BLACKRAPID SPOTLIGHT: Kurt Lunsford

Kurt Lunsford

Concert Photographer

Kurt Lunsford is a music and lifestyle photographer based in Little Rock, Arkansas. With well over 15 years of experience photographing concerts in tiny basements to full arenas nothing is too big or small to create iconic images from. Kurt has worked for festivals such as SXSW, So What?! Fest, Furnace Fest, and many others, and worked for countless bands both big and small.

Do you have a good tip for us?

“Don’t be afraid to ask” this is especially true in the music world. No one is going to give you a photo pass unless you ask for it. No one is going to let you backstage for the first time unless you ask for it. Be professional and friendly and understanding when you’re told no, but never be too afraid to ask for what you want and need to get those iconic shots.

Thnks Fr Th Mmrs

Based on the title it’s probably easy for most to figure out that this story is about Fall Out Boy. This band along with My Chemical Romance are two bands that helped build not only my music tastes but who I am as a person. Fall Out Boy to me was also always at the top of my bucket list of bands to photograph and since I usually shoot freelance without a publication backing me and they only play massive shows, it felt like an impossible task.

To set up the scene, in 2024 I had created a personal goal to try and take 365 portraits within the year to push myself to not only create more images, but also force myself to meet new people, and reconnect with others that I’d grown apart from. In March of 2024 I was driving from Little Rock to Austin to go work at the festival SXSW for the next week and on the way I noticed one of my friends had photographed Fall Out Boy the night before in Dallas, so on a whim I looked up to see if they’d be playing in Austin and of course they were.

Here’s where the story ties back into my photo tip of asking for what you want. I decided to make a hail mary attempt and try to contact Andy Hurley (Fall Out Boy‘s Drummer) who I had met briefly before when another band he played in stopped through Little Rock. I sent out a tweet directed at him knowing he doesn’t use social media much asking if I could get a portrait of him for my project and then continued on my drive not thinking much of it. A few hours later I stopped to get gas and opened my phone to him replying saying “absolutely.”

Sparing all the details of me freaking out, and having to Lime-scooter 4 miles to the venue, I made it happen. Andy guest-listed me to the show and gave me a pass that allowed me to come backstage and snag a portrait of him, and then allowed me to photograph the show as well, which was incredibly generous and kind of him. This was one of the coolest career moments I’ve had so far, and was very full-circle for 15-year-old-Kurt to know that I was now friends with someone from one of my favorite bands.