Skindred on stage. Hands in the air. A room full of people right in the middle of it. This was a live music photography job at Asylum, on the University of Hull campus, in 2024, and there was plenty to point the camera at.
I was hired to capture the night and the band playing. A straightforward brief, with the focus on the performance and the people there to see it. The finished photographs bring those two sides together: close views of the band, wider stage photographs and a good look back into the crowd.
The band. The lights. The whole stage.
Red lighting, blue beams and a completely different feel when the stage went green. The light changed the look of the photographs, from darker frames around the vocalist to wider views that show the band and the room around them.
I’ve included photographs of the vocalist, guitarist and bassist, as well as views that bring more of the stage together. Raised arms, a wide stance with a guitar, the microphone held out towards the room. Those visible moments give the collection its energy.
Turn around. There’s a crowd behind you.
Photographing a gig means looking beyond the stage too. The crowd photographs are a big part of this set: people cheering at the barrier, arms raised across the room and phones held up to catch a moment of their own.
A close photograph of the band does one job. A wide view of the audience does another. Together, they give a much better feel for the night than a collection pointing in only one direction.
There’s a mix of colour and black and white in the gallery. The colour photographs keep the stage lighting in the picture; the black and white frames bring attention to expressions, silhouettes and all those hands in the air.
Live music photography at Asylum.
Asylum is part of Hull University Students’ Union, on the university campus. For this shoot, my job was to photograph the show happening in front of me: the band, the stage and the people enjoying the night.
If you’re arranging a gig or event, it helps to talk through what you need covered before the date. The artist on stage might be the main focus, but you may also want the audience, the venue setup or particular details included. Access and any photography restrictions matter too, so mention those when you enquire.
For another side of live music photography, have a look at my GKO shoot at Middleton Hall, which combined portraits before the show with colourful piano performance photographs. You can also explore my business, event and live music photography for more examples.
Find more about the band and their music on Skindred’s official website.
A look through the night.
The band, the stage lights and the crowd at Asylum. Tap a photograph for a closer look.
A few useful questions.
Can you photograph the crowd as well as the band?
Yes. This Asylum shoot includes both. Let me know which parts of your event matter most, so we can agree what needs covering.
What do you need to know about access?
The venue, timings, where photography is permitted and any restrictions from the organiser or artist. If there are particular access arrangements, include those in the brief.
Can we arrange portraits alongside live coverage?
We can discuss both when planning the shoot. My GKO story is an example of portraits before a show combined with performance photographs. Allowing time for each helps us make a realistic plan.
Got a night worth photographing?
Tell me the date, venue and what you need covered. A rough brief is absolutely fine.
Tell me about your event