Celebrity, music, and fashion photographer Carrie Schechter

We recently got a chance to ask celebrity, music, and fashion photographer Carrie Schechter, about her work, career and inspiration. >> Read past interviews

ephotos: Where are you based Carrie?

CS: New York City!!

ephotos: When did you realize photography was your thing?

CS: I started off with a plastic fisher price camera as an infant, and cameras have been in my hand ever since. I shot for local newspapers & I modeled a little in my early teens, and got mildly addicted to the hustle and the buzz on set. I didn’t choose photography as my way of life until a few years ago.

ephotos: Was there a photographer that inspired or influenced you?

CS: I’m inspired by everything around me; paintings & sculptures have a direct impact on my imagery. When I do look at photography I tend to look at Japanese & European photographers. As for my knowledge of the biz side of things, I was studio manager for Patrick Hoelck while still in school, and then started producing everything from large ad campaigns to album covers to editorials, and I became very good at it. Patrick let me loose in the office and let me do a lot of trial and error with new techniques of marketing and client communication. By laying a new business plan for him and putting it in action, it wasn’t as scary doing it for myself for the first time and I have a lot of confidence going into any job.

ephotos: How would you describe your style of photography Carrie?

CS: I shoot celebrity, music, and fashion photography. I love a great story and create it whether it is a single image or multiples.

Carrie Schechter
ephotos: What type of equipment do you use?

CS: I can use anything, and I am always trying combinations of things to keep it interesting. I love Canon’s, Hassleblad’s, Loma’s, Holga’s, Diane’s, Strobes, available light, and hot lights.

ephotos: What’s the worst thing that has happened to you during a shoot?

CS: Hmmm, I have been pretty fortunate so far. The first thing that comes to mind was when I was on a fashion shoot, we were shooting 7 models individually with 3 looks each with multiple set changes and I had 5.5 hours. At the beginning the pocket wizards go down & the back-up’s won’t turn on, there are too many people on set to use wires. Everyone stares at my poor assistant as we take 5 and she gets ready to grab a cab to go get another one. The studio owner came in to check on us and sees our dilemma. Magically he had a technique that worked (consisting of hit, hit, shake, bang, shake-shake) the shoot was wild, and the final product was perfection.

ephotos: Do you have a site? Is it flash or HTML?

CS: Yes, It’s carrieschechterstudios.com, it is flash, but my designer set it up for me where I use CMS. Although I’ve taken web classes, it sounds like Swahili to me after about 5 minutes, so I needed something so simple to update and use a giraffe could do it. And vwa-la – that’s what I got.

ephotos: Do you have a rep or agent?

CS: Not at this time.

ephotos: Have you made any recent trips Carrie?

CS: I was out in beautiful Los Angeles attending the Altpick Awards Gallery show where my winning piece was exhibited.

ephotos: Do you ever just shoot for fun Carrie?

CS: Every day.

ephotos: Do you deal with any stock agencies?

CS: I will sell any of my images. Is that a stock answer? Not at this time.

ephotos: What do you think will be the next big trend in the photo industry?

CS: I’m working for anything shot by Carrie Schechter. *smile*

ephotos: Do you use a resource site or publication?

CS: I love PDN & aphotoeditor.com

ephotos: What are you working on next?

CS: I just wrapped my shoot with the brilliant actress Zoe Kazan for AP Magazine, due out in July. Next, I wrapped shooting album covers and press kits for two bands—End the Stars and The London. Now I enter the wonderful world of retouching all those photographs! The next few weeks will be filled with castings and production for 4 book covers I’m shooting for HarperCollins late June. And in two weeks I shoot Sports, a new musical project for Daryl Palumbo (Glassjaw and Head Automatica), Glue (Cardboard City Party Activist) and Nick Hook (Men, Women and Children) for AP Magazine.

ephotos: Is there anything else you’d like to say about yourself or your work?

CS: My clients support me. I am a lucky, hard-working girl. Lot’s of clients have said, “Just shoot your look” or they will ask, in the last hour of a shoot, to, “Go crazy and give me something unexpected.” That freedom is the best.
My environment supports me. I work with creative people and amazing personalities. These people have passion that matches mine. The collaboration makes my job tons of fun. These people make truly creative work happen.
My crew supports me. These people trust me and work to make the
impossible happen when I take the risks that produce the creative that
is my photography.

ephotos: Thanks Carrie for taking the time to talk to us. Remember to keep the focus!


Read past interviews