Celebrated photographer Greg Gorman sits down with Paris Chong to discuss his current work, which includes an unannounced two-volume set of books dedicated to David Bowie and Grace Jones, both of whom he photographed for many years. He also shares that he, Matthew Ralston, and Herb Ritts are planning an upcoming project and book with Fahey Klein Gallery, stemming from their time in the "School of LA". Gorman, who is represented by Fahey Klein, details his busy schedule, which includes teaching at SVA in New York and running portraiture workshops in Maine and Aspen, Colorado.
Gorman offers a candid critique of the photography industry, explaining that he made a conscious choice to step back from commercial work around 2006/2007, feeling he had "been there, done that". He attributes this change to the rise of digital and AI, which allowed producers to hire "Greg Gorman lookalikes" for a fraction of the price and use editing to mimic his style. His focus throughout his career has been on creating a "connected portrait"—getting inside the person's head to capture "a sense of the soul of who that individual was". He is the only person John Waters trusts to photograph his corpse, famously joking that Gorman would know he'd "need proper time for hair and makeup".
Beyond his iconic black and white photography—known for its harsh lighting, strong highlights, hard shadows, and sculptured look—Gorman recounts the legendary status of his eclectic Hollywood dinner parties. He describes mixing guests like Bette Midler, David Bowie, and John Waters with "a hustler from Santa Monica Boulevard" and the popular, but unexpected, presence of Heidi Fleiss. Gorman also shares his history with Studio 54 and his connection to the late photographer Francesco Scavullo.
Show Notes:
www.theparischongshow.com/episodes/greg-gorman-talks-new-book-projects-and-why-only-john-waters-trusts-him-to-photograph-his-corpse
Chapters:
00:00 Show Intro and Guest
00:43 New Books Bowie and Grace
01:57 John Waters Quote Talk
03:13 Leica Versus Sony Gear
05:38 Travel Wine and Workshops
07:46 Portrait Philosophy and Industry
19:22 Factory Days Memories
19:56 Studio 54 First Night
20:10 Francesco Scavullo Fan Talk
22:06 Favorite Photographers Ethics
23:58 Legacy Foundation Iconic Warhol
28:56 Travel Festivals Workshops Farewell
🎵 Music by Andrew Raiher https://andrewraiher.com/
📸 Shot & Edited at Visible Audio Studios https://www.visibleaudiostudios.com
