Heidi Hartwig is one of my all-time favorite photographers and someone I love working with. I've done fashion shoots with her and she's also shot rockers like The Bravery and Ratatat for me. She is a blast! And she's a real New Yorker, too. She knows EVERYONE. There's something about her that is so intriguing to me... anyone who knows me knows I have a roster of photographers (or "photogs", as I tend to call them) that I like to work with for various reasons. Maybe one does more ethereal portraits. One does action shots best. Some do straight-forward fashion editorials really well. Well, though Heidi does all of these really really well, for me she is really the one I go to to capture a sexy girly-girl shot. She almost takes the shots like she's a straight man. It's magical. And I can't wait for her to take some shots of me! We did a ton of work together for Oyster magazine when I was the US editor (she's also shot for I-D, The Fader, Zink and many others). Then I moved all around and worked on a novel and for Nike, and she took off for Berlin with her man, musician and singer Walter Schreifels (they also had an adorable baby girl named Ryo). Now that I'm getting back into the magazine game (some news will be on here soon!!! stay tuned), I can't wait to start working with her again! We just have to figure out where since she's back and forth from NYC and Berlin and I'm still figuring out where I'll be...would be nice if we both ended up back in New York City. I did manage to catch her on her way back to Berlin from a trip to Amsterdam so she could answer some questions, because you really do need to see her work so you know what I mean...(so Nancy Girl!)...
WHERE ARE YOU NOW AND WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON?
I've been enjoying the summer months in Berlin, having hooked up with a gallery here that represents contemporary artists and beginning a portrait series of the artists they represent. It's exciting because you tend not to see images of artists themselves. I have also ventured into the video directing scene , just finishing a kids video for an online magazine called Small . I'm starting to exercise the treatment-writing process for my ideas and hoping to do more fashion/music videos in the future.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT BERLIN AS OPPOSED TO NYC? HOW DOES THE STYLE/FASHION DIFFER? AND WORK?
Oh man, I love Berlin for so many reasons...most don't relate to fashion though. It's more for being able to buy a good bottle of wine for 2 bucks or less, partaking in organic healthy food without feeling like I have to be a privileged rich person, and the awesome drugstores here with fab products that don't cost much. In terms of fashion, there is a laid back, comfortable, practical quality to everyone. People are dressing for themselves as opposed to hoping they get noticed on the street and photographed. There certainly a lot of cute boutiques; I really like the jewelry being created, but I feel really laid back about fashion--almost like a hippy--here.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF BEFORE YOU'RE GOING INTO A SHOOT? WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING TO CATCH IN THE SHOOT? I MEAN, YOU HAVE SUCH A KNACK...YOU'RE VERY VERY HELMUT NEWTON...I'VE ALWAYS SAID THAT. YOU CAPTURE A GIRL THE WAY I THINK A PERVY GUY WOULD. YOU MAKE EVERYONE LOOK AMAZINGLY GORGEOUS AND SEXY. BUT YOU ALSO KNOW HOW TO CAPTURE A SERIOUS PORTRAIT, LIKE THE SEAN PENN PORTRAIT ON YOUR SITE THAT I LOVE. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT'S NOT TOO SECRET/PRIVATE THAT YOU CAN SHARE ABOUT THAT PROCESS?
I go into every shoot thinking in my mind I'm shooting for Italian Vogue. Even though I think of myself as a portrait photographer, I really want to capture the fashion and beauty of a person, especially with the young actresses I'm shooting a lot lately. So many of these actors have no clue about fashion clothing, photographers such as Helmut Newton etc; I just try and make them feel as sexy and comfortable as possible. I certainly want women to feel open and sexy with me, and I can certainly imagine being intimate with any person I connect with while shooting. I think a camera is a powerful instrument and the way you look at someone can make them feel open to giving you the sexiness we all carry inside us. I do talk a lot during my shoots letting the person know when they look absolutely gorgeous and sexy. Having assisted an over-the-top fashion photographer (Michel Comte) certainly got me talking.
WHY DID YOU WANT TO BE A PHOTOG?
I love holding and looking through a camera. I always felt totally at ease with the tech part of it as well. The camera and exposures always made sense to me. At a very young age it was something I carried around and it felt precious to me. I love making people feel beautiful and special in front of something that can be so intimidating and uncomfortable.
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| Heidi Hartwig with her little angel, Ryo. |
YOU ALSO DO A LOT OF FASHION FILMS...DO YOU HAVE A PREFERENCE?
I'm starting to get a grip on the moving picture. It's certainly a whole new experience for me. I know how to compose a frame make something look right but then to have to move its not always so easy. I think that's why with my first film I did a lot of static shots where the person would be the thing moving around in the frame. Slowly but surely I am getting more confident. Even with motion I want to see drama and emotion in the person.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS MASSIVE SHIFT IN OUR INDUSTRIES? MAGAZINE AND COMMERCIAL AND ALL THE BLOGS VERSUS MAGAZINES?
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS MASSIVE SHIFT IN OUR INDUSTRIES? MAGAZINE AND COMMERCIAL AND ALL THE BLOGS VERSUS MAGAZINES?
There's certainly a lot of content out there; it's hard to keep up. It's the Wild West feel out there online , and I appreciate what people are experimenting with. But I am hoping we will soon understand what works and what makes you feel connected and inspired the way a magazine or book can. Books, magazines represent who I am. I enjoy walking into someone's home and getting know who they are by what they have on the bookshelf. So I am holding onto the actual thing as long as possible.
I traveled this weekend to Amsterdam and wanted something to read for the plane ride. I was so pleased to pick up the newspaper version of the magazine 'Monocle'. The paper was called 'Monocle Mediterraneo'. It had all the content I was interested in as well as making me look like I do more than just listen to an Ipod or look at some screen. The paper matched my outfit. I was happy to carry it around. When traveling, it will always be the real thing for me. The magazine version is so nice that it's a collectible in itself. I do feel nostalgic for old forms of communication these days. I've been shooting more film recently, listening to records, and using my landline as much as possible. I even appreciate my analog clock more than trying to find my cell phone to see the time. But all that aside, I love the internet and have a project in the works myself that I am hoping to launch come the fall.
I traveled this weekend to Amsterdam and wanted something to read for the plane ride. I was so pleased to pick up the newspaper version of the magazine 'Monocle'. The paper was called 'Monocle Mediterraneo'. It had all the content I was interested in as well as making me look like I do more than just listen to an Ipod or look at some screen. The paper matched my outfit. I was happy to carry it around. When traveling, it will always be the real thing for me. The magazine version is so nice that it's a collectible in itself. I do feel nostalgic for old forms of communication these days. I've been shooting more film recently, listening to records, and using my landline as much as possible. I even appreciate my analog clock more than trying to find my cell phone to see the time. But all that aside, I love the internet and have a project in the works myself that I am hoping to launch come the fall.
WHAT DO YOU HAVE COMING UP OR WHAT WOULD BE YOUR DREAM JOB OR BOTH?
I'm really excited about making videos and want to continue shooting fashion content as well as music video. It would be a dream to hook up with a magazine and be in charge of creating video content for them with the fashions that they provide. I think the moving picture is the future for online magazines. We want to see the image move and breath as much as possible online. Another project I'm super excited about is this online gallery/shop that I am starting called FriendsFromNewYork.com . It's a small-town shop for a big city like NYC. I curate people I grew up with as well as other friends or friends that are creating art, apparel, music etc and giving them a platform to sell their work. It's one-stop shopping as well as info on all things NYC and I am hoping that it will bring a lot of people there that want to know what's going on in our town. We are hoping to launch this fall so look out!!
WHEN WILL YOU TAKE MY PICTURE? I WANT TO LOOK HOT!!
I could make you look gorgeous with my eyes closed! All I need is a ticket out west to see you and access to your bedroom!
I could make you look gorgeous with my eyes closed! All I need is a ticket out west to see you and access to your bedroom!
AAAAW....THANKS, LADY. HMMMMMMMM....I'LL HAVE TO TRY AND ARRANGE THAT. ANYTHING ELSE?
The future looks bright I better wear shades! ♡
Heidi's gorgeous fashion film:
and her music video with her man Walter Schreifels:
Heidi's gorgeous fashion film:
and her music video with her man Walter Schreifels:
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