Meet Alyssa Montaño Story | Concert Photographer & Middle School Assistant Principal

We had the good fortune of connecting with Alyssa Montaño Story and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alyssa, what makes you happy? Why?
I find pure joy in photographing, editing, and sharing photos from the incredible live shows happening in Denver. Unsurprisingly, I’ve always loved music. However, since moving to Colorado and meeting my husband, Luke Story, it’s become a part of my daily life. Luke plays saxophone and trumpet for Denver’s Funk Rock band Float Like a Buffalo. I started photographing Float Like a Buffalo for fun in 2021 and quickly fell in love with the craft. I started photographing other local acts and quickly started booking bigger artists and venues. Capturing the best moments of a show has become addictive along with trying out new tricks and methods. One of my favorite compliments to receive is that I capture the vibe of a show perfectly; this is because I am truly in my happy place photographing music. My goal is to experience the music alongside the audience while capturing every pivotal moment happening on stage so that bands have photos to relive the show forever.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My business, Rocky Montaño Photography, focuses solely on live show photography of all genres and sizes. What sets me apart is that I aim to support musicians throughout the entire process. The first way I do this is by offering affordable rates. I very much agree with getting paid for my art, but I also create pricing that’s accessible for all bands. I also work to be flexible with bands, which involves photographing a short 25 minute set to a full 4-set lineup. I aim for lightening fast turn-around and often have first edits done within about 18 hours. Outside of logistics, I am constantly experimenting with new styles, tricks and gear. This means that in additional to traditional, crisp concert photos, bands also have access to unique and artistic edits.

It took several years of learning (and a few hard lessons) to get to where I am today. I have upgraded my gear across the board and have watched hundreds of online video tutorials. I believe that we are all always learning. I look at every missed shot and corrupted memory card (only happened once) as a lesson to do better next time. Concert photography definitely isn’t easy, but the end result always makes it worth it.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If I could build the perfect itinerary for a day in Denver, it would have to start with a morning walk around Washington Park. Then, we’d grab coffee at The Molecule Effect (Brown Sugar Lavender Mocha). We’d drive out to hike and walk around Red Rocks, an absolute must-see! We’d then go spend a couple hours exploring Meow Wolf Denver. We’d enjoy queso and pork belly tacos at Los Chingones and then catch a show at one of the many amazing music venues in Denver!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to dedicate my shoutout to two people who have been pivotal in the growth of my business: Luke Story and Sarah Shuel. My husband Luke is my favorite concert buddy. After all, we first met at one of his band’s shows in 2017. He also introduced me to the world of electronic music and helped develop my appreciation for the Denver Music Scene. He also happened to buy me my first camera after watching me take and edit photos on my phone. Another essential person in my career has been my best friend Sarah Shuel. We met back in 2008 in Chicago, where we both attended Loyola University Chicago. 6 years after graduation, we both ended up living in Denver. She is the Manager of Float Like a Buffalo and the owner of Sonder Music Management. She is also a fellow music fan and photographer. Additionally, back in 2020, Sarah and I co-founded Rocky Mountain Virtual, an online music festival that streamed over 250 sets of music during the pandemic. I have Luke and Sarah to thank for so much of my success! They’ve fiercely supported me as I also juggle my full-time job as an Assistant Principal.

Website: https://www.rockymontano.com/

Instagram: rockymontanophotography

Facebook: www.facebook.com/rockymontanophotography/

Image Credits
Alyssa Montaño of Rocky Montaño Photography