Personal Life Update – & Why We Aren’t Going Anywhere
I think it’s time for a life update. First of all—before anyone gets nervous— we are here to stay. This isn’t that type of update.
Over the last 15+ years, the biggest change in my life has been my amount of free time. When we first started, it wasn’t a big deal to go out multiple nights a week to cover music, meet people, and do all the things that made this so much fun.
As many of you know, through concerts and music, I also met my now-husband. We’re coming up on 10 years together. Crazy, right? During that time, we built a photography business that focuses on weddings, family photos, headshots, ballet, theatre—you name it. I’m so grateful that photography has become our full-time passion and career. It’s incredible that it sustains both of us, and we’re fortunate to stay busy doing what we love.
But anyone who owns a business knows: busy is the word. We rarely have true days off, and that’s okay. Most days, we work from the moment we wake up until we go to bed. Even when it looks like we’re not “on-site,” we’re usually at home tackling editing, handling backlogs, and keeping everything running smoothly.
I’m not sharing this to complain—just to explain why the vibe and amount of content I’ve been able to post here has changed over the years. That doesn’t mean I don’t love it anymore—concert photography will always be my first love. I’m especially grateful for my ongoing relationship with Club LA in Destin because nothing beats the feeling of being in the photo pit and capturing that energy.
I also want to thank the photographers who’ve helped this platform continue to grow even as I’ve had to step back. I’ve been lucky to make connections with some amazing people who have shown up and covered shows when I couldn’t. Right now, that includes a few new people on deck, and I’m excited to see what they create. I’m working on making this more community-driven and less centered on me—which is hard to let go of those reins for a project I’ve nurtured for so long.
So why share all this? Because I believe in transparency, and I think it’s important to explain why content here and on social media has slowed down. It’s not lack of love—it’s lack of hours in the day. I still love interviews and reviews, but there’s only so much one person can do and my focus has had to move to our paying clients with our more traditional photography business.
This is also an open door for anyone who wants to get involved. If you want to write, start concert photography, or need some guidance, my messages are always open. 850ME has never been something that put money in my pocket—it’s something I’ve paid towards because I love it and what it creates. But keeping the site alive does cost money and I’m trying to be better about being open to contributors.
And, okay, selfish moment: some of you might not know about the photography business Eddie and I have built. If you—or someone you know—needs wedding, headshots, engagement, maternity, or family photos, we’d love to help. (www.EAMphoto.com) If you need a concert photographer and have any kind of budget, let us know. Even if I can’t do it, one of our team members might be available. Gear is expensive. Photography has more costs involved than one might initially assume – and I’d love to facilitate keeping all our concert photography friends going in some small way.
Let’s face it: local bands aren’t making money hand over fist, but quality photos make a difference for promo, flyers, single releases, Spotify profiles—all the things that affect how professional you look and your ability to book bigger shows. That’s something we believe in and strive for every day.
I’ll drop links to our social media and photography website in case you ever need us. And if you have ideas for how this site can grow—or know someone who’d be great at contributing—reach out. I want 850ME to keep thriving, but I’ve accepted that I can’t do it alone anymore. Learning to loosen the reins on something my mom and I started so long ago hasn’t been easy, but it’s time.
Thank you for sticking with us for so long. Thank you for being part of this journey. Here’s to the local music scene continuing to grow—and to us doing everything we can to support it.
Email me if you have any questions, ideas, or interest in a specific photographer: 850MusicEntertainment@gmail.com
Learn more about the photography business Eddie and I have nurtured that focuses on weddings, family photos etc – www.eamphoto.com / https://linktr.ee/eamphoto
Thank you for reading – Nikki
About 850ME
850 Music & Entertainment 