How I got into photographing rock stars.

It was her love of music that first propelled Dee Lippingwell into shooting local musicians back in the 70’s. From there, she went on to capture some of the most famous rock stars and legends throughout the 80’s and 90’s and into the Millennium, capturing thousands of images of some of the world’s greatest and most beloved music icons of our time.

It has been her great honor to be the recipient of Canada’s Famous Woman Award as the first woman in her field to earn this distinction of achievement. Later, she received the honor of being inducted to the BC Country Music Association Hall of Fame in recognition of her photographic contributions to the Association, for over 25 years.

Vancouver born and award winning photographer Dee Lippingwell began her self taught professional photography career over 40 years ago. Her love of music propelled her into shooting local musicians and her success on that level led her into shooting all the world famous performers that we are so familiar with today. Through her hard-edged determination and a commitment to photography Dee has had her photographs published world-wide. Her candidly striking photos of the world’s most famous personalities adorn exhibit halls, magazines, newspapers, calendars and some of her prints were even selected for the National Library of Canada.

Her love of photography is evident when looking at her portfolio of aspiring models, actors, performers, children….and the wedding portfolios that she puts together for her brides and grooms are a treasured reminder of a very special day in their lives. She is in demand for any of those special presentations/receptions or events where the photographer has but one chance to record the event for posterity and she never fails to capture the right shot!

Although Dee’s work has been published all over the world she is definitely proud of the fact that she was a featured photographer in the best-selling “Expo Celebration Book” in 1986. Her photographs were also a main feature of another best-selling book – Greg Potter and Red Robinson’s “Backstage Vancouver” which was published in 2004. She was also a substantial photograph contributor to the “100 Years of Fun – The PNE Story” which was released in 2011.

Most recently Dee was part of the “Live at the Commodore” by Aaron Chapman. In 1987 Dee published her first book of photographs and called it “The Best Seat In The House”…a title since used by major companies to promote their own products! This book was a collection of her best photos of rock and roll royalty to that date. She has since compiled photos and stories for her second book, titled “FIRST THREE SONGS…NO FLASH!” which not only highlights famous performers that she’s shot, mostly in Vancouver since 1976, but also deals with the behind-the-scenes stories associated with her concert photos….it seems that everyone wants to know what it’s like backstage with the Rolling Stones!

Speaking of the Rolling Stones – Mick Jagger personally selected Dee, along with only 12 other “still” photographers, to shoot from the photo pit at the SARS Benefit in Toronto – the largest attended one day event in history with over half a million people in attendance.

Some of her work can be seen on her website.