‘I show how energetic it can be’: the photographer capturing Britain’s golden age of jazz

Temi Adegbayibi started out taking pictures of the Ezra Collective and other British musicians as a hobby, then found his work exhibited at the Royal Albert Hall. He discusses Black joy and the movement and stillness of jazz

When I speak to Temi Adegbayibi on the phone, the 26-year-old photographer is on the move. He is travelling across London, then running up the stairs to his desk, fitting our conversation into the interstitial spaces of a life split between freelance photography, film production and working at the Royal Albert Hall.

His glittering portfolio includes photographs of Jorja Smith, Basement Jaxx, Fireboy DML and Ezra Collective, but like many in the creative industries, he oscillates between the glamour of the stage and the reality of making a living. “I’ve always had day jobs,” he says. “Most photographers back in the day weren’t shooting for money, they were shooting for passion.”

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