It was a very cold March afternoon when we first got the "congratulations" email. Brightbell Music had been granted a freelance media credential for both the North Carolina and Tennessee stops of Thaw Out Music Festival, courtesy of Asheville, NC-based media production company In Search of Studios (ISO), founded by Appalachian State University alum Noah Sheets.
So, What Exactly Is "Thaw Out"?
You might be asking, "what the heck is Thaw Out Music Festival?" Fair question. Based on our time shooting for ISO, here's the best answer we've got. If spring had an opening ceremony, this would be it. Good music, good people, and kicking off spring the right way. Thaw Out isn't confined to just one city. It takes over two. Knoxville, TN, home to the self-proclaimed Tennessee's Biggest Party, and Boone, NC, home to the self-proclaimed North Carolina's Biggest Party. Each delivering a full day of hip-hop, EDM, and live DJ sets. Thousands of people come together to hang out, discover new artists, and celebrate the start of festival season in an outdoor atmosphere built around community, great vibes, and unforgettable moments.
Storytelling First: The Shot List That Guided Us
ISO assembled a team of more than 30 photographers and videographers across both festivals, bringing together in-house media staff and freelance creatives under one shared mission. Shoot for storytelling. No matter your role on the ground, that mission stays the same. For a festival like this, here's what that actually looked like in practice.
Capture the crowd's energy — Hands in the air, mosh pits, crowd surfers, and those huge singalong moments that make the audience feel like part of the show.
Focus on the artists — Shoot dynamic performance images that highlight stage presence, dramatic lighting, and the connection between the artist and the fans.
Find authentic moments — Friends laughing, strangers becoming friends, and the candid interactions that give the festival its personality.
Tell the story of the festival — Step back and document the bigger picture with venue overviews, branding, installations, and the details that make the event unique.
Highlight premium experiences — VIP spaces, elevated viewing areas, and other experiences most attendees don't get to see.
Photograph everyone — Build a gallery that reflects the diversity and inclusivity of the community.
Take advantage of great light — Use the changing light throughout the day to add depth, mood, and emotion to your images.
Why Storytelling Is the Whole Point
We keep coming back to this because it's an important reminder for all of us. Great music photography, videography, and production tell the story behind the moment, not just the moment itself. Every performance has its own energy, its own emotion, its own personality. The goal is always the same, create content that makes people feel like they were there.
The best photos don't just document a concert. They preserve the atmosphere. They capture the connection between artist and audience. They freeze the split-second moments that define a performance long after the amps have gone quiet. For both Knoxville and Boone, the team ISO assembled; in-house and freelance alike, did exactly that.
At the end of the day, in an industry built on emotion and experience, storytelling is what turns a gallery of photos or a video highlight reel into something people actually remember. It's the difference between simply covering an event and creating visuals that artists, promoters, and fans can look back on for years to come.
Many thanks to the In Search of Studios team
We want to extend a genuine thank you to In Search of Studios for the opportunity to capture both Thaw Out Music Festival stops, and for continuing to grow and support the photo and video community ecosystem. Opportunities like this are exactly how emerging creatives get to sharpen their craft alongside seasoned professionals, and we're grateful to have been part of it.
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