Jessica Lehrman

I grew up in a nomadic family, moving more times by the age of 13 than most do in a lifetime. At 9, we spent two years living in a 21-foot Toyota Dolphin RV, traveling the country, unschooled, and learning from the people and environments around us. This early exposure to constant change shaped my view of the world and how I document it. Years later, I photographed a road trip with my family for the New York Times, reflecting on the journey that brought me to where I am today.

At 22, after dropping out of college and spending my days photographing the Occupy Wall Street movement, I was asked to shoot a 14-day tour with Jermaine Dupri. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect, allowing me to keep a roof over my head while immersing myself in the magic of life on tour. That experience showed me how incredible it is to blend friendship, art, and the road. Since then, I’ve documented tours for friends like Flatbush Zombies, The Underachievers, Joey Badass, and Pro Era—watching them go from sleeping in vans to selling out arenas.

In many ways, the constant motion of tour life feels like a continuation of my nomadic upbringing. Being on the road with artists, capturing the highs and lows, feels like home to me—a place where art, chaos, and family all collide.