A photographer, by one simple definition, is “a person whose creative work shows sensitivity and imagination.” Local music-photographer Joey Senft, by definition, goes above and beyond this simplicity.

Many creative people claim they found their biggest passion at a very early age, but it wasn’t until Joey Senft was in high school that taking photos really piqued her interest.

That isn’t implying that the later start hindered her abilities; it just began as more of a friendly hobby than anything else.

“I met and befriended a lot of the people who ended up being in the bands and you always want to take pictures of your friends doing something great, right?” Senft explains. “Soon, they started to play shows at other venues and I followed; I became friends with other people in the scene and couldn’t get enough of it. Now I shoot at shows probably three or four times a week.”

Senft, who shoots mainly digital on a Canon 5d Mark II and a Canon 7d, is the house photographer at the Garrick Centre as well as a regular shooter for Manitoba Music.

She’s also shot for the Winnipeg Folk Festival, the TD Winnipeg International Jazz Festival, Skate4Cancer and Kids Help Phone.

Senft has very good reason to promote her work with Kids Help Phone a bit more seriously, besides the fact that it is a phenomenal cause.

“ Love what you do, try new things, keep your camera close and make great, long lasting friendships because it’s all about who you know in this business.

Joey Senft, photographer

“There is a book called Call/Response that is showing off Winnipeg’s amazingly talented music scene as well as some great photos from other photographers,” Senft says. “I was lucky enough to be a part of it. If you purchase the book, a good chunk of the money goes towards Kids Help Phone as well.”

While the list of shows the shutterbug blesses with her photography magic constantly grows, it’s still the music that is the main drive for her. And it isn’t just music here at home - it has even taken her overseas.

“I recently was in Europe and it just so happened (Winnipeg’s) Comeback Kid was also playing in Europe. I met up with them in a little town in Germany for the Summer Breezy Festival, which is a three-day long Metal
Festival where there was about 40,000 metal heads,” Senft says. “It was really amazing to get to see them play for a such a huge crowd in a different country and being able to take pics of them from the stage was just a bonus!”

Though she’s been shooting shows for years, Senft knows there’s still a long way to go. She still dreams of the chance to someday shoot the Foo Fighters live in concert and to someday become a photographer for a big-time music magazine.

As she continues to get closer to those dreams while capturing countless musical experiences on film, what advice would Joey give to someone hoping to get their feet wet in the photography world?

“Love what you do, try new things, keep your camera close and make great, long lasting friendships because it’s all about who you know in this business. Have fun with it!”

For more information about Senft, visit www.tinyurl.com/jsenftphoto. For more information or to purchase a copy of Call/Response, visit www.callresponsebook.com.

Published in Volume 66, Number 10 of The Uniter (November 2, 2011)