I photographed music superstar Elton John and found him to be one of the most approachable and down-to-earth celebrities I’ve ever met
When commissioned to shoot David Furnish, Harry hoped he’d also get the chance to photograph his more famous partner, Sir Elton John. His wish came true. The post I photographed music superstar Elton John and found him to be one of the most approachable and down-to-earth celebrities I’ve ever met appeared first on Amateur Photographer .
When I was commissioned to photograph Elton John, I had a specific vision in mind that eventually came to life. Unexpectedly, the assignment was to capture portraits of Elton John and his longtime partner, David Furnish, for The Sunday Times magazine. The pair had been in a civil partnership since 2005 and shared a home in Windsor. My intention was to photograph them together, with the added challenge of capturing both individuals effectively in a single setting.
As a celebrity photographer, it's essential to make strategic decisions to increase the likelihood of a successful shoot. One such decision involved selecting my assistants wisely. In this instance, I chose to work with a male assistant, Yousef Eldin, who was not only a talented filmmaker but also strikingly handsome. I believed that having a positive dynamic among the team members would contribute to a more comfortable atmosphere, especially when meeting a celebrity of Elton John's stature.
The shooting location was the private art galleries within the main house, where the couple maintained an extensive collection of artwork and photographs. This unique environment offered a distinct ambiance, akin to an intimate exhibition at the Tate Modern, with minimal distractions. As I introduced myself to David Furnish and began taking pictures, Elton John arrived to join us.
Though he was 63 at the time, he had released a successful album, "The Union," just months prior, which made meeting him somewhat overwhelming. Despite this, Elton proved to be approachable and down-to-earth, making the experience more comfortable for both of us.
To establish rapport and build trust, I decided to share some of my images on my iPhone, showcasing a 1997 photograph of INXS frontman Michael Hutchence. This gesture not only led to a print sale but also demonstrated my credibility as a photographer, which in turn made Elton more receptive to my suggestions. To ensure equal weight and effective composition in the final images, I set up a large softbox to one side of the subjects, illuminating them evenly.
Shooting with my Canon EOS 5D Mark II and an EF 50mm f/1.4 lens, we captured multiple shots of both Elton John and David Furnish within the gallery setting.
Written by urgent.news from Amateur Photographer's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
