“If somebody wanted to get into celebrity portrait photography, I would suggest approaching magazines or PR companies. It’s been incredible to meet people as diverse as Morgan Freeman, Malala Yousafzai, Anna Wintour, Buzz Aldrin, and Al Gore. “I’ve now been working for the Oxford Union for three years and I love what I do. “When I moved to Oxford I wrote a list of organizations that I wanted to work with, and decided to approach them,” Askew says. Askew manages to create portraits of internationally renowned figures which are professional yet personal at the same time. The Oxford Union routinely hosts famous speakers, with past guests including the likes of Mother Theresa, the Dalai Lama, and Malcolm X. I’m excited about people who do amazing things, share compelling stories through their art and work, and do their part to make the world a better place.”īased in Oxford, UK, Roger Askew photographs celebrities of the Oxford Union, the debating society of the University of Oxford. “‘Celebrity’ isn’t an exciting word for me. Be a source of positive energy throughout the shoot-and you’ll be a positive part of the conversation after you’ve done your part. You’ll slip into conversation much easier if you can actually contribute to it. Research your subject and client so you know as much as possible about both before you walk through the door. Be prepared for accidents, for more time or less time. “How do you make the most of it? Draw up more ideas than your client needs. Do more and better than is expected of you. “I didn’t have much in the way of nepotism or politics on my side when I started, so I began the same way I’d encourage anyone to begin: with each opportunity, make the most of it. “I’ve been very fortunate in my career,” Sheehan says. Sheehan’s high-profile subjects are diverse, including M.I.A., Björk, Tony Blair, Henry Kissinger, Martin Scorcese, and Cormac McCarthy. He also captures stunning images of dance productions. It’s all about experience and practice, and the more of both, the better you become.”īased in New York, Beowulf Sheehan specializes in portraits, shooting writers, musicians, and politicians. “Photography is the type of job that you just get out and do. But I was able to build a strong portfolio. There were days that after paying for subway rides, train travel (I was living in New Jersey at the time), and meals, I hardly had two nickels to rub together. I was shooting big name celebrities, alongside some of the top shooters in the business, for some of the largest agencies in the world. I did it because the one thing that first job gave me was access, and access is key. “When I started this career, I worked extremely hard for very little-running around the city, taking whatever assignment I could. This most definitely entails shooting the not so glamorous assignments, putting in long, arduous hours, and paying one’s dues. There must be a love of photography and a willingness to make it work no matter what. “While the business has changed, I believe the way to break into it hasn’t: hustle, access, professionalism, being personable, punctual, and prepared, building personal relationships, knowledge of the equipment and subject matter, and above all, determination. Today, they would most likely have an Instagram page filled with selfies. Then, magazines boasted $20,000 payouts for a paparazzi pic of Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston. “Celebrity work wasn’t something I sought out, but fell into and discovered I enjoyed. “I was determined to move to New York City to make it as a photographer,” Sussman says of her early career. She also shoots up-close documentary photography, creating series on politically relevant issues like fracking and Occupy Wall Street. Sussman’s photography interests extend beyond stars, though. In addition to working for various other agencies, she’s shot New York Fashion Week many times, as well as a wide range of events in the entertainment world. New York-based Amy Sussman has been working as a photographer for twelve years-and seven of those were as a top entertainment photographer for Getty Images. Here’s how to land those big-name clients-and how to keep your cool once you’ve got the job. They shared some advice for photographers looking to work with celebrities. So what if you have to sit down with a celebrity and try to capture their personality in a photo? How do you pay attention and grab a good shot at an A-list event without getting starstruck and feeling intimidated? And how do you even get gigs like those in the first place? We asked a few photographers with experience to weigh in.Īmy Sussman, Beowulf Sheehan, Roger Askew, Bonnie Biess, and Kawai Matthews are all used to shooting well-known subjects. Shooting portraits is hard even when your subjects aren’t famous.
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