The sensuous imagery of Jill Wachter
Photographer Jill Wachter has shot for international clients including L'Oreal, W Hotels, Shiseido, Target, HBO, Oh! Oxygen, Cond̩ Nast, Sony Music and has photographed celebrities Jessica Simpson, Kevin Bacon, Adam Levine of Maroon 5 and supermodel Niki Taylor. Additionally her work has appeared in Elle Italia, Vanity Fair, In Style, Glamour and Zink magazines. She studied at the prestigious New house School of Communications at Syracuse University and has been living and working in Manhattan for 24 years doing editorial fashion, beauty and celebrity portraits for the advertising, entertainment and magazine worlds.
How did you develop your passion for fashion photography and when did this realization happen?
My father was an avid hobbyist photographer and took a lot of photos of us as kids. So, I got my first camera at age 8 and discovered my excitement for it. At 16, I was on a weekend trip in the Pocono mountains with a friend who had a great body and liked posing in her bikini and at that moment I absolutely knew this was my destiny.
What is the most difficult aspect of professional fashion photography?
Keeping up with all the work that it takes to make one photo. I love producing, casting, shooting, editing and retouching and what's hard is all the time that it takes to do that. Feels like there is never enough time. Also, getting consistent work and living in the uncertainty.
I love producing, casting, shooting, editing and retouching.
What do you love most about your job as a photographer?
Creating, imagining, seeing thoughts come to life.
How do you compare shooting in the studio to on location - any preference?
I absolutely love shooting on location,indoors and out.
I absolutely love shooting on location, indoors and out.
Are there any particular themes that weave through your work?
Femininity, intimacy.
Tell us a bit about the setup for your photo shoot(s) - lighting, equipment, post processing?
I use the 5D and when higher res files are required, I use Hasselblad. For lighting, I often create a highlight to give dimension. I use Adobe Lightroom to organize and process files.
For lighting, I often create a highlight to give dimension.
What do you think makes a standout photograph? What is that makes people including you look twice on a portrait?
Emotion. It grabs something in you and creates a visceral reaction.
From Adam Levine to Jessica Simpson, who has been your favourite celebrity to work with?
I've enjoyed shooting all the celebrities - what I love most is witnessing their star quality that clearly makes them special (they all have it!) and catapults them to that next place.
What I love most is witnessing their star quality that clearly makes them special (they all have it!)
You have just recently composed your first motion piece. How was that for an experience? So, can we expect many more to follow soon?
I've shot 3 motion pieces and find it much easier than I expected and really a fun new territory. Still working on a solid team and then you'll see more!
We only get to see the final published images of a shoot. How is the whole process of behind the scenes better than the end result? Do you feel that at times people don't recognize all the hard effort when they start criticizing?
Behind the scenes is exciting in that the creative process is so interesting - how it unfolds can be a great surprise.
Behind the scenes is exciting in that the creative process is so interesting - how it unfolds can be a great surprise. But then I can show the one photo I take from a shoot and if I repeatedly don't get the reaction I want, I think "What am I not seeing that is turning people off? Why do I love this and others don't recognize the beauty I see? Then I might re-edit. In addition, I am so used to the criticism and as we know, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
What would Jill Wachter have in her personal photo collection? Tell us of the kind of photos that fascinate you and how they inspire your work and creations.
I love "of the moment" spontaneous imagery, when the muse has completely let go.
I love "of the moment" spontaneous imagery, when the muse has completely let go.
What is the one lasting impression you would want to leave in your photos?
Connection.
Which are the latest projects you are working on? Could you brief our readers on some of them?
Last week I shot Melania Trump for Jetset Magazine, who was a dream to work with. I also shot upcoming actress Erin Wilhelmi who's appearing in "Perks of Being A Wallflower" and this week will spend a few days shooting models for the upcoming model reality show "The Face".
Where can our readers keep track of all your works and the news you make?
http://www.jillwachter.com
http://www.behance.net/jillwachter
http://www.facebook.com/jillwachterphotography
http://www.top-fashion-photographers.info/jill-wachter.html
http://www.vimity.com/vip/jill-at-jillwachter-com
What kind words of advice would you give to our readers who would like to emulate your work and also the success?
The biggest pitfall is not marketing yourself.
Shoot what you love and do it constantly. Keep producing new work all the time and get it in front of the people you want to work with. The biggest pitfall is not marketing yourself. Having a website and sending emails is not enough. Hit the phones.