photo by rachel cuthbert
heya, i’m gareth — the photographer behind 3rd mile.
i grew up in paisley and i’ve been obsessed with live music since i was twelve. I started taking photos from the crowd around 2004: back then it was a compact camera squeezed in a pocket. no passes, no plan — just a lot of excitement and a desire to capture the show.
by 2014 i’d made it into the pit, shooting for my own blog. in 2017 i decided to brand my photography under the name 3rd mile.
things really picked up after lockdown. i started working regularly with a scottish music magazine, then more venues, more artists — and found myself welcomed in a community that feels like home.
in 2024 i became house photographer at glasgow’s barrowland ballroom. i’ve queued outside more times than i can count, so getting to photograph it from the other side of the barrier is extremely special. i cover the gigs, the room, and the small moments in between for their socials, website, and archive.
after all these years — and well over two thousand shows — i still get the same buzz when the lights go down. my approach has never really changed: my style is strong colour, sharp portraits, and getting those moments which resonate.
i’m based in glasgow and work freelance across scotland with artists, promoters, and venues who want that same style in their images.
based in glasgow, scotland
resident at the barrowland ballroom, glasgow
available for freelance commissions across the uk
resident at the barrowland ballroom, glasgow
available for freelance commissions across the uk
gear: sony α7 iv · sigma art lenses
software: adobe lightroom classic · photoshop
delivery: private galleries, fine-art prints, licensed usage
software: adobe lightroom classic · photoshop
delivery: private galleries, fine-art prints, licensed usage