Many would characterize the path to photography as a passion, or even a calling. But for New Jersey-based photographer Kenny Bieber, his introduction to the visual arts could be described as a requirement.
Bieber first began his journey as a professional photographer while finishing up his degree in journalism and media studies. Like most college kids, he found himself in need of just a few more credits in order to graduate. Opting for an open photography class, the rest, as they say, is history.
“I just really fell in love with the process,” says Bieber. “I really liked being by myself and creating images from scratch. I really liked being able to get multiple perspectives on things, and the whole immersive aspect of how you can kind of just take something and reinterpret it for your own perspective. I think that really stuck out to me.”
But his interest in photography was far from random, as Bieber’s love for the visual arts began early on in his life, being drawn to media like film, TV, and comics. And while he initially intended to focus on writing, Bieber’s photography course helped him realize that the process of storytelling can extend far beyond the page.
“It’s different than writing a script, or a novel, but you are telling a story, or an idea, or a theme, with images,” says Bieber. “That’s something I didn’t really think about, until that moment.”
Following his time in the classroom, photography eventually became a hobby before fully transitioning into a career.
Bieber’s portfolio covers a wide array of subject matter, including headshots, portraits, and special life moments. But over the years, he has particularly honed in on capturing music in the making, carving a niche as a music photographer.
Beginning with photographing musician friends, Bieber has since gone on to cover the concerts of artists like Hozier, Glass Animals, Fletcher, Johnny Kasun, and Natalie Farrell.
Bieber also shares that much of his motivation as a music photographer stems from his love of documentation—working to preserve the sounds and spaces of his community, for times to come.
“I think the documentation part of it is fascinating, because it’s almost like cataloging history,” says Bieber, “looking at venues that don’t exist anymore, bands that even don’t exist anymore […] Sometimes it changes for the better, sometimes the changes aren’t the best, but I think being able to have someone documenting that is important, because not everyone is going to always know what [a place] looked like.”
For Bieber, spending much of his time photographing live music has not dulled the excitement of experiencing a great concert. Rather, it’s added a new amount of depth.
“I think that I do appreciate it more, because you realize how much work gets put into a show,” Bieber explains. “You realize how much effort artists put into a production, and creating a visual experience, and how much effort some artists put into the audience connection, and just how much of a singular experience a concert can be. Once you document it, you kind of see all those moments—the big ones, the small ones, they all get represented, on that spectrum.”
He continues, “There are some shows where I’ll be a fan, and I wish I wasn’t, I wish I was a part of it. It is kind of like a rush. You do feel connected to it, in a different way. You get to take a piece of it away with you, which I find fascinating and really fulfilling.”
And for all those seeing his work, Bieber hopes that his photographs can fully encapsulate the electricity and thrill of emotion that you only experience at a live show.
“I want there to be a sense of energy and excitement,” he confesses. “I think if it’s a very fun, upbeat show, I want people to feel a sense of that. I definitely want to try to capture the scale of an event […] I definitely want to capture emotion, movement, and I also just want to give a sense of the essence of the show.”
Now, with so many incredible projects and shows already in the books, Bieber gives a glimpse into what the future could hold.
“I definitely want to do more creative, personal type work,” says Bieber. “I want to work more hands-on, with more teams and artists, and then do more showcasing. Documentation is also something I’d really like to do more.”
Photo taken from Facebook/KennyBieber | Interviewed April 24, 2026
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