Capturing musicians, actors, and athletes across fifty years of visual documentation

Transmission 201: Interview with Chris Cuffaro

Chris Cuffaro is a photographer known for his iconic portrait work. Over the past fifty years, he has become a prominent figure in the entertainment industry, photographing actors, models, athletes, and musicians and contributing to the construction of their public images. He began his career casually by photographing rock performances and later collaborated with a wide range of artists. His portfolio includes musicians such as George Michael, Iggy Pop, Nirvana, Perry Farrell, Jane’s Addiction, Chris Cornell, Soundgarden, Eddie Vedder, Pearl Jam, Nick Cave, Slash, Henry Rollins, Gwen Stefani, No Doubt, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Eddie Van Halen, Morrissey, Michael Hutchence, George Harrison, Elvis Costello, Fiona Apple, Alice in Chains, and Scott Weiland.

These pictures have frequently been used on the covers of over 300 record albums and CDs, as well as in Rolling Stone, Spin, RayGun, Vibe, and Musician. The actors in Chris’s portfolio, which range from Dustin Hoffman to Johnny Depp, are equally stunning. His photos have appeared in magazines such as W, US, Maxim, Premiere, British Elle, and Entertainment Weekly. Regardless of the medium, his innate brilliance, adaptability, and unwavering quest for artistic expression only deepen.  He has showcased his renowned photography at a number of exhibits.  The first exhibition of Cuffaro’s photography, which consisted of 100 images, took place at the Ministry in Los Angeles in 1992. His exhibit Cuffaro’s Greatest Hits, which is focused on Cuffaro’s 50-year career as a photographer. He has encapsulated the spirit of some of the most well-known figures in the world of entertainment. He celebrates his greatest loves: photography and music, in a way of saying thanks to everyone who worked with him over the years, and  helped him live his dream.

Featured image:  Dallas Logan & Dae Howerton
cuffarohits | cuffarophoto | cuffaroplus | Youtube | Facebook | Instagram | Blue Sky

You’ve photographed countless iconic figures in the music industry. Was there a particular moment or person early in your career who truly inspired you to pursue photography?

I started shooting at a very young age. I knew I was gonna be a photographer by the time I was 12. I started my business and never looked back. Shooting models, cars, high school sports, portraits and concerts was my teenage years. I wanted to shoot models and be a fashion photographer. There wasn’t one person or moment, just lots of moments as I was moving forward. I was lucky to grow up in a time where Avedon, Penn & Bailey were my inspiration.

He was heavily involved in the early 1990s music scene in Seattle and regularly took pictures of bands like Pearl Jam and Nirvana.

Can you tell us about the main challenges of your beginning and how rethinking these moments give raw energy in the present moments?

The main challenge was myself and dealing with my crazy drive for more. I never get enough. I never do enough and ALWAYS want more. I’m still that way to this day. No matter what I do, it’s never good enough. This drives me to do the work everyday.

How do you see the essence of music influences your photography style and are there moments where you find the music influencing the direction of your shoot?

First things first… my music work is only a 1/3 of my body of work. It’s not everything. Just one piece of a very BIG body of work. Music has always been a big part of my life. Music really doesn’t influence my work as much as the artist/subject does. When I was young, it was my hero photographers that influenced me more. I was obsessed with photographers, magazines and movies. Anything visual influenced me.

What’s one thing most people don’t understand about the art of music photography? How do you see your role as a photographer in the storytelling process of an artist’s career? 

First, there’s a big difference between then and now. I was taught on day one in Los Angeles… it’s NOT what you shoot, but WHO you shoot. You can have the greatest photos of “nobodies” or shitty pictures of “somebodies”. The “somebodies” will shine. It’s all about who you shoot and work with since day one. The photographer is important, but depending on the artist. My job is simple… bring my best, do my best and have fun.

Some of the greatest musicians in history have been captured by you. How do you manage to keep your creative vision when working with such well-known people?

I don’t think this much about this stuff. Never have. I’ve had one rule since day one… have fun. I want the client, the talent, my crew and myself just to have fun. NOT to overthink and just have fun. I’m a BIG planner and plan every shoot I do and done. Number one on my list is to keep it simple and have fun.

Many of your iconic shots feel like a single, decisive moment captured perfectly. Can you describe what goes through your mind in those fleeting seconds before you press the shutter? Is it instinct, anticipation, or something else?

I don’t think when I shoot. After all these years it’s just instinct. I just shoot and have fun.

You’ve captured so many intimate moments back, what unseen understanding or energy do you feel was consistently present that allowed you to create such authentic portraits?  How do you make sure the subject’s personality or emotion comes across in the shot?

These questions are too deep for me. I don’t think about these things. Again… I just shoot and have fun. My job is to capture what’s in front of me and that’s what I do.

Your work often has a very raw and unfiltered feel, in a world increasingly obsessed with perfection and digital manipulation. You have a distinctive style that harkens back to classic rock and analog photography. How do you balance your love for vintage techniques with the advancements in digital photography?

In one word… grain. The one thing I loved about film was grain, which for me was the soul of the photo. With digital I add grain to every image I create. No image leaves my computer without grain. I love the texture.

Is there one collaboration or photo shoot that, looking back, you feel particularly proud of or that changed your career? What’s one moment that stands out as particularly meaningful or unexpected? Can you please share the story behind it?

There are so many shoots that changed my career, but the first artist that comes to mind is George Michael. Shooting on the FAITH video back in 1987. After that shooting George for the following year gave me “street cred” in the music business. It opened every door at every label. Shooting the biggest artist in 1988 was career changing and super fun.

Your “On Set” series offers a rare glimpse into the world of filmmaking. What are some of the key differences and similarities you’ve observed between capturing musicians on tour versus actors on a movie set?

I have NOT shot actors on sets during productions. I never did unit photography. Most of my work was on music videos. I loved being on sets and that’s why I started directing in 1991. I love when a team of people work together to make something special. I love directing to this day and want to do more.

Chris Cuffaro believes that no matter what he has achieved in the past, there are always more challenges to overcome and more frontiers to traverse

Are there any “lost” or unseen photos in your vast collection that you believe should be shared with the world, and if so, what is the backstory about them?

I have SO much that the world has NOT seen. Probably 3 times as much. Again, I’ve shot it all for over 50+ years now. There’s a lot that I forgot about. I’ve been scanning my archive for over 10+ years now. I found lots of shoots I forgot about. Lots of images that make me smile.

How do you see the role of photography evolving in the age of social media and constant image sharing? What do you believe is the enduring power of a well-crafted photograph?

I think most of photography today is just content. Not all, just most. Like everything in the world, there is too much! Everything is diluted. Music, art, photography, films and everything in between… diluted.

He produced a number of music videos. Most notably, he directed the first video for the Pearl Jam song “Jeremy.” When the single was released in 1991, the label decided to commission a more commercial video instead of continuing with the black-and-white one, despite their first support for the endeavor

Are there any particular subjects or projects that you are currently passionate about exploring with your camera? What keeps you inspired and creatively driven after such a long and successful career? 

I’m always working on something. I never stop, won’t stop and can’t stop. I can’t say what I’m working on right now, but just know I’m having fun. I’m all about the process and the journey. It’s what keeps me going. I’ve worked hard at every aspect of life and my work. I will not stop.

He is a prominent figure in entertainment photography, and his renowned Greatest Hits exhibits continue to highlight his long career

Photos courtesy of Chris Cuffaro

Dominique Musorrafiti

Ciao! My name is Dominique. I’m Italian and I’m proud to be a mix. My father was an Italian chemical engineer and high school teacher, with Greek and Polish heritage. My mother is Haitian, she was high school language teacher, with Dominican, Spanish, French, Portuguese, African and Native American heritage. Being a mix makes me appreciate to want to understand different cultures and lifestyles. I grew up in Italy, lived few years in Haiti, travel around main European capitals, lived many years in China, in Spain and UK. Traveling makes me feel that we can learn something from every situation in every part of the world.