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Some of the best things start without a plan. Last year, I stepped out of work for a smoke and saw someone wearing a Lagwagon t-shirt. It was Marc, a guy I’d seen around but never spoken to. We got talking, and it didn’t take long to realize we had punk rock in common—not just the music, but the mindset.
Marc turned out to be the drummer of Mondo Beta, a Barcelona-based band I had heard whispers about. Over time, we kept crossing paths, sharing stories, and building a kind of friendship that just happens when two people come from the same scene—even if life has taken them through different doors.
One day, Marc mentioned they needed some portraits for the band. Nothing big, just a few shots to use for promo. So we set a date and made it happen. No pressure, no overthinking—just a camera, some good light, and the same spirit that had kicked off our first conversation.
The Shoot: No Posing, Just Presence
We chose a location that didn’t need much explaining—raw, textured, slightly overlooked. A spot in Barcelona that, like most great punk spaces, felt like it wasn’t made for photo sessions… which made it perfect.
My approach is always the same: make people feel at ease, let things unfold. Mondo Beta didn’t need directing. They brought their own rhythm, their own messiness, their own chemistry. And that’s what I wanted to reflect.
Marc was exactly how I imagined him to be behind the kit—calm but charged, grounded but ready. The rest of the band brought their own energy too: a guitarist who couldn’t fake a smile if they tried, a bassist with a look that didn’t ask for attention but got it anyway, and a frontman who wasn’t performing—he just was.
We didn’t overthink compositions. We shot what was there. Some moments in motion, some quiet. All of it honest.
Behind the Camera: Still Part of the Scene
Working with Mondo Beta didn’t feel like a job. It felt like being back in the middle of something I’ve always cared about. When bands are still finding their sound and figuring each other out, there’s a kind of openness that doesn’t last forever. That’s what I tried to catch.
There was no need for pretense. No styling. No fake mood boards. Just a band being who they are, in a city that gives enough texture on its own.
Friendship as a Starting Point
I didn’t get into this shoot because I saw an opportunity. It started with a t-shirt and a chat outside a building where we both work. From there, it became something better—a chance to create together, outside the pressures of the industry, outside any agenda.
Mondo Beta is still in its early days, but they’ve already found a tone that’s theirs. Getting to document that—without dressing it up—felt right.
What I love most about working with bands like Mondo Beta is that they are just starting to find their voice, and capturing those early moments in their journey is something I will always cherish. This shoot wasn’t just about taking photos—it was about creating memories that they can look back on as they continue to grow as a band.
Final Thoughts
Punk isn’t always loud. Sometimes it’s just about doing things your own way, with people who get it. That’s what this shoot was: a quiet kind of collaboration rooted in shared values and mutual respect.
Big thanks to Marc and the whole band. Not just for the trust, but for showing up as yourselves.
