For 25 years, Jeffrey Hornstein has been a much sought after photographer in NY. He is known for Actor Headshots and Corporate Portraits for such companies as Dentons Law Firm, Verizon, Met-Life, Capital One Bank, Hearst Publications, Conde’-Nast Publications, and American Express Publications. He is currently working on a coffee table book and Gallery Show featuring luminaries and legends in the worlds of Arts and Culture over the age of 60. The narrative of the project is to show how active and engaged more “seasoned” individuals are and to fight the tide of Ageism. His luminaries and legends include, Helen Gurley Brown, Paul Sorvino, Terrance McNally, Nick Vallelonga to name a few.
FMM: You started your career in fashion doing editorials for magazines. Share your background.
I was working a boring desk job at the time. I’d always been involved in the arts (local theatre) and my parents were both writers so I had that artistic sensibility. I came to NYC like 100 yrs ago and started off doing everything from waiting tables to being a dancing busboy at Discos.
Photography as a medium had always interested me and I particularly liked the work of such photographers as Diane Arbus. So one day I picked up a camera and just started shooting! I was drawn to the fashion scene at the time so I enrolled in some courses at the International Center of Photography. Keep in mind this was back in the day when we were still shooting FILM as opposed to digital. So, I started to approach people in the SRO I was living in. People that looked like models, etc. One day I took my meager portfolio to Elite Models and the men’s Booker was kind enough to let me start taking pics (test shots) of some of their talent. From there I went to all the big agencies and started shooting their models. Eventually I quit the day job and started my little business out of my SRO ! I would throw the futon against the wall and take pics inside and out and on the roof. The light was great!
I think the first magazine I ever worked for was Men’s Guide to fashion (owned by Gerald Rothberg) who also was the founder and owner of CIRCUS magazine which was rock and roll. I did fashion spreads also for Detour Magazine ( later to become Flaunt magazine), Project X magazine , Genre magazine, Dance Spirit magazine and Even Playgirl! among others.
Over the past 25 years, you have worked with celebrities, luminaries, and legends. Share a few of your favorite shoots.
Wow! There are so many! I think doing an underwear/body test shoot of Matthew Fox (Star of “Lost” was a good memory. Also photographing Nestor Carbonell who starred as Sheriff Romero in Bates Motel recently! But I will say photographing and spending time with the likes of Carol Channing, Paul Sorvino , Tony Randell and Eli Wallach were memorable. Also seeing how some of the celebs live on location is fascinating. I remember Paul Sorvino had a Pet Wolf! Thankfully he took a liking to me. (Paul said he could tell I was good people as apparently the wolf didn’t exactly “take” to all folks! Kelly Ripa was also very nice! There’s been so many!
FMM: How do you bring creativity to your art?
I’d like to think I bring creativity to my art first and foremost as I CARE about everyone I photograph whether a novice or seasoned Pro. I really like to hone in on the subject I’m working with and I have an intuitive way of picking up their “energy “ Based on that I decide what type of lighting, backgrounds, color combos, and mood we are going for. The more relaxed the person I’m photographing the better. Many dread having their photos taken so I try and put them at ease. Also, creativity is a collaborative effort and I value their input.
Now that photography is almost 100% digital it makes it much easier as you can see the images right away and share with your clients.
FMM: What is your advice for aspiring actors?
Yes. I have a lot of Advice for aspiring actors! When taking their photos I try and think like a Casting Director. So the more an actor knows where they will be cast and the various “types” they will play the better! Nowadays it’s all about “VARIETY” being that actors can put various “characterizations” on sites such as Actors Access, Casting Networks, etc. Also casting is done largely over the internet at least initially so the CD’s need to SEE the character they are casting.
ALSO-Be CONFIDENT! Nothing shows like that.
And come prepared! A good night sleep, bring a nice variety of colors and wardrobe selections, and a GOOD POSITIVE ATTITUDE! I prefer to have a phone meeting rather than just back and forth emails so we can go over every detail. I like to think I’m super easy to work with and empathetic to ALL types of Actors
If a makeup artist is to be used, I try and match up the right one with the talent. Nowadays many women are good at their own makeup as many product is not “Cakey” like in the old days. I also have a good eye for makeup and hair and can make good suggestions. For men I rarely use an outside makeup artist. Sometimes a little cover and powder. Also I either do my own retouching or farm it out. The key to retouching is KEEP IT NATURAL! These days an overly retouched or “fake” Looking image is not in because the CDs want to have an honest idea of what they are getting. Many headshots now are much more “character driven” than before also!
FMM: You recently did the cover of Iconic Industrial Designer Karim Rashid for “Home in Canada” magazine.Tell us about the shoot. What did you enjoy the most?
Photographing Iconic Industrial Designer Karim Rashid for the cover and insert story for “Home in Canada” was such a thrill! We did it at his beautiful showroom in midtown. He’s very nice but VERY busy. I think total shoot time for the cover was 5 minutes at the most! Sometimes with Celebrities you don’t have much time so you really need to Nail it! As a matter of fact the magazine was able to use several covers from that shoot! You need to get in there do lighting tests and make sure everything is just so.
I think as in all my shoots seeing the Final Product Is what I enjoy most!
FMM: What is the best compliment that you have received?
Wow! The best compliment? I humbly say there have been many! But when an Actor gets called in from an image we created and lands the lead in a Major Show and they call me and tell me my photo got them called in: It doesn’t get much better than that!
FMM: You work with entrepreneurs. Tell us about your projects.
Working with Entrepreneurs is always exciting helping them develop and market their “brand” through images. Not long ago I worked with a young lady photographing her startup line of lingerie. Full day shoot lots of laughs and creativity going on. Also there is often a videographer on set capturing the models.
I also enjoy going on location to photograph startups. Recently I was hired to document a startup software company called Transfix. It’s wild how the tech companies have their offices set up with Ping Pong tables, couches, etc. BUT YOU BETTER PRODUCE OR YOU GET THE CAN! Lol
FMM: Tell us about your new coffee table book, and Gallery Show featuring luminaries and legends in the worlds of Arts and Culture over the age of 60.
Well this is the project I’m MOST excited about!
This is a project which is ongoing and I’ve been working on for some time now. The narrative of this collection is first and foremost to fight ageism and also as an homage to the various people I’ve photographed many of which are Bold Faced (but not exclusively) names.
I want to show individuals that are very engaged in life and projects over the age of 60 and also tell something about their stories through text. The whole thing started when I was commissioned to execute a portrait of Tony Randall atop an elephant in upstate NY at the rehearsal grounds of the old Barnum and Bailey circus. He was doing a project with a pianist at Lincoln Center where Tony would read selections from the book “Babaar the Elephant “
Alongside a pianist! Don’t ask!
Some of the folks I’ve photographed for this project include:
Tony Randall
Eli Wallach
Helen Gurley Brown
Paul Sorvino
Terrance McNally
Marilyn Horne
Two Time Oscar winner Nick Vallelonga (For “The Green Book”, Best picture and Best original Screenplay
Legendary Acting Teacher and Actress Sondra Lee
Tovah Feldshuh
Soupy Sales
Larry Storch
Geoffrey Holder
Carol Channing
And many more!
This is a work in progress and I have several exciting new shoots lined up!
FMM: Who would you like to work with?
Gee there are so many! I probably will have to do a volume 2!
But I would love to work with
Louis Gossett Jr
Sidney Poitier
Chita Rivera
Rita Moreno
Liza Minnelli
On and on!
FMM: Please share your social media links.
Facebook:Jeffrey Hornstein and Jeffrey Hornstein photography
Instagram:Madman6
Linked In:Jeffrey Hornstein
