Stewart CohenDirector/DP/Photographer, Stewart Cohen Pictures · Director/DP/Photographer @ Stewart Cohen Pictures | Film Production

How Stewart Captures the Essence of Talent

20 Sept 2026 · 1 min

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In this interview excerpt, Stewart Cohen discusses his approach to photographing people so that their essence shines through. He explains that for celebrity subjects he does background research (“homework”) to understand them, but for everyday or street talent the crucial factor is genuine care and interest in the person. By focusing on the subject rather than the photographer, he helps them feel relaxed and have fun, which he says directly translates into higher‑quality, more expressive final images.

Chapters

But I noticed that in the photography, the person's kind of almost essence. What's a way that you really capture that?
I mean, now granted, if it's a celebrity, you know, you do your homework about them. But if it's just normal, say talent or street, you know, people, it's about caring. It's about being genuinely interested in who they are. It's not about me, it's about them. And it's amazing what doors open in a performance when people feel relaxed on the other side of the camera. And the goal is, I think, is if When people have fun and they have a good experience, you could really see it in the, in the end product that we turn out.