Commercial photographer by day and concert photographer by night, Hope Byrd is a New Orleans-based artist that breathes advocacy for the musical arts. She studied Arts Administration and Marketing at UNO with an educational stint in Prague, currently photographing (and designing) under her brand names, The Gold Frame and Hope.jpg. Inspired by music and determined to capture it, New Orleans’ culture bearers are usually the subject of her lens. She’s shot the likes of Deacon John, George Porter Jr., Leo Nocentelli, Walter Wolfman, Judy Hill; more nationally, Nas, Tom Petty, Atmosphere, Telmary y Habana Sana — the list goes on. Former Jazz Fest archive photographer, Hope’s now contracted by GoDaddy, Winter Circle Productions, and more recently, ANTIGRAVITY Magazine.
In addition to shining a light on performing artists, Hope uses her camera lens to amplify the voices of everyday people in times of crisis. In 2020, she hit the road and documented the California wildfires, the nationwide civil rights protests, and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. She looks forward to continuing using photojournalism as a way to bear witness and provide hope to others.