Decade of Exquisite Celeb Moments: Intimate Portraits from Hollywood's Hottest After-Parties
Capturing candid moments from Vanity Fair's exclusive Oscars after-party, esteemed photographer Mark Seliger skillfully reveals a decade of intimate portraits featuring Hollywood's hottest A-listers His unique ability to craft spontaneous scenes and venture beyond the script sets his work apart
Over the past ten years, Hollywood's top celebrities have turned to photographer Mark Seliger to capture their portraits at the famed "Vanity Fair" Oscars after-party. Seliger constructs elaborate pop-up studios that have featured Academy Award winners, nominees, directors, and other notable guests. His new photobook, "Vanity Fair: Oscar Night Sessions," showcases the challenging and multifaceted nature of his work as both a photographer and a director.
Created in collaboration with his set designer, Thomas Thurnauer, and influenced by discussions with "Vanity Fair" editor Radhika Jones, Seliger's studio spaces often incorporate subtle references to Oscar-winning films that are "not too derivative," according to Seliger.
This cinematic approach, combined with his calm and easy-going demeanor, has led to the creation of many iconic shots. Some examples include Lady Gaga celebrating her 2019 Oscar win, Timothée Chalamet in a white tuxedo sharing a moment with director Luca Guadagnino, and Michelle Yeoh, adorned with diamonds, looking effortlessly regal as she reflects on her groundbreaking Best Actress win in March. These are just a few of the 200 portraits featured in the coffee table book.
Olivia Colman, photographed in 2019 with her Best Actress Oscar, won for her role as the British monarch Queen Anne in "The Favourite."
Mark Seliger
Taika Waititi, seemingly stunned to be holding an Oscar of his own. (Waititi won out in the Best Adapted Screenplay category at the 2020 Academy Awards, for his work on "Jojo Rabbit.")
Mark Seliger
Timothee Chalamet and director Luca Guadagnino, photographed in 2018.
Mark Seliger
Lady Gaga may have been defeated by Olivia Colman in the 2019 Best Actress category, but she did take home her first Oscar for Best Original Song that same year. Along with musicians and songwriters Mark Ronson, Anthony Rossomando, and Andrew Wyatt, she was honored for "Shallow" from the movie "A Star is Born."
Mark Seliger
In 2018, a snapshot captured Kobe and Vanessa Bryant sharing an intimate moment. That same year, Bryant, alongside director Glenn Keane, achieved an Oscar win in the Best Animated Short Film category for their work on "Dear Basketball."
Mark Seliger
Jessica Chastain, photographed in 2022 with her Best Actress Oscar, won for her role as Tammy Faye Bakker in "The Eyes of Tammy Faye."
Mark Seliger
From left: "Euphoria" stars Maude Apatow, Angus Cloud and Barbie Ferreira, photographed in 2022.
Mark Seliger
Lupita Nyong'o, photographed in 2014 with her Best Supporting Actress Oscar, won for her performance in "12 Years a Slave."
Mark Seliger
Mark Seliger's "Vanity Fair: Oscar Night Sessions."
Mark Seliger
Iconic photos from the pop-up studio at Vanity Fair's Oscars after-party
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The book begins with a 2014 photograph of Lupita Nyongo, a first-time Oscar winner, smiling as she looks down at her golden statue held delicately in both hands. "I didn't even have to say anything," Seliger remembered. "I think she was just in a moment of shock and joy... You couldn't help but want to celebrate with her."
The New York City photographer relies on intuition to capture these magical moments, explaining that his subjects' moods vary from "dreamy and effervescent" to downright astonished. "I'm always very present," Seliger explained, "because we only have them for maybe 10 to 20 shots. It really is a spontaneous, in-the-moment experience."
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Meanwhile, his on-site team ensures that side tables are readily available to quickly showcase the trophies. "Some people are more adept at holding Oscars than others," remarked the photographer.
Crafting scenes and improvising
Seliger carefully studies his subjects' mannerisms in order to craft a compelling narrative and capture an authentic pose. For example, his 2022 portrait of Jeff Goldblum depicts him holding a pair of glasses in one hand and pointing with the other, as if scolding the photographer.
Seliger complimented Jeff, referring to him as an amazing 1970s Italian director, and described a candid conversation he had with a leading lady. He mentioned that Jeff was able to communicate effectively despite speaking little Italian, achieving the desired shot in just 30 seconds. Meanwhile, Seliger's team worked tirelessly to manage and efficiently guide the guests through the process, utilizing a nearby holding room that also functioned as a well-stocked speakeasy.
Here, Jeff Goldblum plays to the camera.
Mark Seliger
A portrait of actor Rami Malek that was worth the wait.
Mark Seliger
In 2022, Zendaya and Zoë Kravitz, who Seliger has known since the mid-90s when he photographed her dad Lenny, were patiently waiting in line while 2019 Oscar winner Rami Malek sat for his session, Seliger remembered.
"Rami was really enthusiastic about this picture... He had that perfect Oscar buzz and wanted to do something creative," said Seliger, who was expecting Zendaya and Kravitz to come in next. "I thought they would be okay waiting, but they both left. But we did get the picture of Rami, which was nice." That smoldering photo of Malek made the book, along with an earlier snap of Kravitz throwing a playful side-eye.
Each time someone arrives, whether it's one guest or a group, it brings a new possibility. In 2018, an impromptu gathering led to a memorable photograph featuring 17 Black Hollywood and cultural icons, including Ava DuVernay, Angela Bassett, Donald Glover, Rashida Jones, and Shonda Rhimes. Standing together, hands held or resting on each other's shoulders, they showed unity and support, with Gabrielle Union's "Nevertheless She Persisted" bag, making a statement about Republicans' attempt to silence Senator Elizabeth Warren during the 2017 nomination of Jeff Sessions as Attorney General, strategically positioned at the front of the group shot.
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In 2018, Mark Seliger photographed Regina Hall, Donald Glover, Tracee Ellis Ross, Ava DuVernay, Sarah Jones, Rashida Jones, Lena Waithe, Dr. Ivara Esege, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Angela Bassett, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Shonda Rhimes, Mark Bradford, DeRay Mckesson, Gabrielle Union, Chuck Lightning, and Janelle Monáe.
"Everyone is getting cue calls and being directed...I'm just working on the details step by step," Seliger explained. "You may only get one or two frames, but that's really all we're trying to accomplish. Then that level of perfection happens almost by chance."
In contrast, Seliger's 2022 shot of three "Euphoria" cast members in mid-conversation - Maude Apatow excitedly gesturing and the late Angus Cloud beaming up at a mischievous Barbie Ferreira - didn't need much direction. "There was this natural quality when they sat down. Obviously, they built a very strong bond and friendship. I just let them keep going and took pictures without them thinking about it too hard," said Seliger, before sharing his memories of Cloud. "He was a wonderful guy. I had worked with him on a couple of projects and (his death) was a tough one for sure."
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Seliger's portraiture also captures the intense dynamic often seen between Hollywood power couples— from John Legend and Chrissy Teigen to Sarah Paulson and Holland Taylor. "I aim to capture a candid moment that reflects their relationship," Seliger stated. "I distill it down to a spontaneous moment, a moment shared between them, or a moment where one is engaged and the other is introspective," he elaborated.
(For a photoshoot featuring Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone, both captured glaring angrily at the camera, Seliger drew inspiration from their coordinated Adidas tracksuits and whiskey tumblers. "Just give me that look like you're about to toss your drink at me because I'm just the annoying photographer at a party," Seliger jokingly instructed them.)
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What Sir Anthony Hopkins wants, Seliger told CNN, Sir Anthony Hopkins gets.
Mark Seliger
Seliger happily took direction from the two-time Oscar winner, Anthony Hopkins, who was the only person to give a firm "no" on a specific request. "He goes, I just want to be photographed like this. I was like, Serenity, of course. Im just delighted to have you here," said Seliger.
