Collection: Karen Mason-Blair

Karen Mason Blair has always loved music and art. She got her start in high school photographing bands, and applied her passion for photography to the bands that rose out of Seattle’s booming music scene. Karen’s famous client list was developed in the 90s, while she enjoyed exclusive access to historic events of the Grunge movement, including photographing Pearl Jam’s 1st concert ever! (Karen has the only photos from this show). She went on to photograph Alice in Chains’ first photos for Rolling Stone; Soundgarden’s first session with Ben Sheppard; Nirvana wearing Santa Hats; Mother Love Bone and more.

Her award-winning photos have appeared on Nirvana, Soundgarden, and Radiohead albums. Beck, Duran Duran, Faith No More, and The Ramones are some of her favorite sessions. Karen has a way of engaging her clients and thus then capturing their true personalities. Bands often say they had so much fun with her they left smiling. Clients include Capitol Records, Warner Brothers, Sony, indie label Sub Pop and every major label.

She has been published both nationally and internationally in People, Rolling Stone, and Entertainment Weekly.

Her image was chosen as the cover photo for Nirvana’s DVD Live at the Paramount. She was the only photographer allowed to shoot during this filming. She has several photos featured in the Sonic Highway series’ Seattle episode, and just sold photos of Pearl Jam’s 1st concert to their manager - he gave them to PJ for Christmas gifts! She is currently based in Seattle.