About

Hi, I’m Alan Hess and I’m a Photographer that can capture the excitement of your live event.

Want to work together? I’d love to hear from you.

I am a San Diego-based  photographer specializing in concert and live-event photography. I have photographed thousands of concerts, events, conferences, and sporting events. From small club shows to big arenas, I thrive on the fast pace of shooting on the fly, the rush of the house lights going down, and the drive to capture the “show” in still images.

I have photographed a wide variety of events  including national touring acts like: Billy Idol, Cher, Bruce Hornsby, Justin Bieber, Madonna, The Who, The Dead, Slayer, John Legend, Marilyn Manson, Robin Williams, The Smashing Pumpkins, Steel Pulse, Jay Z, Widespread Panic, Willie Nelson and many others. I have photographed conferences small and large including covering press rooms, panels and cast signings at the San Diego Comic Con for Fox / and FX Television for more than five years.

When I am not out making photographs I am usually either working on a new photography book or hanging out with my two rescued boxers. I am the author of 12 photography books, 3 books about getting the most from your iPad and an additional 6 Fuel ebooks from Peachpit. I have been the technical editor or content advisor on more than 12 other titles and I continue to write and edit books when not out shooting.

• Make Great Photos
• The Enthusiast’s Guide to Night and Low-Light Photography : 50 Photographic Principles You Need to Know
• The Enthusiast’s Guide to Multi-Shot Techniques: 49 Photographic Principles You Need to Know
• A Photographer’s Guide to Focus and Autofocus: From Snapshots to Great Shots
• Mastering Nikon Speedlights: A Complete Guide to Small Flash Photography and the Creative Lighting System 
• Pet Photography: From Snapshots to Great Shots 
• Night and Low-Light Photography Photo Workshop 
• All Access: Your Backstage Pass to Concert Photography 
• Nikon D3200 Digital Field Guide
• Exposure Digital Field Guide 
• Composition Digital field Guide 
• iPad Fully Loaded 
• iPad 2 Fully Loaded 
• The New iPad Fully Loaded 
• The Sony A700 Digital Field Guide 
• The Sony A200 Digital Field Guide

I have had the honor of being part of the Photoshop World Instructor Dream Team since 2009 teaching on a variety of subjects both in the Photography and Photoshop tracks.

I am currently acting as the house photographer for the Pechanga Arena – San Diego (formally the San Diego Sports Arena)  where I not only cover all the events, but also document stage setups, building improvements and I take the trade shots with the building management and the acts that come through the building.