Jamie Pearl on the Art of Photographing Fame

Summary

Jamie Pearl reflects on capturing candid moments with Doechii, Dennis Rodman, Nina Dobrev and other cultural figures.

From spontaneous celebrity portraits to experimental editorial work, the photographer shares a creative approach shaped by energy, instinct and authenticity.

Some of the most memorable celebrity photographs happen when no one’s quite ready for the camera. A cigarette break outside a Fashion Week dinner, a fleeting moment in the backseat of a car, or the final touches before a red carpet appearance can reveal more personality than a carefully staged portrait. For New York-based photographer Jamie Pearl, those in-between moments have become the foundation of a practice rooted in spontaneity and human connection.

After discovering black-and-white film photography in high school, Jamie eventually found a footing in New York’s fashion and entertainment circles, capturing everyone from Dennis Rodman and Doechii to Keke Palmer and Nina Dobrev. While the fast-paced world of celebrity events has sharpened an instinct for the unexpected, a growing interest in editorial photography has opened up new possibilities for creative experimentation.

We caught up with Jamie to discuss memorable encounters, the art of thinking on your feet, and why the best images often happen when you least expect them.

“In the words of one of my favorite photographers, Tyrell Hampton, it’s all about energy.”

How did you first get into photography, and when did you start shooting celebrities?
I first got into photography about 13 years ago, when I was a 15-year-old high school student. I attended an arts-focused high school, which I credit with so much of my creative development. I always knew I was an artist, but when my drawings weren’t turning out quite how I envisioned them in my head, and I realized I didn’t exactly have a knack for playing the piano, I knew I needed to do some exploring to find my medium. Luckily, going to a high school that offered such a wide range of art classes made that pretty easy. I discovered black-and-white film photography during my sophomore year and quickly realized that lens-based mediums were what I wanted to pursue.

I started photographing celebrities about a year after moving to New York in 2022. One of my earliest experiences was documenting Nelly Furtado and Justin Timberlake’s looks ahead of the VMAs, which sparked my love for what has since become some of my favorite work: intimate, pre-event, “get ready with me”-style photography.

What usually catches your eye when you’re photographing someone?
In the words of one of my favorite photographers, Tyrell Hampton, it’s all about energy. Tyrell spoke about this so eloquently in an interview a while back, and I remember thinking how perfectly he had put into words something I’d always felt but never quite knew how to articulate. It’s so true. I’m constantly drawn to the energy people bring into a room, whether it’s the excitement of greeting their friends, going crazy on the dance floor, or feeling themselves in the bathroom mirror while touching up their lip liner.

“I’ve found myself craving more space to be deliberate with my images.”

Do you usually have a shot in mind, or do you prefer to let things happen naturally?
The biggest thing I’ve learned from my years of event and spontaneous photography is that you can plan a shot all you want, but in those settings, you often have to adapt to whatever the talent has the time and bandwidth for. Sure, I’d love to have 10 minutes to pull someone aside to a cool corner of a bar and take their portrait, but realistically, there are plenty of times when I only get about five seconds with someone. In those moments, I have to think on my feet and work with whatever the environment gives me. That’s actually a big reason I’ve been gravitating away from event photography and more toward editorial work these days. There can be a certain lack of intentionality when you’re constantly rushing to capture someone in such a short window of time, and I’ve found myself craving more space to be deliberate with my images. But that’s a rant for another time…

What’s one of your favorite celebrity portraits you’ve taken, and what’s the story behind it?
Ooh. I have favorites for different reasons. I have some favorites because of the photos themselves, like Charlotte Lawrence, Nina Dobrev, and Dennis Rodman. I followed Charlotte out for a cigarette break during a very chaotic, glam fashion week dinner a couple years back, and a paparazzo on the street lit her cigarette with a match, which I thought was fabulous.

I shot Dennis Rodman after his debut runway walk for Alexander Wang back in 2023. His look was so sick. I loved the studs on his head. This photo of Nina came to be when we were riding to the CFDAs in 2025. I like how off-the-cuff it was. It was one of like four total images I shot super quickly, but I love the crispness and contrast of the colors.

And then in the realm of photos that are favorites because of who the celebrities are and how much I admire them as artists, I have to shoutout the following: my street editorial with Mary Beth Barone, Doechii’s get-ready-with-me style photos, Keke Palmer at the celebration of her Paper Magazine cover, and a night out with Slayyyter.

“In the words of one of my favorite photographers, Tyrell Hampton, it’s all about energy.”

Has anyone you’ve photographed ever surprised you?
I don’t know if I’d necessarily categorize it as a surprise, but something I’m always kind of in awe of is how quickly some subjects can “turn it on” in front of a camera and then immediately switch back to just being themselves. It’s fascinating to watch, even if it’s not exactly surprising considering it’s their job. I guess I’m more easily fascinated than surprised at this point in my career.

What’s the wildest situation you’ve found yourself in while trying to get a shot?
There are a lot… but the time I was riding around Manhattan on a summer night in a gorgeous 1960s convertible from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., hopping out at different locations around the city to shoot BTS for an editorial, probably takes the cake. It was very “last night was a movie.”

Is there a photograph in your archive that holds special meaning to you?
So many. My mind immediately goes to the shoots where I had the most creative freedom, specifically ones where I could employ my multimedia editing processes, like Ellie’s Halloween Shoot, Brianna Chickenfry’s Podcast Cover, and the Phe Phe “Sweet on Ya” Campaign.

And then there’s, of course, the various botanic series I’ve been shooting since 2018. I’m obsessed with flowers and anything colorful, so these shots feel like a perfect encapsulation of everything I find beautiful.

How has social media changed the way we photograph and look at celebrities?
I think social media has really changed what people want to see from celebrities. Celebrity imagery used to feel a lot more polished and out of reach, but now I think people are much more interested in seeing the raw, less curated moments. We’re so used to seeing celebrities through their own Instagram posts that there’s something really fun about getting a glimpse of them through someone else’s lens.

Who’s someone you’ve always wanted to photograph but haven’t had the chance to?
Miley Cyrus. I mean, that’s literally Hannah Montana. And I can’t not mention Drake. If you know me, you know what Drake means to me, so that’s always been a dream.