Published on May 5th, 2023 | by Jimmy Star

Billy Hess: Concert Celebrity Photographer

We were entangled in the midst of the smoke-filled basement of the Barclay Center in Brooklyn, NY, which doubled as a massive green room conglomerate for the stars of YO! MTV Rap’s 35th Anniversary extravaganza. The 12 hour event featuring the icons of Hip-Hop including Flavor Flav, DJ Red Alert, Ed Lover, Doctor Dre, Fat Joe, and a barrage of others, was set to stage while Celebrity Photographer Billy Hess captured the soul essence of the event….

Since then and even before Billy Hess has focused on (no pun intended) concert pictures of superstars including: Boy George, The B-52’s, Dionne Warwick, CeCe Peniston, Krayzie Bones, Adam Ant, Sandra Bernhard, The Village People, Bon Jovi, Liza Minnelli, Leon, Nile Rodgers, Randy Edelman, Kim Sledge, The Struts, ….just to mention a few. He has appeared in Billboard, Huff Post, Get Out Magazine, Louder Than War, Splash, and of course Hype…just to mention a few. However, his first love is shooting Hip Hop artists.

Hess attributes his love for focusing on Hip Hop growing up in the Bronx low income projects where DMX was his neighbor. DMX would play his music loud on Sunday’s driving the neighbors crazy, however, Billy knew he would become a superstar eventually.

Billy began his career after meeting a British R&B boyband lead singer who attempted to go solo. After realizing he had a passion for the shoot, he began to make connections in the entertainment industry both in New York and LA. As his passion for the craft grew, so did his clientele. Now he can be seen at most New York concerts stationed in the “Pit”, when he’s not he’s in his studio taking pictures of celebrities, models, and the coolest people on the planet…..

The official website for Billy Hess Photography may be found at https://www.billyhess.com