In this Quarantined interview, we talk to professional photographer Dave Decrescente about going on tour with Twiddle, COVID-19’s impact on his photo business and how it all started for him. Read below!

How are things going since the impact of the COVID-19 Virus?

Business is definitely slow, but I’m just taking life day by day at this point. The downtime has given me a lot of time to reflect on things, both personal and in business. I’m just trying to make the best of a shitty situation.

What things have you been doing to keep yourself busy?

Lots of photo editing and video content creation. I have been very busy going back through old events, and finding new photos that didn’t make the cut. I love playing video games, so this has also been a great time for that. I have also been out documenting the Capital Region during these times (from a safe distance of course!)

What was it like to go on a west coast tour with Twiddle?

I don’t even know where to begin. When I first started in concert photography, going on tour was always a huge goal of mine, so it was amazing. I was able to visit a bunch of states I’ve never been to, that was very exciting. There was a lot of work involved, and over 25,000 photos taken! Quick story, but the first movie we watched on the bus was End of Days with Arnold Schwarzenegger, and little did we know, a few weeks later the entire world would come to a crashing halt. We had a good time joking about that one. I’m just glad we all made it home safe.  I’d like to say thank you to the entire Twiddle team for everything.

What are some of your favorite concerts that you have photographed?
Tumbledown, Phish NYE, Summer Camp Music Festival, Camp Bisco.

What are some bucket list bands/artists you want to photograph?
I really want to photograph Eminem. I grew up liking his early albums before I got into jam bands. U2 would be another one, because they have a massive production and have been around for years.

How has corona’s impact on the live music/entertainment industry affected you?
It has been pretty massive to say the least. I had the entire month of April booked up for just concerts, and that is all gone. Luckily we have some great people in the industry providing live stream events and rebroadcasts which have really helped. I think the impact will be felt for a while and the industry might undergo a transformation. I’m just trying to stay optimistic about the summer.

Do you have any advice for Photographers struggling?
If you’re struggling financially, I’d recommend heading to sba.gov for some relief and also look into unemployment in your state. Even as a small business owner, they are offering a variety of relief. If you’re struggling on the creative side during this time, just pick up your camera and shoot, see where things go. You can find a lot of inspiration around the house/yard. You don’t need a plan. Now is also a great time to educate yourself and learn new techniques. There are so many free courses available and great content on YouTube.

What was coming up for you in the coming months prior to the impact of COVID-19?
Quite a bit. I had multiple tours planned that have been cancelled. There are also festivals that have been postponed. Besides concert photography, I also do high school sports and weddings. All of my April/May sports and weddings gigs have been cancelled. The impact has been huge, but now is the time to adapt and find new ways to create and make income.

How did you get into concert photography?
I’ve been seeing concerts all my life. I had a Canon Rebel sitting around that I decided to take out to a local show at Red Square because a friend had free tickets to the show if they could get some photos for a website. The photos came out pretty bad to say the least, but I became obsessed with capturing the energy of live music, which at that time, was a major part of my life. A few months later, I was laid off from my corporate job, and I decided that this was the universe telling me to do something else. I went out and purchased some better suited cameras for low light concerts, spent the next year on YouTube researching how to get better, and the rest is history!

What things do you miss the most with having to social distance?
Being able to see family and friends. LIVE MUSIC!!

What music has been getting you through these stressful times?
Lots of Phish and Twiddle. All the amazing content that has been produced so far. Shoutout to Live From Out There!

When going out and about, what precautions are you taking with social distancing?
I have been laying pretty low. But if I do have to go out, I am maintaining 6ft+ distance and wearing a mask. I’m very aware of what I’m touching and trying to minimize contact with any surface in public.

What’s next for you?
I have no idea. Hopefully getting back on tour and back to work. But just taking it day by day because things are too uncertain right now to worry.

How can people support your photography?
They can visit my website at www.davedecrophoto.com, but I’m in the process of a complete rework,  so I have not uploaded anything recent. My recent work can be found on Instagram @davedecrophoto

Almost all of my photos are available for purchase, and the best way to contact me is through email: dave@davedecrophoto.com or a direct message on Instagram.