ABOUT US

Outsiders Journal is our love letter to live music.

It started as a home for photography, and that’s still at the core of what we do. Over time we’ve expanded beyond photography and refined how we document live music.

We’re not interested in covering everything or pushing out content.

If we’re talking about it or showing up, it’s because it matters to us.

Our focus is on capturing what a show feels like. The details, the crowd, the moments that get missed when things are rushed just to get something online

We cover both local and international artists, but the approach stays the same no matter the size of the room.
We take the time, pay attention, and put something together that reflects the experience.

As we grow, we’re building a small group of contributors who share that same mindset.

THIS IS OUTSIDERS JOURNAL

  • Brittney McCarthy

    Naarm / Photographer

    Brittney is behind BM Images, and she has been shooting live music since early 2022. Jumping on board with Outsiders Journal by early 2023 and has since been smashing out a slew of show galleries and reviews. Coming from a background of portraits, her dark and gritty style is focused on intimate and connected captures.

    Showcasing a diverse portfolio of local shows in dive bars to international tours, ranging from noise bands, black metal, electronic indie, hardcore and even jazz. Brittney has a deep love for performance and visuals, finding a way to document the journey and experience created by the artist into a gallery is a welcomed challenge for her.

    Band Bucket List

    • Thursday
    • Norma Jean
    • The Cure

  • James Gough

    Eora / Photographer

    James, who also owns By James Gough, began capturing live music in 2017. What started as a personal passion project he transformed into Outsiders Journal, reflecting his love for portraiture, photojournalism, storytelling, and minimalism. James' unique style seeks to capture intimate moments amidst the chaos.

    Having established himself in Sydney's metal scene, James has had the opportunity to shoot in some of the state's largest venues. His portfolio spans a wide range, covering artists from Sleep Token to Charlie Crockett. From Knotfest to Dark Mofo. Through his work, he strives to transport viewers right back into the heart of the live experience.

    Band Bucket List

    • Metallica
    • Rammstein
    • Rufus Du Sol

  • Natasha Christian

    Eora / Reviews

    Natasha is an experienced music journalist and copywriter hailing from Sydney, Australia.

    Her journey into the music realm started in 2008, as a not-so-confident street press reviewer and bloody awful music radio news reader.

    From there, her path detoured into the world of news, where she dedicated her career to writing and editing for Australia’s top publishers including Yahoo, News Corp, SBS, 7News and Network 10.

    Fuelled by a love of diverse topics, in 2020 Natasha made the shift to copywriting for brands, finding her niche in death, finance, psychology and the environment.

    In 2022, things came full circle when she joined forces with James to write for Outsiders Journal. Writing for OJ gives Natasha a platform to merge her journalistic background with her undying love of music.

    Band Bucket List

    • Godflesh
    • Danzig
    • Depeche Mode

FAQs

  • We’re now open to a small number of contributors.

    We’re very selective in who we bring on, and review all submissions carefully to ensure the quality of coverage aligns with the publication.

    We’re looking for people who already have a clear style and can work to a consistent standard.

    Before reaching out, please make sure you have:

    • A portfolio of recent live music photos

    • The ability to meet deadlines and communicate clearly

    If that sounds like you, send through:

    • A short intro

    • Examples of your work (links only)

    Show coverage requires both photography and a written review.

    We also accept review-only contributions.

  • Sydney & Melbourne

  • We’re always open to covering local shows & new records. Each of us set our own rates depending what you’re after.

    Reach out via the contact form with details of your show, including date, time, venue and city. We have photographers across Australia, so this helps us line up the right coverage.

    Not all requests are guaranteed coverage on Outsiders Journal. We prioritise shows and releases that align with Outsiders Journal’s focus and availability.