Photographing the Bartenders of JAM

by dav.d

Bartenders serve happiness one glass at a time. Often times they will serve multiple glasses of happiness to a group of people. Be sure to tip your bartenders!! They work for tips, and they’ll remember if you’re a cheap tightwad.

I was hired by JAM to photograph their bartenders for their Facebook and website. Quality photography can help any business. We had to find a time when all the bartenders would be available and when the club was not busy yet. We had to move quickly and working with some of the lighting at the club and one of my own lights we were able to create some cool and edgy portraits.

Gotta have tattoos if you're a bartender

Gotta have tattoos if you’re a bartender

I have been photographing JAM for years. I first started photographing just because they let me bring a camera and I would post photos to Facebook for practice. Over time I would get better and better at club photography and eventually that turned into paid assignments. And now I get to create some more formal portraits for the business.

Security & Bouncer

Security & Bouncer

Most clubs have pretty cool lighting. And the more you can incorporate that lighting into your photos the better. That night Jam brought in about $20,000 in lights for a private party. You don’t want to ignore lighting light that, well for these portratis at least we didn’t use them. But for the party photos I created afterwards, you bet I captured the right light. It requires fast glass, high ISO and a little bit of flash. It’s not easy and you can throw away a lot of photos, thank goodness for digital.

Bartending by night and working out at the gym by day

Bartending by night and working out at the gym by day

It was fun working with the bartenders. Like most people, they can hate having their photograph taken. Understandable. Getting your photo taken is right up there with public speaking. Except photos are more permanent. The key is to be friendly and fast. I have my light ready and a few snaps of the camera, and we are done! It’s faster than a tetanus shot.

Sleeves are optional as barbacks

Sleeves are optional as barbacks

Rocking the mustache

Rocking the mustache

Life as a bartender

Life as a bartender

Scott rocks it for the camera

Scott rocks it for the camera

Bartenders deliver happiness in a cup

Bartenders deliver happiness in a cup

Barbacks help the night go smoothly

Barbacks help the night go smoothly

Black shirts are cool

Black shirts are cool

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dav.d photo
dav.d is a portrait photographer based in Utah.