Behind the lens: Daniel Howell of Black Owl Media

Written By Frank Long

Behind the Lens: Daniel Howell of Black Owl Media

Create-it Studios Podcast – Episode 02

Introduction

A Nashville night can feel like a darkroom shadows, red wash, smoke cutting across the stage. That’s where Daniel Howell thrives. The founder of Black Owl Media built his name shooting live music, crafting swift, story driven videos, and helping bands speak authentically online. In this episode of the Create-it Studios Podcast, Daniel sat down with host Jordan to talk concert pits, social media that actually works, and why you should master what you already own before buying anything new.

Key Takeaways

  1. Post with purpose. Don’t “post to post.” Map content to a funnel: awareness → interest → purchase → loyalty. Personality is part of the product.
  2. Authenticity beats polish until it doesn’t. Be yourself on camera, but quality signals intent. Even simple lighting and cleaner audio help audiences and labels take you seriously.
  3. Concert rules matter. Arena acts often allow only 1–3 songs for photographers. Plan lenses, positions, and moments in advance.
  4. Travel light. Run and gun kits win more gigs than overbuilt rigs if you know your tools cold.
  5. Skills before gear. Learn exposure and composition on what you have. Rent before you buy. Make the gear pay for itself.

Studio Context

This conversation was recorded on the Main Stage, located just inside the front entrance of Walmart. We used UA SD-1 microphones connected through a professional audio interface, mixed and polished in Logic Pro. It’s the same professional pathway artists use to cut vocals, podcasts, and live performance breakdowns without the downtown studio price tag.

The Conversation

Daniel’s path began in 2014 with portraits, quickly bending toward music photography inspired by classic 70s black and white work. A Craigslist cold reach led to club shoots; those led to bands; the bands led to video. Along the way he picked up digital marketing, and with it a simple mantra: Every post needs a job. A flyer says where. A personality clip says why.

On stage, limitations shape the image. If management gives you two songs, you build a plan: telephoto glass from a fixed position, anticipate the front man’s path, watch for light cues, and shoot the beat changes. Off stage, Daniel gravitates to energy tour bus moments, load-ins, the weird, human in betweens. That same speed is why he enjoys music videos and jiu-jitsu content: fast decisions, visible stakes.

For newcomers, he’s blunt: master manual exposure, composition, and timing. Carry your camera everywhere. Don’t overbuy rent or borrow until a real, repeatable need appears. Let your work, not your shopping list, do the talking.

Creative Takeaway

Clarity creates momentum. Decide the role of each piece of content before you hit record:

  1. Awareness: show who you are rehearsal goofs, quick tones, behind-the-scenes.
  2. Interest: mini-performances, story snippets, lyric or riff breakdowns.
  3. Conversion: show dates, pre-saves, merch drops with clean audio and confident framing.
  4. Loyalty: shout-outs, fan reposts, post-show recaps.

When your feed has purpose, your audience knows how to engage and your best moments don’t vanish into the scroll.

Closing Reflection

Daniel’s story mirrors our mission: professional craft made accessible. From a Walmart aisle to a finished release, the tools are here. What matters most is the eye behind the lens—and the reason behind the post.

Watch the Episode

“Behind the Lens: Daniel Howell of Black Owl Media (Ep. 02)” — Watch the full conversation on YouTube.

Presented by FUTUREBEAN

Fuel your creativity with artisan roasted coffee and housemade bites from FUTUREBEAN—now crafted at Walmart as the latest offering from the beloved Seattle brand, Storyville Coffee. Their patented brewing delivers quality, speed, and flavor that elevate your studio session.


Recorded at Create-it Studios

Create-it Studios is a hands-on creative space where anyone can make music, film videos, record podcasts, or join live events all powered by professional gear and open to all skill levels. Conveniently located inside Walmart (Franklin, TN), it’s the ultimate creative hub for content creators to produce, connect, and grow. With live audience recordings and streamed sessions, we bring the behind-the-scenes process to life.

Frank Long
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