Taming the megastar with Lynn Goldsmith

Photographer Lynn Goldsmith has been capturing celebrities within entertainment fields for half a century. Whether in the comfort of her studio or amidst the chaos of concerts, the American multi-creative makes sure to get the most out of the subject.

WORDS: Megha Prakash 
PHOTOGRAPHY: Lynn Goldsmith

You picked up your first camera at the age of eight. How did that happen?

“My father was a very serious amateur photographer. And when you want to spend time with your father you do what he does. So he got me a camera and that also meant not only could I join him in taking pictures, I could spend time with him in the dark room where it really felt like I had my dad to myself. When an image would appear in the tray and I’d see chemicals being made on a piece of paper under a light and then kinda shaken around, it felt magical.”

How’d you get into photographing celebrities?

“Well there were a lot of people in my life who I photographed that were not famous when I met them. I for example went to college with Jim Osterberg, otherwise known as Iggy Pop and so there’s a lot of people who I just happened to cross paths with. Because many of these people were individuals that I could help to make look a certain way, my reputation for that grew to where other people knew about me and asked me to do it. But it wasn’t as if I sought out celebrities portraiture.

I was friends with Cerry Fisher, and after the first Star Wars, she said to them “you know only Lynn can photograph me”. I didn't ask her to do that but she liked my pictures, she was comfortable with me, we were friends. So it happens in all different ways.”

”I always had a problem with the term “rock n roll photographer”, what does that mean? It's very limited.”

Was this before or after you started your own agency? Tell us how it happened.

“I’ve always done multiple things and photography was something that I was most comfortable anywhere. If I went to a party, if I went out, playing with my friends, dressing up, taking pictures of each other in the studio. It was just a natural and organic growth and so it wasn’t really thought out that I was going to have an agency. Just like other things in my life I follow what feels good and I follow my bliss and when it doesn’t work for me anymore I do something else.“

You’ve done a lot of different photography styles - portraits, studios, concerts. Is there a preferred setting?

“I like things for different reasons. When I do a conceptual photograph, let's say where I build a set and have an idea for it or an idea for an album cover and I find a location — there’s a sense of fulfillment that I get from manifesting my ideas. On the other side of the coin, to go to a show where I don’t have to do anything for prep or have teams of people working with me. There's a pleasure to that because I’m just there to document as best I can. And that’s for the audience member who may have bought a ticket or may not have been able to and wants to get the feeling of the show or a sense of the performer.”

“I try to create a safe place where people who are in front of the camera feel that they can expose a part of themselves that's authentic and that is collaborative with me.”

Do you feel you have a certain style?

“I don’t have a clear cut style and that’s why I always had a problem with the term “rock n roll photographer”, what does that mean? It's very limited. It’s easier for a person to have a style and be recognized for that. When you look at a David LaChapelle, you know it's a David LaChapelle. Because of the colors, because of the thought that went into it. But I am not looking for someone to work with me because they want a Lynn Goldsmith, I want them to work with me because together we can make something. And it's not about me, it's about what we’re making.”

Do you have any kind of trick or something that you do to make your subject feel more comfortable?

“I don’t really consider it a trick. I put myself always as much as possible in other people’s shoes. I do research to find out, not only what they like to eat and the kind of music they are listening to at the moment, but what they were listening to when they were teenagers. That brings up a lot of emotions and I try to create a safe place where people who are in front of the camera feel that they can expose a part of themselves that's authentic and that is collaborative with me. I think you can see when there are collaborations in photos and when there isn’t.”

“I am not looking for someone to work with me because they want a Lynn Goldsmith, I want them to work with me because together we can make something. And it's not about me, it's about what we’re making.“

Do you have any favorite photo or collection of photos that you are most proud of?

“I always cherish the photographs I’ve made of the people I love, that's number one. So on top of that list is my family, my mother and my sister. There are people that I have been close to or friends with for 50 years and some of them are well known and some aren’t. Whether it's Patti Smith who I’ve been friends with since my 20s or whether it's an unknown name. And then the other body of work are my self portraits which each took me so long. The process of making them was an investigation into identity, into who I am, into who we are as human beings. So that body of work and those photographs took so much physical and mental labor so they stand out for me.”

What inspires you today? / How do you stay inspired?

“I think you have to wake up every morning and find inspiration because some days it's not really there. It's just a matter of work. We need to keep working at it and inspiration will come from it. I still make photographs but not as much as I used to. Real inspiration comes from me, if I’m working with something new or if I’m blessed to work with other people, for me it's really always about collaboration. Photography is instant gratification. Making pictures, even if I just go out to a park and look for things, the camera allows me to strike up conversations with people.“

“Photography is instant gratification. Making pictures, even if I just go out to a park and look for things, the camera allows me to strike up conversations with people.”