Leon Bridges is on his way to the Grammys. This photographer feels blessed to be documenting his journey

Bridges’ gradual but continuous increase to stardom has been captured powering the lens by a soft-spoken Nashville photographer named Cedrick Jones. His gorgeous illustrations or photos of Bridges on tour are not just about the times when the singer can take the stage. They also seize the stillness and joyful moments driving the scenes.

“Five minutes later he adopted me again and I lost it induce I’ve been a enthusiast due to the fact … I’m from Mississippi, so I have been a supporter due to the fact I was back home. So when he adopted (me) and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, like what is going on?'”

Though that come across didn’t flip into an speedy gig with the singer, it was just the beginning for Jones.

A yr later on, in 2019, Bridges invited him on tour.

“I arrived to rehearsal, took some pics and I know he presently had a photographer on the tour, but it was just interesting of him to bring me out to rehearsal, just to shoot some behind-the-scenes stuff,” Jones claimed.

“I guess after that he just kind of liked what I did for that rehearsal. And I bought a phone at like 10 o’clock that night asking me if I could appear on tour for like a thirty day period … it was just excellent timing … we just clicked.”

Jones accompanied the singer once again on tour in the slide of 2021. He claims that Bridges has elevated his pictures to new heights. Now he finds himself continually trying new methods, utilizing film instead of a electronic camera.

A person of his favorite pictures took place when they were being preparing for a display in Atlanta and Jones bought an strategy.

“I was actually sitting in my resort area and I was hunting out the window and I observed these curtains, just like a genuinely amazing forest inexperienced variety of shade,” he reported. “I went to his room, just took some photos, moved some chairs about and told him to sit in entrance of the curtain lead to I’ve generally desired to shoot in entrance of like a truly enjoyment, amazing resort curtain.”

Guiding the scenes, Jones claims Bridges is shy at moments. But it really is in those silent times when he receives to soak in the practical experience.

“He doesn’t rush nearly anything. He’s affected person … at times you just catch him sitting all over, just like taking part in a report, a track that he has not finished still, but just like a several strains and he just, like, keeps arranging,” he claimed.

Jones stated he enjoys viewing performers like Bridges get the job done them selves up just before a present.

“You’re hanging out with them, and they are standard folks, but then when they hit the phase, it is really like a switch! I really like looking at that switch. It is like, oh, snap, like, this is Leon Bridges. You know what I suggest?”

A different standout second for Jones was a time in New York Metropolis when Bridges’ mother was grooming his hair.

“It’s just this sort of a distinctive minute. I didn’t recognize it until finally after I shot (it),” he claimed. “That was genuinely amazing, just to kind of see how easy it is for her to do his hair.”

Jones won’t consider these times for granted and is grateful to be along for the ride.

“I’m from Mississippi. I was under no circumstances like, traveling all-around like that, you know, airplanes. So I experienced to get utilized to things like that and visiting different metropolitan areas, just attempting new things and browsing destinations. I just never ever grew up pondering I would at any time be equipped to (do this) … it really is just been exciting,” he reported.

“Like you’re a fan of the tunes, but when you get the appreciate person? It can be pretty much like a pleasurable dangle with your friends and you get to function.”