AVA BUTERA

Basement: Any fun moments you’ve had at shows?  Favorite shows you’ve been to?

Ava: Nothing super crazy recently - besides the usually Chicago energy. But I had a lot of fun working for and hanging out with the Wilderado guys last weekend at Aragon. My favorite show? Sydney this is HARD. Recently and off the top of my head: Sigrid at Majestic, Hozier at Lollapalooza, Joseph at The Vic, Soccer Mommy at Brooklyn Bazaar, Vampire Weekend at The Sylvee.

Basement: You started your career pretty young- how did you get your start as a concert photographer?  

Ava: Alright - this is a long one. I had a lot of trouble adjusting to my high school my freshman year, so I started to make Youtube videos. I did album reviews, concert reviews, and showed off my record collection. Don’t try and look those up now, they’re all private. One of my Youtube mutuals, Paige Williams, was starting a music blog called At the Barricade and she offered me a spot on the team as a writer. From there I gained experience and a small writing portfolio. Shortly after I was a writer for Honey Punch and Heart Eyes Mag. Then, the summer going into my junior year, a publicist I had a good relationship with offered me a photo pass for a Royal Blood concert. And the rest is history.

Basement: Who and what inspires your work?

Ava: Music constantly inspires my work. I honestly feel like I have slight synesthesia. I can listen to a song and immediately I put together photo shoots with bands in my mind. When I hear songs, I imagine colors and so on and so forth. Also, other photographers inspire me. Pooneh Ghana, Athena Merry, Emma Watts, Maggie London, Morgan Winston, CJ Harvey, Heather Zalabak, Bella Peterson, Gabriella Hughes, Steph Estrada, Caylee Robillard, Alex Liscio, Sophie Harris. I could go on forever. Female creatives will never fail to inspire my work!

Basement: Why is Chicago a special place to be an artist?

Ava: Chicago has such a great and tight-knit artistic community. Everyone is looking out for each other and genuinely want each other to succeed. I’ve made so many friends and colleagues just by working throughout the city and being involved in the scene. Whether you do music, art, photography, whatever - everyone has your back. And I can’t imagine establishing my career in any other city. 

Basement: Where do you hope to be in the future as a creator?

Ava: I would love to make photography my full-time career and my main source of income. Ideally, I’d love to be a touring photographer! Hi bands, I’m free and available!

Basement: What do you think is unique about being an artist in this generation?

Ava: I think we have better access to resources and take advantage of that. Without social media, I have no idea how I would keep up with my career. Young people are taking over the world, yo!