As a young photographer in my early 20’s, I managed to get myself hired right out of school (graduated Rochester Institute of Technology in 2004) to be the tour photographer for the rock and roll powerhouse 3 Doors Down.

At the time I started touring, the band was just coming off of the release of their second multi-platinum #1 album and gearing up for a third. Although, less than a decade ago, it seemed like a lifetime ago because the entire music industry has changed since them. These were the days of big budget tours

with pyro, mutliple million dollar tour busses, huge productions, and packed houses every night…but things have changed things for EVERYONE in the music industry since the early 2000’s.

Being a fairly sheltered young kid from the Northern Virginia suburbs, joining a national tour with a big rock band for months at a time was an incredible eye-opening experience. I learned things on the road that I never would have learned on my own. In addition, the band would give me unprecedented access to capture nearly all aspects of their lives…the ups and the downs. This was a real gift for a young photographer.

Over the years the members of 3 Doors Down have become like family to me and I owe the big jump start in my early career to a #1 rock band that chose to believe in a go-getting young kid in way over his head. This gallery is dedicated to the band that got me started and my first years of touring with them…