E.J. Nutter Center. This concert venue has been my hometown place for concerts since it first opened. Since 1998, I have been a huge fan. So on this night, both things came together. I can’t believe I got to photograph the Dave Matthews Band concert in Dayton!

I have photographed DMB 3 times before and Dave Matthews solo once before. This was the most meaningful concert I have ever photographed due to the band and the venue. Wright State’s Nutter Center is a great, easy place to see a concert. I photographed this concert for Cincinnati CityBeat, one of two publications I shoot for. Then, you can check out my other live music photography.

Ervin J. Nutter Center: The Premier Event Destination in Dayton, Ohio

Welcome to the Ervin J. Nutter Center, where unforgettable events come to life in the heart of Dayton, Ohio. As a premier event destination, the Nutter Center has been captivating audiences and hosting exceptional occasions since its inception.

The Nutter Center boasts impressive architecture and state-of-the-art facilities. It sets the stage for a variety of events. These range from thrilling sporting competitions to world-class concerts and everything in between. Its versatile design allows for seamless transformation. It can accommodate intimate gatherings or grand spectacles. This ensures a captivating experience for both performers and attendees.

Conveniently located in the Miami Valley, the Nutter Center is within reach of locals and visitors alike. Its central location makes it an ideal destination for a day out. It’s also perfect for an evening of entertainment, with easy access to nearby attractions, restaurants, and hotels.

Whether you’re a sports enthusiast, a music lover, or simply seeking a memorable experience, the Ervin J. Nutter Center is the place where exceptional events become extraordinary moments. Join us for an upcoming event and discover why the Nutter Center is Dayton’s premier event destination.
The Ervin J. Nutter Center: Where unforgettable memories are made.

Dave Matthews Band Concert At Riverbend Music Center 2023

In May 2023 I photographed Dave Matthews Band for the fifth time (and Dave Matthews for the sixth time). This was again at Riverbend Music Center in eastern Cincinnati, Ohio. I am a freelance concert photographer for CityBeat who credentialed me for this show. I take a moment at every concert to think about how lucky I am to photograph some of the world’s biggest musicians. Check out my photos below and on CityBeat.com.

Riverbend Music Center is an ideal outdoor concert venue situated between I-275 and the Ohio River. It has decent acoustics and a synthetic lawn for those fans who can’t get into a pavilion seat. At one point during the show, lead singer and the band’s namesake, Dave Matthews, commented that he likes Riverbend because it doesn’t look like the other places they play.

The band is currently made up of lead singer Dave Matthews, drummer Carter Beauford, keyboard player Buddy Strong, bass guitar Stefan Lessard, electric guitar Tim Reynolds, horns Rashawn Ross, and saxophone Jeff Coffin. The band played a mix of old and new as they always do. One of the best things about a DMB concert is the varied playlists. They craft a unique setlist for every show, unlike Taylor Swift. This was my 30th DMB concert since August 8, 1998, my first show. I still get excited every time I see this band!

Since 1990 DMB has been my favorite band, so in 2018 when I first got to photograph them, I was ecstatic. I am still grateful each time I have been able to photograph the band. I have an email relationship with the publicist, and I clear all photographs with her for personal use. It is a great honor to shoot them.

I Photographed Dave Matthews Band Ruoff Music Center 2024

During my 10th year as a concert photographer based in Dayton, Ohio, I finally photographed a concert at Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville, Indiana.  I got approved to shoot Dave Matthews Band (sixth time) for Cincinnati CityBeat.  DMB has been my favorite music group since August 8, 1998, so photographing them is an amazing thrill.  My first of 25 DMB shows was at this venue (Deercreek Amphitheatre), so shooting this show was extra special.

Industry Standard Concert Photography

Industry-standard concert photography is shooting the first three songs.  Each time I shoot DMB, I am limited to two songs.  Knowing every song in their catalog, I believe the two-song limit is due to the majority of their songs being longer than other artists’ music.  For this show, the first song was Grey Street, and the second was #41.  These are two of my absolute favorite songs and are amazing in concert.  I took 30 seconds during the show to just take everything in.  I was 5 feet from Dave Matthews singing one of my favorite songs.  Wow.

The staff at Ruoff Music Center was great to work with.  Email communication was great leading up to the show.  One nice perk of shooting there is up close parking in the employee parking lot.  No other venue I’ve ever worked at has provided a designated parking lot.  The only exception was when Taylor Swift’s people provided free parking at PayCor Stadium in Cincinnati.

A Special Thanks

I want to thank Dave Matthews Band’s public relations staff for always allowing me to post my DMB photos. The photo release prohibits photographers from sharing images on their own social media or their own website.  Because DMB has been my favorite for nearly 3 decades, I wanted to get written permission from the band.  I never disclose my contacts because I worked hard to find and maintain those relationships.  So, thanks again DMB & management!

Dave Matthews Band Ruoff Music Center 2025

For the second time, I photographed Dave Matthews Band at Ruoff Music Center near Indianapolis, Indiana. Again, I freelanced for Cincinnati CityBeat, a great arts and entertainment publication in Cincinnati, Ohio.