Skills Hub

Welcome to the MPA Skills Hub - our platform for emerging talent to learn from industry professionals and develop their creative and technical skills. From Q&A features to how to guides, photographers have access to guidance, knowledge and tips from the best in the business.

Top Tips

Coping with Low Lighting - Tips for Shooting & Post Processing with John Lyons

MPA alumnus John Lyons was the recipient of our 2022 Live Music Award with his striking image of David Mrakpor. Like most avid live music photographers, John has come across the problem of low lighting at gigs.

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Top Tips

Photographer Spotlight: Adam Ziegenhals

Next up we have Underground Scenes nominee, Adam Ziegenhals!

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Top Tips

Photographer Spotlight: Adrien Tillmann

We're profiling some of the talented photographers who participated in this year’s Music Photography Awards and had their work nominated by our judges!

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Top Tips

Photographer Spotlight: Christaan Felber

Over the coming weeks, we’ll be profiling some of the talented photographers who participated in this year’s Music Photography Awards and had their work nominated by our judges.

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Inspiration

Alex Amorós on his ‘Keep the Faith’ exhibition, creative process & more

A few months back, winner of the 2023 Underground Scenes category, Alex Amorós, unveiled his latest exhibition Keep the Faith, a curated collection of photographs, video and scene insider accounts exploring the underground Northern Soul music scene around the United Kingdom.

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Top Tips

Photographer Spotlight: Mary Caroline Russell

Mary Caroline – take the stage! Next up in our #PhotographerSpotlight series, we welcome the 2023 Live Music nominee.

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Inspiration

A.F. Cortes on Blood, Tempo, Storytelling & Manual Focus

In this latest Skills Hub piece, Brooklyn-based filmmaker, photographer A.F. Cortes, shares how his relationship with music paved the way to develop a unique voice as a photographer, as well as the most crucial element of music photography—music itself— helped him evolve into a storyteller.

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Top Tips

Photographer Spotlight: Yasi

Yasi – take the stage! Next up in our #PhotographerSpotlight series, we welcome the Iranian-born, L.A.-based music photographer.

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Top Tips

Phoebe Fox on Adapting Your Photography for Clients

Phoebe Fox is a photographer and videographer who specialises in live music, documenting tours, festivals, artworks and magazine features. Her clients include Blur, Madison Beer, Fontaines DC, NME, BBC Radio 1 amongst many others.

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Starting Out

Photographer Spotlight: Kat McBride

“Since being nominated, I’ve had more of an opportunity to collaborate with other photographers. I am learning a lot and am becoming a better photographer because of it.”

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Top Tips

Q&A: John Lyons on his debut exhibition, creative process & techniques

In December, MPA alumnus John Lyons launched his debut exhibition at Hoxton Cabin.

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Top Tips

Photographer Spotlight: Mark John

Up next in our Photographer Spotlight series is Basel-based, freelance photographer, Mark John.

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Starting Out

Photographer Spotlight: AF Cortes

“My two cents on advice are as follows: Don’t worry about photographing the biggest bands or obtaining those “impossible to get” photo passes. Sometimes the best show happens in the subway or under a bridge at midnight.”

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Top Tips

Top Tips for Getting Your 2025 Submissions Ready

As we near 2025, it means that you now only have a few months to start preparing your picture-perfect entries for this year’s MPAs!

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Starting Out

Photographer Spotlight: Erik Weiss

Erik Weiss - take the stage! In our latest Photographer Spotlight, we welcome Berlin-based photographer, Erik Weiss.

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Starting Out

Photographer Spotlight: Izzy Nuzzo

Izzy Nuzzo - take the stage! In our latest Photographer Spotlight, we welcome global award-winning concert photographer, Izzy Nuzzo.

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Inspiration

Photographer Spotlight: Aaron Parsons

In this week’s spotlight, we are delighted to welcome Aaron Parsons, a freelance professional photographer currently residing in North London.

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Top Tips

Photographer Spotlight: Sam Rockman

In this week’s spotlight, we welcome Sam Rockman, a London-based photographer and visual artist who has been featured in publications such as Wonderland, Dreamingless, Billboard and Kerrang and has worked with musicians such as Mimi Barks, Hollie Cook, Dabbla and Gentleman’s Dub Club to name a few.

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Top Tips

Photographer Spotlight: Nicole Fara Silver

In this week’s spotlight, we welcome Nicole Fara Silver - an internationally published editorial and commercial photographer based in New York City, who was nominated in our Music Moment of the Year category for her captivating live shot of Billie Eilish at Madison Square Gardens.

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Top Tips

Photographer Spotlight: Paul Bogle

This week in our spotlight series we welcome South London-based photographer Paul Allotei Bogle, who was nominated in our Music Moment of the Year category for his mesmerising live shot of Stormzy and DAVE.

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Inspiration

Lorenzo Reali on photographing The Clockworks in Studio One

Music Moment of the Year nominee Lorenzo Reali captured a handful of incredible images after this year's awards night of Galway-bred, London-based band The Clockworks, whilst they recorded the music video for their track 'Mayday Mayday' in Studio One at Abbey Road.

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Top Tips

Photographer Spotlight: Kaj O'Connell

Over the coming weeks, we’ll be profiling some of the talented photographers who participated in this year’s Music Photography Awards and had their work shortlisted by our judges.

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Inspiration

Abbey Road Amplify x Music Photography Awards: In Conversation with Rankin

Rankin's iconic images have captured the essence of musicians and celebrities for decades, showcasing his unique and distinctive style.

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Starting Out

Abbey Road Amplify x Music Photography Awards: 'The Art of Music Photography' Panel Talk

Here’s another recap from the inspiring day of panel talks earlier this year, celebrating the art of music photography with a special MPA edition of our Amplify festival.

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Starting Out

Photographer Spotlight: Carlo Cavaluzzi

Over the coming weeks, we’ll be profiling some of the talented photographers who participated in this year’s Music Photography Awards and had their work shortlisted by our judges.

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Starting Out

How do you prepare for a shoot?

Preparing for a shoot is like tuning up before a recording session - it's all about finding the perfect harmony between the right gear, creative vision and an eye for capturing those fleeting, yet unforgettable moments.

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Starting Out

Photographer Spotlight: Alex Amorós

Over the coming weeks, we’ll be profiling some of the talented photographers who participated in this year’s Music Photography Awards and had their work shortlisted by our judges.

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Starting Out

Abbey Road Amplify x Music Photography Awards: 'Getting Started' Panel Talk

In July, you may remember we hosted an inspiring day of panel talks celebrating the art of music photography in a special MPA edition of our #Amplify festival.

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Top Tips

Sacha Lecca's tips for posting your work on social media

“In trying to post too much, can mean putting out work that’s not your strongest. I’m guilty of doing this myself!” conic photographer, photo-editor and Rolling Stone magazine aficionado Sacha Lecca is back with another insight for us; this time focussing on posting your work on social media.

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Starting Out

Rob Jones on how to build contacts, getting noticed, inspiration & more

We recently sat down with Rob Jones to hear his top tips on how emerging photographers get noticed, how you can go about building contacts and key advice to give to any photographers starting out when they are taking images of artists.

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Top Tips

Photographer Charlotte Patmore shares her top insights

Charlotte Patmore is an inimitable photographer, artist and filmmaker. With over ten years of experience, she has developed her vision through the live music scene, touring the world and providing a bright and vibrant insight into backstage life.

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Top Tips

How do you create a distinctive style and visual identity?

If you asked two photographers to shoot a portrait shot of an artist, you’d likely get two wildly different images. Every photographer has their preferred approach to lighting, composition, mood, angle and perspective. So, the big question: “How do you create a distinctive style and visual identity

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Inspiration

What’s your creative process when you approach a new project?

Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro, planning a photoshoot can feel stressful. There are a multitude of thing things to organise. From the concept, visual references, artists and much more. However, a great plan sets you up for success and helps you organise every detail before the shoot.

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Top Tips

Eljay Briss shares his top five tips to any music photographer

Eljay Briss is a UK based photographer of Jamaican heritage who shoots portraits, music events & festivals, film premieres, behind-the-scenes, commercial and editorial work.

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Top Tips

Chris Suspect’s Top Five Music Photography Tips

We recently sat down with our 2022 Zeitgeist Award winner Chris Suspect who won the coveted prize for his photo of DC punk/metal legends Darkest Hour at DC Brau brewery for their surprise 20th anniversary show.

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Business

How do you market your photography…with Sacha Lecca

Capturing the essence of music through the lens is a thrilling and rewarding experience. Music photography allows you to freeze moments of raw emotion, powerful performances and the vibrant energy that fills concert venues.

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Starting Out

Capturing the Beat: Essential Tips for Music Photographers Starting Out

As a music photographer starting out, you're about to embark on an adventure filled with electrifying concerts, diverse genres and dynamic artists...

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Starting Out

“Dive in and immerse yourself!” Dean Chalkley on the importance of looking beyond the lens

Dean Chalkley has been producing compelling visual imagery at the intersection of music, fashion and culture for the past two decades.

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Starting Out

Abbey Road Studios photographer-in-residence Simon Wheatley shares his top five insights

Simon Wheatley is one of the most influential UK photographers of the 21st Century. Simon emerged as an authoritative chronicler of London’s youth culture with the publication of his book, DON’T CALL ME URBAN! The Time of Grime in 2010.

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Starting Out

Getting Started with DeShaun Craddock

DeShaun shares his tips on how to build a portfolio, how to get noticed when starting out and more.

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Starting Out

What advice would you give to someone getting started?

We caught up with last year’s nominees and winners to find out their advice for aspiring photographers starting out. Here’s what they had to say.

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Top Tips

Tips & Techniques for lighting Live Music Concerts

Top Tips from Live Music 2022 Winner John Lyons

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