Richie Kotzen

I was able to catching the always incredible Richie Kotzen live in Lancaster Pennsylvania!

Photographing concerts are both technically demanding and deeply rewarding. But photographing a guitarist such as Richie Kotzen while being a fan is quite spectacular.

The fun of a photo event like this is his moves—subtle shifts, sudden head turns, and emotional peaks during solos—so timing becomes critical. Concerts often feature dramatic red and blue lighting with strong backlighting and heavy contrast, which can make skin tones tricky and create challenging exposure situations. You need fast glass, strong low-light performance, and sharp anticipation to catch the fleeting moments when emotion rises to the surface.

What makes the experience so rewarding is the intensity and authenticity of his performance. Kotzen’s connection to his guitar is constant, and his fingerstyle technique creates visually compelling hand movement that stands out from typical rock players. When he leans into a sustained vocal line or bends a note with visible feeling, there’s a powerful emotional charge that translates beautifully in a still frame. The moody lighting can produce striking silhouettes, rim-lit outlines, and soulful portraits that feel more like fine art than standard concert coverage. While the challenge lies in capturing subtle emotion rather than explosive action, successfully freezing those intimate, expressive moments can be incredibly satisfying and creatively fulfilling.