Guido Karp

Guido Karp (born January 23, 1963) is a German born music photographer, who lives and resides in Los Angeles, California.

Guido Karp and Angus Young (AC/DC), London Aug 2008. Photo courtesy of Michael Kölsch, Assistant GKP

Karp was born in Mayen, Germany and grew up in Koblenz, Germany. He started concert photography early with regional bands, but had his first cover with a school-mate, Thomas Anders, who later came to fame as singer of the top-selling Euro-Band Modern Talking. Karp's photography has been used on many music CD and DVD covers, with top sellers as Robbie Williams "Live at the Albert" (the best selling Music DVD of all times) or Elton John's "Candle in the Wind". His most recent work is seen in AC/DC's 2008 release Black Ice. The promotional shots from the session were featured in more than 10000 print publications since Oct 2008.

Before joining the AC/DC European tour in March, Karp toured Germany, Austria and Switzerland with the hugely successful beauty event "Princess for one day".

Karp is married to Nicole Karp since Dec 28, 2004. Until 2012, he owned homes in Hoehr-Grenzhausen, Germany and Los Angeles. In 2013, he left Germany and now lives in Los Angeles.[1]

In 2012, Karp becomes one of ten main jurors for Germany's LEA Awards. He remains on the jury board for 2013

Celebrating his 50th birthday in 2013, Karp toured with the exhibition project "Singvoegel" (singing birds) - a retrospective of his 30+ years work as a concert photographer. Since Jan 2014, Karp lectures the "Million Dollar Workshop" through 50 universities in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. [2]

In 2015/2016, in addition to his activities as a music photographer, Karp was the focus of the Sat1 / Pro7 / sixx campaign for the photo beauty event “Princess for one day” for the 17th time. [3]

In 2018 Karp suffered a second stroke in his home in Los Angeles, CA, which physically limited him for a short time. In May, at the German Photokina, he had recovered so much that he was able to fully fulfill his task as host of the main stage. Extensive photographic tour photography followed, including Mark Knopfler and Alphaville, but mostly in the USA.

On March 14, 2020, Karp's business came to a standstill due to the Covid 19 lockdown. After taking a break and reorientation, the now fifty-seven year old focused on #karpademy - a scholarship in which Karp supports ten photographers with state sponsorship for one year, both photographically and as a commercial mentor.

At present, Karp tours with the charity project #kuenstlerhelfen (artists help) in Germany, photographing - due to Covid19 travel restrictions - primarily German premier recording artists like The Scorpions, Modern Talking Singer Thomas Anders, Mark Knopfler and app 50 others. The signed exhibits will be sold in aid of those “forgotten by the system” - roadies, vendors and caterers from the artists touring family. The goal is to raise a million dollars for those in need. More information on kuenstlerhelfen.com [4]

Despite Corona, the Princess for one day dates postponed in 2020 will take place alongside new dates.[5] Of course, all requirements are met. The Guinness Book of Records is currently examining whether a single photographer has ever photographed so many individual people.