Barry Morgenstein is a renowned portrait photographer with decades of experience capturing the essence of music icons from Elton John to Michael Jackson. Known for his raw yet polished style, Barry’s work has appeared in national magazines, album covers, and book jackets. Based in New York City with regular sessions in Nashville, Palm Beach, and Washington, DC, Barry delivers professional, authentic photography to a diverse clientele—from rising actors to established brands, news anchors, and military veterans. His passion for storytelling through images makes him a trusted name for portraits that go beyond the surface and into the soul.
Q: You started out as a guitarist before becoming a photographer. How has music shaped your eye behind the lens?
A: Music had an important impact on me as a photographer. I’ve loved music ever since I was a kid, when I received my first album, "Meet The Beatles!" It changed my life.
I wanted to be like the musicians I admired. After quickly realizing I didn’t have the talent to be a professional musician, I found the second-best thing: I picked up a camera and realized that, through my love of music, I knew how to capture musicians. My God-given talent may not have been as a guitarist but as a photographer.
Q: What was the first concert or artist you photographed, and how did that moment influence your career?
A: The first artists I photographed were Bill Wyman of The Rolling Stones and Jeff Beck. I don’t know if that moment influenced my career, but as a huge Stones fan, I was pretty ecstatic.
Q: You’ve had incredible access to music legends. What’s one backstage or on-stage moment that still gives you chills?
A: Meeting Paul McCartney was an absolute highlight. I am a Beatles fanatic, and now I was face-to-face with a Beatle. I looked him in the eye and all I could come up with to say was "Holy shit."
Q: In your view, what makes a music photograph truly iconic?
A: It’s hard to put into words, but I guess a music photograph is iconic if you can capture the emotion and the soul of the artist. And if people can see the photo and hear the music in their head, you’ve done something right.
Q: Was there a shoot that challenged you the most, either creatively or technically?
A: The most challenging was the Miles Davis show at the Beacon Theatre in New York City. The light was very low, and Miles kept his back to the audience through out a good portion of the show. When he turned to briefly face the audience , I had to shoot fast and hope I’d get a decent shot. I think I did.
Q: Looking back, which photograph in Rock & Soul means the most to you, and why?
A: Great question. It's hard to pick one, but I’m very proud of my photographs of Chuck Berry. I grew up a rock 'n' roll fan, Chuck Berry is the father of rock 'n' roll. His music started it all, along with Elvis’s. I think I caught a legendary shot of him. And of course, the McCartney shot means a lot to me too.
Q: The book spans several decades of music. How did you decide which portraits made the cut?
A: It wasn’t easy. I wanted to be sure all of my favorite artists were in the book. If I’d photographed an artist I was not necessarily a fan of, I wanted to make sure it was a great capture that their fans would appreciate. I went through thousands of slides and black and white negatives since I shot the majority on film. I had to have them converted digitally. Then I would view them on my computer and see what stood out. I’d forgotten about many photos I’d taken.
Q: What’s your best advice for photographers trying to capture live music energy or an artist’s personality?
A: Hopefully, you love the music of the artist you are photographing. I don’t not know how it’s done today, but in my day, sometimes you had to shoot and get all your images during the first three songs of a concert. You had to shoot fast, keep a steady hand, and get a feel for the stage lighting. Today, with digital, you can see what you are shooting. Back in my day, you had to take light settings on your camera when the stage lighting changed throughout the show. It was challenging, and you wouldn't know what you captured until you got the film back.
Q: Are you working on another book or project you’d like to share?
A: I am not currently working on a book, but down the road, I definitely want to do a book based on my headshot and beauty portraits.
Q: Which musicians or photographers have had the biggest impact on you?
A: Portrait photographers: George Hurrell , Scavullo, Richard Avedon, Herb Ritts, and David Bailey.
Rock ’n’ roll photographers: Ethan Russell , Jim Marshall , Henry Diltz, Mick Rock, and Annie Leibowitz.
Musicians: The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Led Zeppelin, Bob Dylan, The Band, and The Allman Brothers.
Learn more about Barry Morgenstein and his upcoming book, Rock & Soul, here.