About Mike
Sobre Mike
London-based. Half Colombian. Shoots in English or Spanish.

Why call yourself MAL?
¿Por qué MAL?
- bad.
- so bad it's good.
- Mike And Lens, shortened.
The name came from English pubs: the Dog and Duck, the Crown and Anchor. Two things joined by "and", easy to shout across a street. So Mike became Mike and Lens. MAL.
Then his Spanish caught up with him: mal means bad. He kept it, and stamps MAL on the photos he's proudest of.
He's half Colombian, London-based and fluent in Spanish, so your shoot can run in either language.
Colombian and Italian roots mean he's at home with people from all sorts of backgrounds, and it shows in the pictures.
It started with a photography class at college. The gear has changed since; the habit hasn't. He looks for the new angle and makes sure the story gets told.
"I don't just take photos; I chase them."
Awards
Premios
One win. Five shortlists, four years running.

Young Photographer, London Eye competition
"Eye within eye": A human eye with the London Eye reflected in it. Picked by a panel led by Tracey Emin when the Eye celebrated its 250 millionth passenger, then exhibited on the South Bank.
Shortlisted four years running
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¡Doblete!Two shortlisted in 2026
Shortlisted · 2026 A Penny for Their Thoughts, a Farthing for his Ride British Photography Awards · StreetA rider mounts his penny-farthing outside a Brixton bus stop during the annual Veteran Car Run. View on the British Photography Awards site
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Shortlisted · 2026 Viral Exposure British Photography Awards · Self Portrait
One long exposure in total darkness, in a sequin suit, with light swirling like a virus trying to get in. Only the ear shows: a nod to former Brixton resident Vincent van Gogh. View on the British Photography Awards site
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Shortlisted · 2025 Putting out the blaze at 420 British Photography Awards · Documentary
Police shut down a barbecue at the Hyde Park 420 protest. View on the British Photography Awards site
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Shortlisted · 2024 Sequin Silhouette in Red British Photography Awards · Low Light
A lockdown self-portrait, light-painted with sequins in a pitch-black bedroom. View on the British Photography Awards site
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Shortlisted · 2023 Homeless & sleeping on the Tube British Photography Awards · Documentary
A rough sleeper on the floor of a Victoria line carriage. View on the British Photography Awards site
What clients say
Lo que dicen los clientes
Michael is a hugely talented photographer and a joy to work with. At Hybrid Flowers, he regularly photographs our high-profile corporate and private client events, capturing large-scale floral installations at iconic venues across London, including The National Gallery, The Brewery, five-star hotels, and major multinational banking headquarters. He has a brilliant eye for detail and atmosphere, works calmly and professionally on site, and consistently delivers exceptional imagery that beautifully represents our work. We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend him.
I honestly hate photo booths, they are so uncomfortable and the lighting is always awful. I wanted to get it done in the comfort of my own home and Mike made it so simple. He was quick, easy to deal with, and the photo came out perfect. Highly recommend!
I worked with Mike last year when he took actor portraits of me. I’m glad I did, as it was a professional and uplifting experience. From the moment we started, he made me feel completely at ease, which helped me express myself naturally and authentically. His creative suggestions throughout the session added much variety and depth to the shots. I was impressed by his skilful approach, both technically and artistically, and how seamlessly he guided the entire process. I highly recommend him to anyone seeking exceptional actor portraits.
I had an excellent experience working with Mike for some professional portraits. Mike was extremely affable, and highly knowledgeable. We had discussed my requirements in advance and Mike arrived well prepared and ready to shoot with hardly any set-up time needed. The light was not entirely favourable, yet Mike demonstrated great ability to improvise and ultimately produce portraits I was very pleased with. I would definitely work with Mike again in the future, and strongly recommend him to others seeking high quality portraiture.
Book a shoot, ¡hágale!
Reserve su sesión, ¡hágale!
Tell Mike the job and the date, and he'll reply by email.
