TJMONEYY MEDIA · London
I photograph Notting Hill Carnival and London's carnival culture — costume and mas bands, the sound systems, and the crowd that makes the whole thing what it is. It's documentary work, shot in the middle of it rather than from the edge.
Carnival is one of the hardest things in London to photograph well, because everything that makes it worth shooting also makes it difficult — it's crowded, it's constantly moving, the light changes as the route turns, and the best moments last about a second and a half.
The only way to cover it is to be in it. I shoot on the road with the bands rather than standing behind a barrier, which is why the costume frames have people actually performing in them instead of walking past.
The costume work is the obvious draw and it deserves the attention — months of construction go into those pieces and they should be photographed with that in mind. But carnival isn't only the parade. It's the sound systems, the food, the families who've been on the same corner for thirty years, and the crowd that shows up regardless of weather.
I try to come back with all of it, because in ten years the crowd frames will matter as much as the costume ones.
If you're in a mas band, perform at carnival, or organise a sound system, I can cover you specifically across the weekend rather than shooting generally. That gives you a proper set of images for promotion, funding applications and next year's recruitment.
Carnival dates book up well in advance, so get in touch early if you want dedicated coverage.
Notting Hill Carnival runs through W10 and W11 — Ladbroke Grove, Westbourne Park, Kensal Road and the surrounding streets — over the August bank holiday weekend, with Sunday as family day and Monday the main parade.
The route matters more than people expect. Light changes completely depending on which stretch you're on and what time it is, the crowd density varies enormously between the parade route and the sound systems, and the good costume frames happen early before everything takes a beating.
Beyond Notting Hill I shoot carnival culture across London year-round — the mas camps, the preparation, and the smaller events that don't get the coverage. I cover all of Greater London and travel for carnival work elsewhere.
Yes, it's a fixture. Carnival takes place over the August bank holiday weekend in west London, with Sunday traditionally family day and Monday the main parade.
Yes. Dedicated coverage means I shoot your band or system specifically across the day rather than covering carnival generally, so you get a full set for promotion and next year's recruitment. Book well ahead — the weekend fills up.
Images of you taken at carnival can be licensed for personal or promotional use. Get in touch with roughly when and where you were and I'll see what I have.
Travel light, keep one camera and one lens, and get on the road with the bands rather than shooting from behind a barrier. Go early for the costume before it takes a beating, and accept that you'll get soaked in paint on the Monday.
Not sure what you need? The pricing page explains what actually changes the cost of a shoot, or just get in touch and describe what you're after.
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