Getting Intimate With Pooneh Ghana’s Festival Photography

Being hired by publications like Pitchfork and NME to attend music festivals might sound like a non-stop party, but photographer Pooneh Ghana says there’s a lot more work behind being a festival photographer than people think. “[People think] you just shoot the band then that’s it, the rest of the time is partying and debauchery,” she tells It’s Nice That. “I’m not saying that doesn’t occasionally happen, but people don’t consider the preparations for the shoot, the running around all day and staying up until 7 a.m. editing.” Ghana also does more than take pictures of live shows. Her series of polaroids capture famous faces at their rawest and most candid. From the Arctic Monkeys to Debra Harry, Ghana shows the energy and intimacy of the festival experience.

We shoved as many photos as we could into the slideshow above, but there are tons more in her portfolio, her Instagram, and her Tumblr. Pick your poison.