A grand piano, a stage full of colour and a brief with room to get creative. GKO got in touch while touring the UK to ask me to photograph his show at Middleton Hall, at the University of Hull. Before the performance, he also wanted some new headshots.
He wanted colour to be part of the stage photographs, with a creative twist to help them stand out. That gave the shoot two parts: portraits of the person behind the piano, then photographs of him performing. A brilliant brief to get stuck into.
Portraits before the show.
We started with the headshots. Having the piano and stage there meant the portraits could feel connected to his work, with a mix of seated photographs, standing portraits and closer views.
The coloured backdrop gave us plenty of variety. There are clear portraits where you can see his face, alongside darker silhouettes and softer frames that lean into the light. Different photographs doing different jobs, while still feeling like part of the same shoot.
If you need portraits alongside coverage of an event, it’s worth mentioning both when you enquire. My portrait and branding photography page has more examples of that side of my work.
Letting the stage colour do its thing.
Green and yellow. Purple and blue. Then a completely different feel with warmer red and orange light. The backdrop and the reflections in the piano gave me plenty to work with, from wider stage views to closer photographs of GKO at the keys.
I wanted to show the setting as well as the pianist. In the wider frames you can see the space around the grand piano; move closer and the strings, raised lid and reflections become part of the picture.
A creative twist.
Some of the photographs are clear and direct. Others have blurred outlines, layered shapes and a more experimental feel. That mix was part of the appeal of this brief: there was room to make images with a bit of personality.
Alongside the colour, I’ve included a few black and white photographs. They give another view of the light, the instrument and GKO at the keyboard.
One shoot, two sides of the artist.
The portraits and performance photographs belong together, but they aren’t all trying to do the same thing. A headshot lets people see the artist. A wide stage photograph shows the setting, while a closer performance frame brings attention to the person playing.
That’s a useful conversation to have before a music shoot: do you need new portraits, coverage of the show, or both? Let me know where you want the photographs to go and which parts matter most to you.
You can find out more about GKO and his music on his website. For more of my work, explore my business, event and live music photography, or take a look at the University of Hull branding shoot for another portrait-led project on campus.
From the portraits to the performance.
A look through the shoot, from photographs beside the piano to the colourful stage views and creative frames.
A few useful questions.
Can we do portraits before a performance?
Yes. That was part of the brief for this GKO shoot. Mention it when you get in touch so we can allow time for portraits as well as the show.
Can the photographs have a more creative feel?
Absolutely. Tell me the look you’re after and share any references you have. GKO wanted colour and a creative twist; we can talk through an approach that fits your own music, event and setting.
What do you need to know before quoting for a show?
The date, venue, approximate timings and which parts you need covered. Let me know about access, stage lighting, any photography restrictions and where you plan to use the images too.
Got a show coming up?
Tell me about the performance, the photographs you need and whether you’d like portraits alongside the live coverage.
Tell me about your show