12 August 13-19, 2026 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com NEW TIMES | MUSIC | CAFE | CULTURE | NIGHT+DAY | NEWS | LETTERS | CONTENTS | Month XX–Month XX, 2008 miaminewtimes.com MIAMI NEW TIMES | MUSIC | CAFE | FILM | ART | STAGE | NIGHT+DAY | METRO | RIPTIDE | LETTERS | CONTENTS | Say cheese! The photographers documenting Miami’s music scene. BY ELISABETH CAMPBELL W hen you see the coolest photo from an under- ground punk show, how often do you wonder how many beers got spilled on the photographer to land that one night-defining image? Or when you’re scroll- ing through an Instagram post, how likely are you to ask about the style choices that encap- sulate the spirit of the show? New Times reached out to four music photographers to learn more about the sto- ries behind the storytellers: Who are the peo- ple capturing the moments that create the visual archive of our music scene? April Nicole @APRIL_NICOLE_CREATIVE April Nicole began her photography journey in her late teens and early 20s on the opposite side of the camera. As a model, she was often her own creative director, coming up with concepts and styling her shoots. She discov- ered her love for camerawork when she moved to Rome at the age of 23, and in 2020, she came to Miami as both a musician and a music photographer. “I think in the modern musical world, there’s a lot of need and pressure to stand out,” says Nicole. “There’s so much going on in the world, and there are so many things reaching for our at- tention. You need to be noticed and re- membered in a sea of people. So, the vi- sual representation, I think, says a lot.” Nicole points out that, in the music sphere, looks may precede sound — a trend she doesn’t necessarily agree with, but makes the most of. “What I want people to see and take away [from my photography] is a glimpse of the artist’s essence,” says Nicole. “I hope that they see those artists with their passion and with their expression and with their style and just get a sense of who they are and their cre- ativity, to see the image and feel some of that energy and personality.” Nicole’s experience as a musician gives her a unique knack for photographing musi- cians: whether that means capturing the best angles or composing the most cohesive shots. “I’d love to continue working more in the realm of music, whether that’s concert photog- raphy, shooting live session videos for artists, or artist portraits,” she says. “I think our image is another way of expressing our creativity and ourselves. For me, as a musician, I love the pos- sibility to use performance as… another oppor- tunity to give an artistic representation of self.” Hydee Mustelier @HI__D Hydee Mustelier started photographing when she was 15. She took film photography and yearbook classes in high school, and con- cert shoots came naturally after that: a mar- riage of music and images, storytelling and visuals. Currently the house photographer for Las Rosas and Churchill’s Pub, Mustelier emphasizes the narrative elements of a show, capturing the “predominant energy in a space.” “I love a spectacle,” says Mustelier. “I love to see a bizarre or interesting performance. I really like theatrical bands, bands that incor- porate a lot of performance art.” For Mustelier, the element of movement inspires the narrative. Although an individual photo can tell a story, she often looks for a pattern or a particular arrangement in her work that best grabs the viewer’s attention. Sharing the images with the performers is also a priority for Mustelier, a way of honor- ing the subjects of her shoots. Other than through her lens, they would never be able to see “how cool they look,” she says. But it’s not just the composition of the photograph; edits play a big part, too. She tries to use the envi- ronment, and the mood, to determine how she edits her photos. She considers the edits to be the “brand” of the photographer. “It’s a really wonderful feeling to capture someone in their element, when they’re at their most bold,” says Mustelier. “One of the things [I hope to do] is curate the photos I’ve already taken and put them in different col- lections… I’m also an illustrator and designer, and I want to rotoscope my photos. That’s kind of like my personal side quest.” Maureen Roxanny @MAUREEN.ROXANNY Maureen Roxanny began photographing as a way to document her life. She went to a house show in 2003 with a point-and-shoot, and by 2004, she was firmly entrenched in the music scene, photographing different Miami venues like Churchill’s and The Alley. “Back then, there was hardly anyone docu- menting the scene,” says Roxanny. “It sucked because I was definitely the only female pho- tographer out there. “ In the male-dominated space, Roxanny forged her own way. For her, it’s not just about preserving the memory but “archiving our culture.” She’s always been passionate about photography and the documentation of events from different points of view. She ▼ Music Above: Roxanny began photographing as a way to document her life. Left: For Mustelier, the element of movement inspires the narrative. Photo by Maureen Roxanny Photo by Hydee Mustelier “IT’S A REALLY WONDERFUL FEELING TO CAPTURE SOMEONE IN THEIR ELEMENT, WHEN THEY’RE AT THEIR MOST BOLD.”
