BLACKRAPID SPOTLIGHT: Estelle Massry

Estelle Massry – Estelle Massry Photography

Music and Portrait Photographer

Estelle Massry is an accomplished French rock and roll photographer based out of Rumson, NJ. Estelle’s work has had her up close with Rock legends such as The Rolling Stones, Lenny Kravitz, Slash & Metallica to name a few. Her style has been best described as very intimate with an ability to portray raw emotions. She uses a central theme expressed in stark contrasts to capture vivid moments that makes the viewer want to know the rest of the story.

Do You Have a Good Photography Tip for Us?

Networking is key in this industry. Push yourself and make it a point to talk to everyone. I was offered my first big gig because I reluctantly showed up at a local Halloween party which resulted in speaking with someone who happened to be producing a live performance of Alicia keys the following week. When he mentioned it to me I jokingly told him that if they were looking for a photographer that I was available.

He called the next day and hired me to be the sole photographer to shoot Alicia Keys at the Apollo Theatre in NYC. To this day this is one of my biggest accomplishment and thankfully all because I “showed up” and got out of my comfort zone.

“Nothing Else Matters”

One of my most challenging shoot was Metallica. Metallica is my favorite band and never expected that I would have the opportunity to photograph them. In all excitement I didn’t think to look up the venue right away and assumed since it was in Pennsylvania that it would probably be one hour away and where I have worked before (not that it mattered…I mean it’s Metallica). I soon discovered it was 5 hours away. I never questioned going but I did have to figure out how to make it work because at that time my kids were very little and I knew I would also have to drive back after the show.

As I started my road trip, so did the rain. It was a monsoon for 5 straight white-knuckling hours. The escort was to be met at 8:00 pm and it’s now 7:50 and I’m stuck in traffic with thousands of fans looking for parking. It’s now 7:55 and I’m still looking and I’m getting further from the venue. I am starting to panic but by chance, I finally find a spot. I jump out of my car wearing my fancy boots, carrying my camera bag running like I’ve never ran before. Nothing else mattered but getting to the box office and grabbing my photo pass in time. But where is the box office? On the opposite side of course.

I literally walked in soaked and completely out of breath as the escort was shutting the door to walk the photographers down to the pit. I was 5 seconds from missing the biggest show of my life. I was on such a high shooting my favorite band and my adrenaline continued as I drove the long 5 hours back home cranking their tunes and reminiscing about the experience.