Three Lessons from Life on the Road with Alice Backham.
We caught up with photographer Alice Backham as she comes off the US tour with Wet Leg to talk about life on the road.
The highs, the lessons, and the small things that make all the difference. From keeping one foot outside the tour bubble to using repetition as a chance to grow, Alice shares her top tips for staying grounded and creative while living life on the move.
Alice, who was a final nominee in this year’s Abbey Road Music Photography Awards, knows the ins and outs of capturing life on tour. Below, she shares her three top tips for finding balance, growth, and creativity while constantly on the move.
1. Keep one foot outside the tour bubble
Something I still have to remind myself is to check in with home. It’s easy to get wrapped up when it's fun and exciting, staying connected to life outside helps keep you keep perspective & stay grounded. It makes you appreciate the highs & not overreact to the small things that can feel huge when you’re in that tour bubble.
2. Use the repetition to grow on things you wouldn't usually get time to prioritise
I try and focus on something specific to grow on each tour. One run I hyper focused on mastering the back-of-the-room wide shot, another I brought travel-friendly modifiers to improve on Portrait Lighting. Think about what’s realistic for yours & the artist’s schedule. Even if it's small, like nailing those extra items that make your kit bag genuinely useful. I currently have painkillers, caribeaners, back up cigs, gum and a toothbrush!
3. Find items that help you shift into different modes
Slippers on the bus mean downtime, over-ear headphones are for deep edits. When i'm feeling gross - my nice boots and applying make up helps me get into showtime mood. Find the things to help flick the switch between different modes.
