Meet Angela Masters

Today we’d like to introduce you to Angela Masters.

Angela, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’m a Fine Art Wedding & Portrait Photographer based out of Kansas City, but early this past year I dived into the local blues music scene and began revisiting my love for the genre and the musicians who share their talents with the rest of the world. What I found was a need for these musicians, who, being gig workers, suffered the greatest when the pandemic hit. With all the shutdowns and cancellations, these incredible men and women really faced financial hardship. That makes it difficult, if not impossible, for them to have to hire someone to help with their photos for the pressors and their socials.

This is where I come in… I needed the creative outlet and to be inspired after everything we’ve all been through with the pandemic. What I found is that this new(ish) endeavor would inspire me in more ways than I could have ever imagined and it’s left me loving my job as a Wedding & Portrait Photographer even more than I did before. I hadn’t known that was possible but it’s totally true!

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Lucky for me, I have a close friend, Fletcher Christian, who is one of the most talented singers/songwriters/guitarists I know, they were introduced to some amazing people when he was recording his album a few years ago. Now, those same people are like family. Fletcher is even responsible for my finding my amazing partner in life and business, Adam Hagerman. When Adam and I decided to team up and create Black Moon Media, LLC it really was a match made in heaven. I have shot close to 450 weddings across North America and Adam is a killer editorial photographer which too many albums covers under his belt to count. He even owned a portrait studio prior to settling in Kansas City. The two of us combined have created an energy-rich environment that has promoted so much technical and creative growth for us as artists, that our wedding and portrait clients are really winning big when they book us.

In short, as far as struggles go, things have been a walk in the park. With that said, If I had to pinpoint a struggle, I would say it is educating people on how important copyright integrity is and that my work holds real value, even though I cover the local jams for free. The best way to say thanks for the work I do is just to give proper credit on social media and ask me for a high-resolution image for any prints that need to be used for print media so that they are showcased in the best possible way for their event/concert/show.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’ve been creative my entire life. My mother was a painter and I was always enamored by her skill with visual storytelling. It’s a trait I’m proud to say she passed on to me. I used to watch her paint and marvel at how she could create something from nothing with just a canvas, brush, paint, and her mind’s eye.

My aunt, my mother’s sister, loved photography and always had a camera in her hand back before cell phones made it commonplace. I am a combination of the influence of both my mother and my aunt and several other photographers I’ve met along the way. Digital Photography may be my medium but my composition and editing style are heavily influenced by the old masters.

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
At this point in time, I’m just hoping the wedding industry can make a comeback after all the pandemic setbacks. I’ve had so many peers shutter their doors because they couldn’t hang on through the cancellations and restrictions.

I will shoot my last rescheduled “pandemic wedding” in August of 2023. While much of the world has gone back to business as usual, the wedding industry is still recovering, especially photographers and videographers. Many of us are/were double and triple booked to accommodate a previously booked business that had to reschedule due to restrictions or health concerns… along with booking new business to keep our doors open. At times, it can result in a log jam when it comes to post-production tasks since our work continues after the big day. I’m happy to say we made it through the worst of it and have come out better for it.

Pricing:

• Live Show Coverage is $200 per hour.
• Wedding Collections begin at $2000
• Portrait Sessions begin at $350

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.blackmoonmediallc.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/black_moon_media
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/blackmoonmediallc
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/blackmoon_media
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@blackmoonmediallc
• Other: www.instagram.com/officialangelamasters

Image Credits
Black Moon Media, Featured Musicians: Sean McDonnell, Howard Mahan, Nick Schnebelen, John Paul Drum, and Jackie Myers