Greg Gorman

David Michelak

1987

Born in Kansas City, Missouri in 1949, Greg attended the University of Kansas and majored in photojournalism. He completed his studies at the University of Southern California, graduating with a master of fine arts in cinematography in 1972. Although Gorman studied photojournalism in college, it was circumstance rather than a clear direction that took Mr. Gorman into photography as a profession. It all began with a series of images taken at rock concerts in the late '60s. Afterward, he made the rounds in Los Angeles until he got noticed. For over four decades, Gorman has continued to master the art of photography. From celebrity portraits and advertising campaigns to magazine layouts and fine artwork, Gorman has developed and showcased a discriminating and unique style in his profession. Gorman’s photography is timeless and not confined to has-beens, hot properties and wannabes. Each shot gives a picture of human nature in its infinite range. Each picture is also a testament to the individual character. “For me, a photograph is most successful when it doesn’t answer all the questions”, says Gorman, “but leaves something to the imagination”. In 1985, through the advice of illustrator Antonio Lopez, Gorman realized that he needed a creative outlet in addition to the commercial work that launched his career. He then began to expand his work exploring the human form and became a notable photographer for not only his celebrity portraiture but also his figure studies of the male and female nude. While continually expanding his archive with new work, Gorman works on compilations of his imagery for publication. In the fall of 2009, Damiani Editore released In Their Youth: Early Portraits, which incorporates 40 years of unpublished work. A book of his photos for the award-winning L.A.Eyeworks campaign, entitled Framed was released in 2012. These join Gorman’s previously published books Greg Gorman, Volume I, Greg Gorman, Volume II, Inside Life, Perspectives, As I See It, Just Between Us and a book of platinum prints entitled Odes to Pindar, published by the Journal of the 21st Century. Over the past 30 years, Gorman’s work has been exhibited in galleries and museums throughout the world, including the Helmut Newton Foundation in Berlin. When not shooting famous faces, Gorman travels for specialized photographic projects and is one of the most sought-after speakers in the photographic community. Gorman shares his expertise in hands-on photographic workshops worldwide, most notably his workshops at his studio in Northern California. Gorman has been recognized for his contributions to the world of photography with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Professional Photographers of America, the Achievement in Portraiture Award from The Lucie Foundation and the Pacific Design Center, Stars of Design award. He has also been acknowledged for his charitable works for many organizations, including The Elton John AIDS Foundation, The Oscar De La Hoya Foundation, PETA, Angel Art and PAWS LA. Gorman is also one of the most well-known and sought-after celebrity photographers, having photographed countless stars, such as Al Pacino, Mark Wahlberg, Sophia Loren, Michael Jackson and Kevin Costner. Greg Gorman also has expanded his interests into winemaking and divides his time between his two California homes in Los Angeles and Mendocino.