Queer Nightlife and the Photographers Who Fuel It
Written by Daphne Bryant
All images courtesy of Natasha Cohen
I doubt the first thing any of us are thinking about when we hit up a queer bar, club or event is whether or not we’re going to get our photo taken. I mean, shit, maybe that is what you’re thinking about, and if so all power to you and your narcissism! In my experience though, most of us just want to be in community. We want to dance to good music, hang out with our friends, and kiss a hot stranger or two. Many members of the LGBTQ+ community hear about queer spaces through word of mouth, but social media has quickly become a new and bold promotional tool. We might look up a club or an event on Instagram to check out the“ vibes”, and based on said vibes pick a plot for the night. To pull up or not to pull up: that is the question! For our generation, the answer often depends on how fun their socials look, and a lot of that actually does depends on nightlife photography (so maybe being photo-obsessed isn’t so bad after all).
Why does nightlife photography exist? Simple: it’s a win-win marketing strategy that benefits the venue and the patrons. Let me break it down...
The goal of nightlife photography is to capture the atmosphere of a nightclub, bar or city. The photos should accurately reflect the space, showing off facets such as stages, bars, or outdoor areas. They should also show off just how much fun everyone is having, with the intention of attracting potential and returning visitors. If you’re hiring a nightlife photographer, you want them to generate desire. You want someone to look at a photo of two girls making out or a group of gays shaking ass on the dance floor and think:“ This is where I want to be.” When you go to an event and see great photos of you and your friends posted after, you have tangible proof that queer joy exists. You and the venue have photographic evidence of a good time, and that’s a powerful thing.
Being a nightlife photographer is just as difficult, if not more, than concert photography. You have to use shooting techniques that are unique to low-light conditions, bounce off of light sources like neon lights and stage lighting, and keep your cool in a throng of people that are moving at all times. Music might be blasting in your ear, it’ll probably be hard to see, and it’s inevitable that some guests won’t be down to get their photo taken, and jeez I’m getting overwhelmed just writing about it! Nightlife photographers do god’s work, and it’s not easy.
As far as queer/sapphic nightlife photography is concerned, I think Futch and Out n Abt are the modern-day pioneers. Bay Area native Jules Monstera, who shoots for both organizations, really stands out to me. All of her shots are so glamorous and bright, almost editorial; she really knows how to make people look good. My friend Natasha has also been casually dipping her toes into nightlife photography. She takes her camera with her everywhere, so don’t be surprised if you’re at a function and see her strapped with equipment. I love these most recent pictures she took at Honey’s, so I’ve infused them throughout the article. One thing Natasha, and all good photographers, excels at is storytelling. That’s the part about nightlife photography people don’t talk about enough. It’s not just about taking high-quality photos, building social media presence, enticing customers or creating lasting memories for guests. It’s also about documenting literal history, capturing moments and telling stories so that we don’t forget them. I idolize photographers like Chloe Sherman, who started taking portraits of queer life in the Y2K era and gave viewers a glimpse into the evolution of butch/femme identities as well as San Francisco’s gorgeous gay history. Looking back at her work from the 90s and 2000s feels so magical, like I’m time traveling or something. I don’t know if nightlife photographers realize it, but they’re making the same kind of archival magic. Some queer kid decades from now is going to look at Natasha’s or Jules’ work and feel inspired by it, and that’s a really awesome thought. Photographers fuel queer nightlife, so give them their flowers!
“That’s the part about nightlife photography people don’t talk about enough. It’s not just about taking high-quality photos, building social media presence, enticing customers or creating lasting memories for guests. It’s also about documenting literal history, capturing moments and telling stories so that we don’t forget them.”
