Photographer Temi Adegbayibi showcases the energy of UK jazz
Temi Adegbayibi, a 26-year-old photographer from Enfield, began by shooting his cousin's church band and later captured live performances by artists like Ezra Collective. His work has been exhibited at the Royal Albert Hall, and he aims to represent Black joy and the dynamism of jazz. He balances his photography with day jobs and film production.
Adegbayibi's path began informally, shooting his cousin's church worship band in Enfield before moving to local gigs. His breakthrough came at the 2022 Love Supreme festival, where a photo of Ezra Collective later appeared on an album sleeve, convincing him photography could be more than a hobby. He now balances freelance music work with a staff role at the Royal Albert Hall, where his solo exhibition on British jazz led to an in-house position.
His technique involves slow shutter speeds and layered light, inspired by visual artist Kat Anderson, to convey both the energy and stillness of live performance. He has photographed artists including Jorja Smith and Basement Jaxx, and shot at Glastonbury and the Recessland festival. Adegbayibi explicitly frames his work as countering stereotypical portrayals of Black musicians, emphasizing joy and authentic community representation.
This profile could broaden public perception of who documents British jazz and how Black musicians are visually represented in media. By foregrounding joy over aggression, Adegbayibi's work may influence how venues, festivals, and publications approach imagery, potentially opening doors for other photographers from similar backgrounds. His trajectory—from church band shoots to a Royal Albert Hall exhibition—could also serve as a model for emerging creatives navigating the gap between artistic passion and financial sustainability in the cultural sector.