Inside the Lens: Capturing the Raw Soul of Blues Rock with Allison Morgan

Allison Morgan didn’t set out to become a blues rock photographer. It happened in a moment of stillness, in an empty bar, with a Joe Bonamassa performance playing through the speakers. That accidental encounter cracked something open in her, launching an eight-year journey to capture the raw soul of the genre through her lens.

Now, with over 130 photographs featured in her debut book, Rock Heart, Blues Soul, and a foreword by blues rock legend Walter Trout, Allison presents a powerful visual tribute to the emotion, gratitude, and unguarded moments that define today’s blues scene. From intimate clubs to packed arenas, she’s photographed blues rock stars like Eric Gales, Keb’ Mo’, Samantha Fish, Slash, Robert Randolph, and many more, preserving the passion of live performance long after the final note fades. With the book now available, Morgan invites fans to see the music through her eyes and feel every frame.

What first drew you to blues rock and how did you become a photographer for the genre?

It started with a single afternoon in an empty bar, completely by accident.  I had an hour to kill between two kids’ swim practices in two different cities— one of those chaotic parenting days.  Clapton was playing on the speakers—a voice I’d known and loved for years—but somehow, his deeper blues work had never fully clicked with me.  Then came another voice I didn’t recognize. The bartender told me it was Joe Bonamassa, Live from the Royal Albert Hall.  Something about that performance cracked me wide open.  It hit me right where I was: exhausted, worn out, stretched thin—and it felt like the music just knew.  That was the moment I “got” the blues.

From there, I snapped a few shots at a live show—not as a career move, but to hold on to how the music felt.  Over time, the pictures began to run and it became clear that this was my own way of participating.  Though I’ve never played an instrument well, I could offer something in return: images that captured how the music felt and honored the artists’ lifetime of devotion to it.

Blues is a genre rooted in storytelling and vulnerability. How does that translate visually for you as a photographer?

Blues is soul laid bare, and I try to photograph it that way.  I’m not looking for perfection—I’m looking for a moment: the way an artist closes their eyes mid-phrase, the tension in their hands, the glisten of sweat on a forehead that says this matters.  It’s about honesty.  I want the viewer to feel like they’ve stepped into something intimate and authentic.  A compelling image doesn’t just document a moment, it makes it reverberate emotionally, like a note that hangs in the air and settles somewhere deep.

Were there any particular artists or moments in this collection that left a lasting impact on you personally or creatively?

Absolutely—too many to count, honestly.  I can remember where I was and what was happening for every single image in this collection. It might sound strange, but even during the long hours of editing, I feel connected to those moments all over again.  And when I finally hit save and close the file, there’s always a small pang, like I’m saying goodbye to something real.  Spending time with the images on my desktop lets me stay there a little longer.

That said, there were certain moments where it felt like something in the room shifted. Like watching multiple fans quietly wipe their eyes after Kirk Fletcher plays slow blues.  Or standing in the middle of a thousand people, all belting out “Oh Miss Carolina” with Robert Jon & The Wreck—that goosebump electricity is unforgettable.  Or being in a dimly lit recording studio in Los Angeles with Walter Trout when someone opened the door during a break and a shaft of sunlight cut through and landed on Jamie Hunting—pure chance, pure magic, and the best shot of the day.

Whether it’s watching an artist meditate into a solo during an empty soundcheck or quietly observing pre-show nerves and rituals, I’m always asking myself: How do I capture this feeling on a heartless, electronic sensor?

Those moments weren’t for show. They were real. Raw. Unscripted.
And they are what keep me coming back.

What is the most rewarding aspect of photographing blues rock artists?

It’s being able to give something back.  These artists pour themselves out for us, night after night, and I feel an enormous sense of purpose in capturing something that honors that devotion.  When a musician uses one of my images on an album cover or tour poster, or a fan hangs one of my images in their home or comments, “I can hear them singing,” it’s deeply humbling.  That’s when I know I’ve done my job.  I may not play a guitar, but with my camera, I can support the music I love and help preserve it for someone else to feel.

What inspired Rock Heart, Blues Soul?

The inspiration grew over time—image by image, road trip after road trip.  But at its heart, this book is a love letter.  It started with a single song that blew my world open, and it evolved into a mission to support this genre in the best way I know how.  Over the years, I’ve been so lucky to meet the most extraordinary musicians and fans, travel across oceans and highways, and click the shutter literally hundreds of thousands of times trying to honor what I hear.  I wanted to gather these moments into one place, something lasting, something true, both to celebrate the music for longtime fans and to spark interest in those who have yet to discover it. 

What do you hope fans of blues and rock take away from Rock Heart, Blues Soul when they flip through its pages? 

I hope they feel something. Whether it’s a rush of nostalgia, the thrill of discovery, or just that chill you get when music hits the right nerve. I want people to flip a page and say, “I remember that show,” or, “I want to know more about this artist,” or even, “I can hear this image.”

At the end of the day, it’s about connection. This book is my way of saying: these moments happened. They mattered. And here they are, still alive in light and shadow.