I Photograph Concerts At The Rose Music Center In Dayton Ohio

Photographing Concerts At The Best Concert Venue In Dayton

Photographing shows at the Rose Music Center At The Heights in Huber Heights Ohio is a blast. First, the management trusts the photographers to do the right thing. At some venues, we have a handler for every second of the time we are at the venue. At Rose, we rarely ever see a handler. We know our assignments and where we can shoot from. We don’t stray from this, and they treat us like adults. It is a win-win situation. Seeing or shooting a Rose Music Center concert is always a pleasure. The parking area attached to the venue is free. Worried about rain? Don’t be! The entire seating area is covered.

The Earth Wind And Fire Concert 2022

In July 2022 I photographed the Earth Wind And Fire concert at Rose Music Center in Huber Heights Ohio. Their live sound and the number of musicians on stage was impressive. The Rose Music Center is the perfect outdoor live music venue in Dayton, and I love photographing concerts there. I was on a freelance assignment from CincyMusic.com which published my concert photos.

Although Earth, Wind, and Fire isn’t a band I listen to, I had the privilege to photograph their 2022 show. The concert at Huber Heights’ Rose Music Center was packed. I consider Rose Music Center as my home venue for outdoor concerts. It is always a pleasure to photograph a concert there. Shooting this energetic 2022 show was a blast. Thanks to CincyMusic.com for allowing me to shoot for them.

Earth, Wind, and Fire

Step into a world where music becomes a divine force, captivating generations with its electrifying energy and enchanting melodies.

Additionally, from the vibrant streets of Chicago, Earth, Wind, and Fire emerged in the 1970s, brought together by a shared passion for transcending the boundaries of conventional music. Their groundbreaking sound seamlessly fused elements of jazz, funk, disco, pop, rock, and gospel, resulting in an extraordinary sonic landscape that defied categorization.

Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Earth, Wind, and Fire’s legacy continues to shine brightly, their influence firmly embedded in the DNA of modern music. With their magnetic charisma, undeniable talent, and unyielding dedication, they ignited a fire that still burns in the hearts of millions today.
Lastly, surrender to the groove, immerse yourself in the rhythm, and let Earth, Wind, and Fire ignite the sparks within your soul.

Santana In Concert At The Rose Music Center In Huber Heights Ohio

In the summer of 2023, I photographed Santana in concert at the Rose Music Center, a band made up of Carlos Santana and other world-class musicians. The band puts out what I can only describe as a wall of music. The number of different instruments combine with Carlos’s amazing guitar playing to create beautiful music. The music is so good that was difficult for me to concentrate on photographing them. I just got too into the music.

Santana In Concert At The Rose Music Center – Time To Redeem Myself

Before I became a professional live music photographer, I saw Santana perform at Fraze Pavilion in Kettering. I always said that if they ever came back to town, I would try to photograph them. I had such a great time photographing them this summer, 2023. This time I was a concert photographer, but next time, I’ll get a ticket and attend the show as a fan.

Carlos Santana: A Guitar Legend

From the very beginning, Santana possessed a natural affinity for music. His journey toward greatness began when he first picked up a guitar at the tender age of eight. Little did the world know that this humble beginning would pave the way for a life full of groundbreaking musical achievements.

Carlos Santana’s distinctive sound is marked by powerful riffs, melodic solos, and a fusion of rock, jazz, blues, and Latin influences. Effortlessly blending West African rhythms with fiery, incendiary guitar playing, he created a signature style that is instantly recognizable and undeniably Santana.

Today, Carlos Santana remains an icon, reminding us all that music has the power to heal, uplift, and transform lives. As he takes the stage, Santana’s electrifying presence and soul-stirring guitar melodies transport us to another realm, where the universal language of music reigns supreme.

Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit 2024

On a beautiful September summer night, I finally photographed Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit.  This concert took place at Huber Heights Ohio’s Rose Music Center.  We have been seeing Jason for several years, and this was the first time I have been approved to photograph him.  I love his musical sound as well as his powerful lyrics.  As a professional concert photographer based in Dayton, Ohio, this was a must-do concert for me.

Having seen them several times, I knew the stage setup and the band’s movements.  I also know every song including guitar solos.  This allowed me to anticipate where Jason would be at various times throughout the first three songs.  Moving between stage right, stage left, and front of the house (soundboard) gave me several angles from which to shoot.  Of course, I always prefer to shoot from the pit, but often we are not permitted to do so.

We learned ahead of time that it was a pit shoot. Upon arrival, the tour manager told us we could go anywhere except the pit. We couldn’t block anyone’s view. I stood stage right and stage left beside six-foot-tall speakers, shooting from an extreme side angle. Although it was frustrating then, I realized I was still photographing the band. I take a few seconds at each concert to feel that appreciation.

Anticipating Change

Being a live music photographer has one major challenge for me.  Most people would cite lighting, crowds, or other things as the most difficult.  I find that having a change in shooting position is the biggest challenge.  It annoys us when organizers say we can shoot from the pit but then change it to the soundboard. For some, this is really bad news.  People who don’t bring the proper equipment for both a pit shoot and a soundboard shoot can be out of luck during a last-minute location change.

Luckily, I have photographed weddings since 2007, so I am always prepared for last-second changes.  I show up at every wedding and concert with backup equipment.  For concerts specifically, I bring wide-angle, medium-zoom, and large-zoom lenses.  When others are scrambling for a solution to shooting 200 feet from the band, I pull out my large zoom, and I am ready to shoot!  Lastly, I prepare to help reduce stress at the event. I can then enjoy the experience of live music photography even more.

LIVE In Concert At The Rose Music Center At The Heights 2019

ALT Imate Concert Tour With Bush

September 4, 2019, Our Lady Peace opened for Bush and LIVE in concert at The Rose Music Center At The Heights in Huber Heights, Ohio. The show was nearly sold out, and the crowd was in a collective great mood. Here are a few images of Live on stage for the Dayton area audience. It was a great concert on a cool summer evening. Thanks to CincyMusic.com for allowing me to shoot for them! It is so cool being a concert photographer!

LIVE In Concert

I had high hopes for all three groups at this show.  Live was the only group that I thought failed to meet expectations.  They were really good years ago when touring with Counting Crows.  I just felt this show lacked some pizzaz.

Shawn Mendes Concert At 2015 – My First Concert Photography Experience Ever

Photographing concerts in Dayton, Cincinnati, and Columbus had been a dream of mine for years. Since 1993, concerts have been a huge part of my life. I love using my iPhone to capture photos as an audience member, so getting a media pass was the next step. In 2015, I made my concert photography dream come true.

For the Shawn Mendes concert 2015, he played the brand new Rose Music Center At The Heights in Huber Heights Ohio. Months before the show, I worked my way into CincyMusic.com to get a media pass. A few days prior to the show, I was granted credentials to photograph Shawn Mendes!

Photographing Shawn Mendes Concert 2015

The night of the show, I arrived with my equipment and picked up my pass from Will Call. I greeted the other photographers and the management of The Rose. We then made our way into the concert venue and down to the pit. I couldn’t believe I was about to photograph my first real concert.

I expected a large setup including amplifiers, drums, lights, and more. What I found was a Shawn Mendes banner, a guitar, and a stool. This was not exactly the big show I expected. Shawn came out to a sold-out crowd of young screaming girls, and we were off and running. I was able to shoot the industry standard 3 songs, and I captured what I thought were amazing concert photos.

As with so many things in life, the more you do, the more you get to do. Shooting these shows ultimately led to dozens more concerts, so far as well as a second publication to shoot for.

One thing I always notice with newly popular acts is how plain and boring their instruments are. The guitar in the photos below is probably nothing like what he is playing in 2023. The more popular an artist gets, the nicer the equipment they can afford.

Brit Floyd’s Sold Out Concerts Rose Music Center 2016 2017 2018

Brit Floyd Concert Photos 2018

Tonight, May 11, 2018, was the opening night of Rose Music Center At The Heights’ fourth concert season.  The season opened to a 100% sold-out crowd on an 85-degree day with the best Pink Floyd tribute band. Brit Floyd’s sold-out 2018 show was amazing, even for a non-Pink Fkoyd fan.  For the past two years, in addition to this year, I photographed this Dayton area concert on behalf of the band.  This was a great way to start my 2018 Dayton concert photography season.

The Rose Music Center At The Heights in Huber Heights, Ohio, is the best outdoor concert venue in the Dayton, Ohio area.  This 4200-seat outdoor amphitheater is situated on I-70 just 3 miles east of I-75 and Vandalia.  Since 2015, this awesome concert spot has hosted dozens of bands, singers, dance shows, and more.  As a Dayton and Cincinnati concert photographer, I love photographing concerts at The Rose Music Center.  In addition to a beautiful venue, there is free parking, a fully covered seating area, a VIP area, friendly staff, and more.  Check out The Rose Music Center website for the list of Dayton concerts! It is so cool being a concert photographer!

Professional Dayton Concert Photographer 2017

Tonight, May 19, 2017, was the opening night of Rose Music Center At The Heights’ third concert season.  The season opened strong with the always great Brit Floyd in concert 2017.  Last year I photographed this Dayton area concert on behalf of the band.  This year, I was happy to be allowed to once again photograph for the band.  The set is always beautiful and the band is outstanding.  This was a great way to start my Dayton concert photography season.

Brit Floyd In Concert 2017 Vs 2016

I photographed Brit Floyd for the first time in 2016.  When I found out I would get to photograph Floyd in 2017, I went back to look at last year’s photos.  I knew it would be a soundboard shoot which actually excited me.  I prepared by having a long lens for close-ups and a wide-angle lens to get the massive visuals.  Since no one in the band is a “star” the overall visual of the show is most important.  The lighting design is one of the best!

Brit Floyd 2016 Rose Music Center

Brit Floyd in concert 2016 performed a fantastic concert at Rose Music Center in Huber Heights last week.  Their management provided me the opportunity to photograph this amazing concert since I am a professional photographer in Dayton who photographs concerts. Rose Music Center is the best place to see a concert in Dayton and is easily accessible off of I-70. It is so cool being a concert photographer!

I’m not a fan of Floyd’s music—it reminds me of my high school summer reading assignments. Side note: I didn’t read them. So, the music has a negative connotation for me. Still, I recognize great musicians when I hear them. Brit Floyd features incredibly talented, lesser-known performers who deserve recognition. I guess a string of sold-out shows is recognition enough. We’re never allowed to photograph from the pit, and for good reason. This show is meant to be seen as a whole, from the audience. They invest heavily in lighting and screens, and it shows. Watching my first Brit Floyd concert in 2016, I couldn’t help but wonder who else they could cover so well. We’ll never know—they’ve got a good thing going.

Trombone Shorty Concert 2024

Photographing A New-to-Me Musician

In 2024, I photographed Trombone Shorty and Big Boi at the Rose Music Center in Huber Heights, Ohio. Fortunately, this concert was one of the few at the Rose, as I typically focus on photographing larger concerts at larger venues, such as Bruce Springsteen.

Trombone Shorty kicked off his 2024 concert at the Rose Music Center. He hit the stage, and he blew me away. His energy intrigued me, so I decided to give it a shot.

Let me know if you’d like to tweak the tone!I love all kinds of music and discovering new artists. So, I went in with an open mind. I didn’t listen to his music beforehand. I wanted a fresh, unfiltered experience.

At the start of the Trombone Shorty Concert 2024 Rose Music Center, he took the stage, I was absolutely blown away. He didn’t just play the trombone; he owned the stage. His energy was infectious as he danced, moved across the stage, and interacted seamlessly with his bandmates. It was like watching a perfectly synchronized unit deliver solid, funky music. The show was electrifying, and the crowd’s energy matched the performance. It was an incredibly fun and memorable experience, and my photos captured the magic of the night.

Big Boi Opened The Trombone Shorty Concert 2024 Rose Music Center

Big Boi from OutKast opened the show, setting the tone for an amazing evening. It was an extremely hot day, and Big Boi and Trombone Shorty delivered such incredible performances despite the heat, which is a testament to their professionalism. I was drenched and uncomfortable just from being there for an hour in shorts and a T-shirt. Lastly, I can only imagine the effort it took to perform under those conditions.

Overall, it was an unforgettable concert, and I thoroughly enjoyed photographing it for CityBeat.com.

Old Crow Medicine Show Concert Rose Music Center Dayton

An Old Crow Medicine Show Close To Home

During the summer of 2024, I photographed Old Crow Medicine Show at Rose Music Center in Huber Heights, Ohio. I consider this small Dayton area music venue to be my home venue. It opened in 2015, and it is the perfect small amphitheater to see concerts. It seats nearly 4500 other people. My other home venue is the Nutter Center which is for large concerts, of course. But we’re talking about the Rose right now.

I had seen Old Crow and photographed Old Crow at Taft Theater in either 2022 or 2023. The experience in Huber Heights was much better. At the Taft, I was stationed the the front corner of the stage, stage left. I was not permitted to get in front of any paying guests. This limited my ability to photograph the band. At the Rose, I did not have such tight space restrictions.

I was able to capture some great images of this very energetic bluegrass act. The show was fantastic as always. I already knew their set list so I knew where the band members would be, and how they would move. What a great show it was! There are not too many other bands that have this much energy for an entire concert.

Photographing Old Crow Medicine Show At Rose Music Center

Photographing this very energetic group is quite an experience. Every member has his own role and interacts with the photographers differently. The lead singer bounces around every section of the stage so quickly it can be difficult to photograph him. The lead guitar players had played to my camera both times I shot them. This time, he stuck his tongue out just as I was taking the photo. As a concert photographer, I enjoyed their lighting and their exuberance.

Chicago In Concert Dayton Ohio 2019

Thanks to CincyMusic.com for getting me access to photograph the Chicago concert at Rose Music Center At The Heights in Huber Heights, Ohio! It is so cool being a concert photographer! Growing up in the 80’s and 90’s I was forced to hear bands like Chicago and Hall & Oates for years. In fact, stores and restaurants are still playing this music. Although I don’t love the music, I jumped at the chance to photograph Chicago.

Photographing Chicago In Concert

I was prepared to photograph this iconic band from the front of the house or soundboard. I was pleasantly surprised when we go to shoot from the pit. Pit shoots are always my favorite! Chicago the band put on a great show at the sold-out Rose Music Center. This is where I built my concert photography skills starting with a Shawn Mendes concert.

I was credentialed for this show through the great people at CincyMusic, one of two publications I regularly shoot for. It was nice shooting other instruments such as trombones and saxophones. I don’t usually see these at shows. They add a full sound and a different dimension to the photos. One of my favorites is the photo of the trombone player with the yellow light shining through.

George Thorogood Concert At Rose Music Center At The Heights 2018 Dayton

Bad To The Bone Rocked Dayton

The George Thorogood concert rocked the Rose Music Center in Huber Heights, Ohio in July 2018.  This was such a fun concert to photograph. George played great music and came right to the cameras to perform.

Going into this concert, I had no expectations aside from good music. I figured he would be like other musicians and ignore the photographers. Right away, I found out I was wrong.

Photographing The George Thorogood Concert

George and his band, The Destroyers, came out and sounded amazing. What was astounding was how he got right in the faces of the concert photographers, and gave us great opportunities for up-close photos. This was such a treat because many artists don’t care at all about photographers. The only other act I have seen do this is KISS. The Thorogood concert performance was incredible!

Bush Concert Dayton Ohio 2019

ALT Imate Concert Tour With LIVE

September 4, 2019, the Bush concert at the Rose Music Center At The Heights was awesome and featured Bush, Live, and Our Lady Peace. The show was nearly sold out, and the crowd was in a collective great mood. Here are a few images of Bush on stage for the Dayton area audience. It was a great concert on a cool summer evening. Thanks to CincyMusic.com for allowing me to shoot for them! It is so cool being a concert photographer!

Photographing The Bush Concert

I knew Bush from when they were on the radio all the time.  The music was enjoyable but never moved me.  From the first moment of this concert, I was captivated.  The three songs I photographed were incredible.  Future me here: My wife is tired of me telling her how much I loved this show.

Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway Concert Dayton

Photographing An Opener (Molly Tuttle) With A Huge Crowd

In 2024, I photographed several concerts at the Rose Music Center, including one featuring Molly Tuttle and the Golden Highway. I hadn’t heard of Molly Tuttle before this show and went in with zero expectations, but I was eager to discover new music and see a fresh artist perform.

From the moment I arrived, it was clear something special was happening. The crowd was already going wild for Molly and her band, which is rare for an opening act. Over the years, I’ve been to and photographed countless concerts, but only a handful of times have I seen an opener receive as much—if not more—enthusiasm than the headliner. This was one of those times.

Molly Tuttle’s Reception Was Huge

The audience wasn’t treating Molly Tuttle like just another opening act. Typically, openers provide background music while people chat or find their seats, waiting for the headliner. But at this show, most of the crowd was already in their seats, fully engaged, and loving every moment. Many knew the words to her songs and sang along, creating an electric atmosphere from start to finish.

It was such a memorable experience to see her connect with the audience so effortlessly. To top it off, Molly’s team later shared one of my photos on social media, which was such a great feeling. She opened for Old Crow Medicine Show.

Better Than Ezra In Concert At Rose Music Center At The Heights Dayton Ohio 2017

Last night I had the pleasure of photographing Better Than Ezra and The Wallflowers at Rose Music Center At The Heights.  This was my first time seeing BTE and my third time seeing The Wallflowers.  It was a really good concert at Dayton’s best concert venue!  With Kevin Griffin, Tom Drummond, Michael Jerome, and James Arthur Payne Jr.

A big shout-out to BTE’s management for allowing me to use these images!  It is truly an honor to be a professional Dayton concert photographer! Better Than Ezra in concert was the first national touring band that directly granted me access to shoot a show. The path to shooting shows for 99% of concert photographers is to go through a publication. I thought I’d attack this concert differently and went directly to the band. Success!

It is my belief that the Rose is the best outdoor concert venue in town. The venue seats more than 4000 music fans. The amenities are top-notch for a venue of its size. My dad swore that Fraze Pavilion in Kettering was the best, but I think he knew deep down I was right. The Fraze has only a couple thousand seats, a lawn area, and no roof. If it rains, the fans get soaked. I always feel bad for the performers that visit the Fraze. The stage is pointing due west, and the setting sun is beating down directly on their faces. With the Rose situated facing north, performers may get just a bit of side-angle sun, but nothing more.

Big Boi In Concert At Rose Music Center 2024

Big Boi, one-half of the famous hip hop due OutKast, opened the 2024 Rose Music Center concert for Trombone Shorty. On one of the hottest days of the year, he had the Rose bumping. As you can see from the photos below, he was wearing a jacket. I was incredibly hot wearing shorts and a T-shirt. I have to give it to these artists who wear their own style regardless of the heat. The bass was so loud that I could feel the concrete vibrating under me while I awaited Trombone Shorty.

I shot this concert as a freelance photographer for Cincinnati CityBeat. See more of my concert photography here.

Rose Music Center At The Heights Exterior Photos Prior To The First Concert In 2015

Rose Music Center Exterior Photos

The Rose Music Center at The Heights in Huber Heights, Ohio, is the top outdoor concert venue in the Dayton area. This 4,200-seat amphitheater sits off I-70, just three miles east of I-75 and Vandalia. Since opening in 2015, it has hosted dozens of bands, singers, and dance shows. As a Dayton and Cincinnati concert photographer, I love shooting here. The venue offers free parking, covered seating, a VIP area, and friendly staff. Visit The Rose Music Center website to see the latest Dayton concert lineup!

Update April 2026: I am not in my 11th year as a professional concert photographer. I love the Rose Music Center even more than before. Not only have I photographed many concerts here but have seen many shows. If an artist I love it playing, I will try to photograph the show as well as have a ticket. The management allows me to put my gear in the admin office until the show is over.

While there haven’t been too many upgrades to the facility, it still looks a great as it did prior to the 2015 opening. Huber Heights and MEMI did a great job building this Dayton-area music venue, so there wasn’t much to improve on.