26 year-old New York City-based photographer Jamie Pearl’s piece Why not take a fashion risk elevates and points to one of the most seminal and profound parts of being not only an artist or creative person, but an individual: the second we decide to choose ourselves instead of fear. We sat down with Pearl, who portrays what is bold about the human spirit, to chat about her work.
1. You came of age during a time when glossy fashion magazines were no longer "a thing", yet a lot of your aesthetic harkens back to iconic film shoots of the '90s. When were you first drawn to fashion photography, and by what?
True, I did grow up in the era of the decline of print magazines, but I have to attribute my first spark of interest in fashion photography to when I was 13, and my friend Kelsey (who is the queen of predicting what’s going to be cool/the trends) showed me a copy of i-D magazine she had. About to enter high school, we laid on her bedroom floor flipping through the pages, as she expressed to me, “how cool it would be to work for iD”. I can’t fully explain it, but it was that moment that I started to understand what my career goals as an artist could potentially look like.
2. Your subjects always have what is referred to as "a vibe". How do you get your subjects comfortable and ready for the lens?
Connecting with my subjects is probably my favorite part of my work. Usually a quick chat can help them warm up and allow us to sync with each other. I’m also a big believer in hyping my subjects up— encouraging them and letting them know how great they look! The more I can increase their confidence, the more comfortable they become and the more their personality translates to their portraits.
3. There is an undercurrent of easy decadence in your work, whether in the fashion of people you're shooting or in the food or environments you're capturing; there's something spiritually Juergen Teller about a lot of it. Are there any particular photographers that are your North Stars?
100%. Francesca Woodman is the blueprint for me— she was truly a trailblazer in the photography world and I’ve always felt really connected to her work. I see so much of my younger self, who had just discovered film photography, in her work. In terms of my modern day inspirations, I’m a huge fan of Tyrell Hampton and so much of my work is inspired by him— I love how personal and intimate his portraits are. I also have the honor of having so many close friends who are incredibly talented artists who inspire me everyday— specifically those I went to high school with.
4. We saw that you're on assignment with NYLON for NYFW...any exciting shows you're looking forward to shooting? Any other projects you're on assignment for?
Being on assignment for NYLON for NYFW has truly been a dream come true. I’ve gotten to shoot so many incredible parties for them. I’m specifically super excited to photograph the Luar afterparty for them— it’s gonna be so fun. Beyond working for NYLON this week, I’ve also been working closely with Air Jordan, which has been absolutely incredible as well. I feel so lucky to be able to work with such incredible outlets and brands.
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