The biggest shift in my photography wasn't technical — it was social. I stopped thinking of myself as someone who shows up, takes photos, and leaves. I started thinking of myself as part of the ecosystem.

That means tagging artists and actually engaging with their pages. It means sending photos to openers who played to 30 people, not just the headliner. It means saying yes to free gigs when the connection is worth more than the paycheck. It means remembering the sound guy's name.

The music scene — especially the local one — is small. Everyone knows everyone. The artist you photograph at a 50-cap venue today might sell out a 500-cap room next year, and if you were there early and made their show look incredible, they remember. Publicists remember. Managers remember.

I've gotten more work from being a decent person to be around than from any single photo I've ever taken. Your camera gets you in the door. How you treat people decides whether you get invited back.