Kelce Jam 2024 - Concert Photography by Maxwell Thomason
- Maxwell Thomason
- May 19, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 17
Kelce Jam 2024 - Concert Photography by Maxwell Thomason
TL;DR: Kelce Jam 2024 brought Diplo, 2 Chainz, and Lil Wayne to Kansas City for the biggest music festival the city has seen. I covered the full event as the lead photographer, delivering edited galleries within 30 hours of the final set.
Travis Kelce holding the Super Bowl trophy on stage while Lil Wayne performs. That is the kind of moment that only exists once, and it is the reason professional event photography matters.
On May 18th, 2024, Kansas City's Kelce Jam transformed into a full-scale music festival backed by one of the most recognizable athletes in the country. I was there from soundcheck to the final encore, covering every angle of the event for ASPCT and Best Live Shows.
The Lineup
Kelce Jam 2024 stacked a lineup that crossed genres and pulled from different corners of the music world.
Diplo
Diplo opened with a DJ set that set the energy for the rest of the night. High BPM, heavy bass, and a crowd that was already warmed up before the sun went down. Shooting a DJ set is different from a traditional concert -- the action is in the crowd reactions, the lighting rigs, and the wide-angle scope of the production.
2 Chainz
2 Chainz brought the energy up another level with a set that leaned into his catalog of hits. The crowd knew every word, and the pit was packed the entire time. From a photography standpoint, his stage presence and movement made for dynamic frames at every moment.
Lil Wayne
Lil Wayne closed the night and delivered. The highlight was Travis Kelce joining him on stage with the Super Bowl trophy -- a moment that went viral within hours. I was positioned stage-left and had a clear sightline for the entire sequence. Those frames were delivered to media outlets and social teams before the parking lot cleared.
Beyond the Music
Kelce Jam was more than a concert. The festival grounds featured KC BBQ from Jack Stack, specialty cocktails, and a VIP section that doubled as a networking hub for Kansas City's sports and entertainment scene. I covered the vendor areas, fan activations, and the quieter moments between sets that round out a full event gallery.
How I Covered It
Gear and Approach
For a single-day festival with multiple headliners, I ran a dual-camera setup: one body with a 70-200mm for stage shots and a second with a 24-70mm for crowd and atmosphere. This lets me switch between tight performer frames and wide environmental shots without swapping lenses mid-set.
Delivery
Edited selects were delivered same-day for social media use. The full gallery -- color-graded for consistency and formatted for web, social, and print -- was delivered within 30 hours of the final set. Speed matters at events like this because the news cycle moves fast. If the images aren't in editors' hands by the next morning, the moment has passed.
Why This Event Matters
A festival like Kelce Jam only happens once. The specific combination of artists, weather, crowd energy, and spontaneous moments can never be replicated. That is exactly why professional event photography matters -- it creates the permanent visual record of something that existed for a single night.
Key Takeaways
Kelce Jam 2024 featured Diplo, 2 Chainz, and Lil Wayne in Kansas City
Travis Kelce on stage with the Super Bowl trophy was the defining moment of the night
Same-day delivery of edited selects kept content flowing while the event was still trending
Full galleries delivered within 30 hours, formatted for web, social, and print
Dual-camera setup is essential for single-day festivals with multiple headliners
Helpful Links
Conclusion
Kelce Jam 2024 was one of the most high-profile events I covered last year. The combination of A-list performers, a celebrity host, and a Kansas City crowd that showed up ready made it a standout in my portfolio. If you're organizing a festival, concert, or large-scale event and need a photographer who delivers fast without compromising quality, reach out.
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