Ladies with Lanyards is a blog post I published a while ago that put a spotlight on some of the most talented music photographers in Australia. That blog post had such a good response so I decided I wanted to dive deeper into this and interview these creatives! So, I'd like you to meet fellow music photographer, Teags Louise...

My name is: 
Tegan Louise Ringin. 

I am based in: 
Melbourne 

I started shooting live music because:
I started shooting in backyard gigs at 16, and fell in love with being able to capture how I see the world and to share it with others. I love that I’ve been able to find a way to contribute to the music industry without having to subject people to my woeful singing. 

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A post shared by Teags Louise (@iamsohipithurts) on Dec 11, 2018 at 2:49pm PST

My favourite gig I’ve ever photographed was:
The Panics at The Palace Theatre (RIP). It was my first big shoot for ToneDeaf and the lighting was phenomenal, the crowd was buzzing, the band played to the camera and gave an amazing performance. Almost every shot was useable and the stars aligned that night. 
And The Vasco Era. Every time I’ve shot them I’ve come out buzzing, they gave it their absolute all on stage. 

The hardest / worst gig I’ve ever photographed was:
Northeast Party House, NSC 2011. The crowd was very rowdy and I got drinks poured on me, heels through my feet, elbows to the back etc. The lighting was all red, very dark, and half of the band were hiding in the dark. Great set, bad circumstances. 

My photography style can be described in the following 3 words:
Spontaneous hero shots. 

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A post shared by Teags Louise (@iamsohipithurts) on Nov 17, 2017 at 2:49pm PST

My advice to young women looking to join the music industry as a live music photographer is:
It's not about the camera, it’s how you use it. Get to shows, make your way to the front and just start shooting. Nothing beats the exhilaration of getting “That” shot. 

If I could tell my younger self anything it would be:
You deserve to be here as much as anyone else. Be brave. Trust your instincts. 

The best advice I’ve ever been given is: 
Always backup your backup. Don’t miss deadlines. 

The hardest thing about being a live music photographer is:
Little money, little respect, little sleep. 

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A post shared by Teags Louise (@iamsohipithurts) on Jun 7, 2017 at 12:40am PDT

The biggest lesson I’ve learnt as a music photographer is:
Know your worth and stand your ground. (And flashes do not belong in the pit.)

My favourite live music photographer is:
Zo Damage. She is relentless and so fierce. I have three of her photos hanging in my home and I treasure them. She has been my inspiration for years. 

My goals as a live music photographer are:
To just keep shooting. I do it for the love of it. I started out in 2006, and the bands I was shooting at tiny gigs back then are now playing Coachella. Just keep at it. We’re all growing in this together. 

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A post shared by Teags Louise (@iamsohipithurts) on Nov 17, 2017 at 8:56pm PST

I also: 
I’ve worked in publishing and advertising for the past 10 years right out of uni, and now I’m on a new path and I’m doing a degree in Psychological Sciences. 

Excluding camera equipment, in my camera bag you will also find:
A stress ball for those sore post-shooting hands, ear plugs, cash, keys, and a Red Bull. 

This is the photo I’m most proud of because:
I’ve shot Peaches a few times over the years and she never disappoints. The first time I was shooting her I was kicked out because I didn’t have accreditation (I was a over confident gal of 17) and I talked my way back in to keep shooting. Fast forward a few years and I’m back shooting her at the same venue with accreditation this time. She sprayed the audience with magnums of champagne toward she end of the set and I happened to be side of stage, I whipped my camera back out and got this one shot. It came out of nowhere and I managed to capture it. 





I shoot with: Canon 5DMii

You can find Teags here:

Instagram: instagram.com/iamsohipithurts
Website/Folio: www.teganlouise.com
Email: Tegan@teganlouise.com