Legendary Photographer Chris Cuffaro: 5 Things Anyone Can Do To Take Stunning Photos

…And lastly, the most important rule: be crazy, but don’t be stupid. Growing up, my parents always told me I was crazy, and I thought that was bad. But when I moved to LA, I realized everyone’s crazy there. So, embrace your craziness, but don’t make reckless decisions. Every great artist of our time has a little bit of crazy in them — and that’s a good thing…

I had the pleasure to talk to Chris Cuffaro. Chris, a legendary American photographer, has been at the forefront of entertainment photography for over four decades. Born in California on April 14, 1960, Cuffaro embarked on his career by photographing local rock shows before moving to Los Angeles in the early 1980s. There, he produced striking images for a variety of prominent publications, including Rolling Stone, Spin, RayGun, Vibe, Musician, and Entertainment Weekly, among others.

Notably associated with the Seattle rock scene of the early 1990s, Cuffaro has photographed a diverse array of musicians, such as Michael Hutchence, Henry Rollins, George Michael, George Harrison, and bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam. His impact extends beyond photography as he also directed several music videos, including an initial version of Pearl Jam’s “Jeremy.”

Cuffaro’s first exhibition, consisting of 100 photographs, was held at Ministry in Los Angeles in 1992. Since then, he has celebrated his iconic music photography through multiple exhibitions, starting with “Greatest Hits: Los Angeles” and followed by other themed exhibits including George Michael, Grunge, Pearl Jam, and Michael Hutchence. These exhibits are set to be enriched by an upcoming documentary on his Greatest Hits.

Currently, Cuffaro is not only working on this documentary but is also focused on expanding his exhibition to reach a global audience. This ongoing endeavor reflects his persistent pursuit of artistic expression and dedication to exploring new horizons. As he articulates, there are always new mountains to climb and borders to cross, illustrating his forward-looking approach to his craft.

Throughout his expansive career, Cuffaro has crafted public images for an array of A-List actors, models, athletes, and musicians, thereby solidifying his reputation within the entertainment industry. His extensive portfolio includes portraits of Johnny Depp, Dustin Hoffman, Kobe Bryant, Wayne Gretzky, and scenes from popular television shows like American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance. His photographs have been featured not only in music publications but also in entertainment outlets like Entertainment Weekly, US, Stuff, Maxim, Premiere, British Elle, and W.

Chris is thrilled to announce the official release of his new mobile app, Greatest Hits. This immersive app chronicles more than four decades of his enchanting music photography, offering an unprecedented online exploration of his impressive body of work.

Twelve years in the making, the app encapsulates Cuffaro’s profound journey through music history. With an anthology of over 100 hits, Greatest Hits presents an array of his iconic images that serve as captivating windows into the lives of music legends. The app offers everything from proof sheets and storytelling videos to behind-the-scenes information and trailers from past exhibitions, immersing fans in a journey through music history like never before.

Sharing his excitement about the app’s long-awaited launch, Cuffaro states, “I’ve dreamed of this moment since initiating this project 12 years ago. Collaborating with the exceptional digital media team at iSPARX in New Zealand, whose remarkable technical expertise has been paramount in this project’s success, has truly brought my vision to life.”

Greatest Hits offers a unique opportunity for music and photography enthusiasts. With comprehensive descriptions of print types and archival materials, it fosters a deeper understanding and appreciation of Cuffaro’s artistry. Each photograph is highlighted in a rich tapestry of artistry and history, shedding light on the moments and legendary figures that have shaped music history.

“The most exciting aspect of my app is its capacity to evolve in tandem with my Greatest Hits project,” Cuffaro says. “The scope of the app will continue to grow, enriching the narratives of these iconic photos and providing more than just a glimpse of the image. My aim is to share the history behind each photo, as well as my own journey.”

The Greatest Hits app is set to launch this summer and will be available for download via Google Play and the Apple App Store.

For further information about Chris Cuffaro and his mesmerizing photography, please visit CuffaroHits.com.

ABOUT ISPARX:

iSPARX™ is a leading provider of immersive technology solutions, specializing in augmented reality (AR) and immersive media with tailored solutions to enhance user experiences primarily in arts and culture, entertainment and the GLAM sector — galleries, libraries, archives and museums. With a team of experts and a commitment to high-quality products and services, iSPARX™ empowers artists and practitioners to engage audiences through innovation and building long-term client relationships.

Yitzi: Chris, thank you so much for joining us. Before we dive in deeper, our readers are eager to learn about your origin story. Can you share this story of your childhood and how you grew up?

Chris: Certainly, Yitzi. I grew up in Northern California, during the 60s and 70s. I was born in 1960, so I’m 63 now. My mother loved movies, particularly musicals, which is how I was introduced to film. Sometimes, she would let me stay home from school to watch these musicals.

When I was 10 years old, I saw the movie ‘Funny Face’ featuring Audrey Hepburn and Fred Astaire. Astaire, who plays a photographer in the movie, inspired me to pick up a camera. By the time I was in sixth grade, I shot my first roll of film. It wasn’t that great, but when I was in seventh grade, around 11 years old, I took up photography. From that first week, I told everyone that I was going to be a photographer and planned to do it for the rest of my life. Most people thought I was crazy, a little 11-year-old kid declaring himself a photographer. But by the time I was 12, I had started shooting models and established my business.

I still have my first business card that I made when I was 12. It reminds me of where I started. I was so dedicated to photography that I often skipped school, thinking I didn’t need English or math since I wanted to be a photographer. I was ignorant about budgets back then, and I just ran my business while I was still in high school. I started shooting concerts when I was 16 and kept my focus primarily on photography.

At 21, I moved to Los Angeles because a photographer I met advised me that if I wanted to play in the major leagues, I had to be in either Los Angeles or New York. Upon moving to LA, I got a job at a black and white lab, Photo Impact, which is still in existence. I worked there for about three and a half years, met several people, learned from the best, and got an idea of what it would take for me to be successful.

One day, I quit my job at the lab and decided to become a full-time photographer. I originally moved to LA with the intention of becoming a fashion photographer and shooting models. However, my best friend told me on my first day in LA that I was in the wrong city, knew nothing about fashion, and that my photography was subpar. This was a reality check for me, but I knew that my work ethic was strong.

I’ve been running my own business for 53 years now. I’ve learned a lot, mostly the hard way. I enjoy giving back by mentoring upcoming photographers, businesspeople, actors, and musicians, passing on the knowledge that has been shared with me over the years.

One of my first big breaks was when I met George Michael in 1987, on the set of the ‘Faith’ video. This opportunity allowed me to take some iconic photos of George Michael and essentially put me on the map. In 1988, I was touring with George, shooting shows and conducting photo shoots on music video sets.

Another huge break came later that year when I was hired to shoot for a band called In Excess in Canada. This happened right in the middle of George Michael’s ‘Faith’ tour, and it was an exhilarating time. Following these successes, I was hired to shoot New Kids on the Block, and that’s how the ball kept rolling.

When I moved to Los Angeles, my best friend told me that success is not about what you know, but who you know and who you shoot. This advice shaped my career and I worked hard to photograph those who people would recognize. There are countless iconic photos I’ve taken over the years, and it’s a common occurrence at exhibitions for people to realize that they’ve seen my photos without knowing I was the one who took them.

Interestingly, music is only a third of my workload. I’ve done work in entertainment, television, food photography, property photography, and even weddings. The one wedding I shot was for Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, and those pictures still hold up today since they’re still together. I always joke with their son, who’s a good friend of mine, that his parents owe me.

Yitzi: It’s often said that our mistakes can sometimes be our greatest teachers. Do you have a story of a mistake that you made when you were just starting, and the lesson you learned from it?

Chris: Absolutely. I always recall my initial blunder when I started in 1970. I often joke that my first mistake was not finding a computer instead of a camera. Perhaps if I had stayed in San Jose, worked in Silicon Valley during the 70s, I could have been best friends with Steve Jobs and a millionaire by now. But instead, I chose to chase my dream.

I’m one of those people who believe you learn something from everything you do. More often than not, you learn never to do it again. For example, I’d take on shoots without compensation. At the end, the pictures might turn out bad or the subjects might be uninteresting, but it’s a lesson learned. I’ll decide never to work with those people again.

I had some fantastic early mentors in my life, and I learned so much from them. One of the important lessons I learned when I was just 12 was that your most crucial piece of equipment is your reputation. This lesson has stuck with me my entire life.

On the day I left San Jose and moved to Los Angeles, my mentor told me something I’ll never forget: “Every no brings you closer to a yes.” So when I hear ‘no,’ I just think, I’m getting closer to a ‘yes.’

In terms of failures and mistakes, I’ve had my fair share. I may get upset for a short time, but I always ask myself: did I do my best? I always begin with myself, even when working with big crews or shooting something really special. Did I communicate effectively? Did they not understand what I was saying? I always tend to introspect first, rather than blaming others.

In business, communication is key. As you can probably tell, I’m quite talkative. But I always say, I’d rather think out loud and solve the problem with everyone contributing than just stay silent and have people guessing what’s on my mind. I’m always learning and always striving to improve.

Being curious is one of my defining traits. Hence, I have a tattoo of a question mark to signify that I’m always asking questions. I was the annoying kid in the backseat constantly asking “why?” This curiosity fuels my passion, which in turn is expressed through my art. I want to know everything about everything, and I use photography to educate myself.

In short, use your art to learn. You don’t necessarily need a formal education. You can go out there, be curious, and learn on your own.

Yitzi: You’ve achieved considerable success as a photographer. With so many photographers out there today, what sets you apart? What makes you unique?

Chris: Firstly, I want to say that when I moved to LA in 1981, there were about ten photographers who we’d classify as A-plus, just like Major and Minor leagues in baseball. Now, there are about 10,000. Everyone’s a photographer these days. Everyone has a camera or a phone. I don’t feel special anymore.

In fact, about ten years ago, at my first big exhibition, someone came up to me and confidently declared, “I’m a photographer. I can do your job.” And I just laughed and agreed with him because, honestly, anyone can take up photography now.

On one hand, it does bother me because today, there’s an excess of everything. You name it, there’s too much of it. As I grow older, I find myself craving simplicity. I’ve always been a simple person, but now, I want my life to be even more so.

Despite all this, I don’t necessarily consider myself successful yet. I haven’t reached my ultimate goal. However, I’m grateful for the exceptional work I’ve done, and I’m quite proud of it.

From the start, my number one goal has always been to create the best body of work I can while I’m alive, and let people judge me afterwards. I often tell my assistants and friends that I’ll only be rich and famous when I’m gone. I’ve accepted that. I’m not in this for fame or fortune.

I think when your motivation becomes money and fame, you’re bound to face trouble. Most normal people aren’t driven by wealth and celebrity status. For me, I simply want to be healthy. That’s my priority.

I’ve had the chance to work with famous and wealthy people, even befriended a billionaire. They inhabit an entirely different world, almost like they’re on another planet. But it’s interesting, listening to them talk, asking them questions. Some of them, not all, have a good perspective on life and what it truly means, while others seem a little lost.

Yitzi: Could you share with our readers the exciting projects you’re currently working on? Tell us about your ‘Greatest Hits’ project, the story behind it, what motivated you, and what you hope to achieve.

Chris: Certainly. ‘Greatest Hits’ started just over 12 years ago. I had just lost my business manager of 25 years, who was also my mother. She believed in me and I felt the need to show my gratitude to her. This sparked the idea of the ‘Greatest Hits’ project, which was originally planned to be six exhibitions around the world. It was my way of saying thank you and signaling that I was ready to step back.

But instead of fading out, the project just kept growing. I involved my best friend, my mentor, and one of my dearest friends. It became clear who my real friends were as they bent over backward to make it happen.

The ‘Greatest Hits’ project is about photography, music photography to be exact. It’s about celebrating 30 years of music photography, but it’s equally about the stories behind the pictures. The first exhibition kicked off in Los Angeles in 2017, and since then, we’ve done eight to ten, though COVID certainly derailed my timeline.

The project is about celebrating music, photography, and my passion for it. It’s about life. Everyone has a music story, regardless of where they’re from or what kind of music they prefer. It’s about nostalgia, about making people feel, about reminding them of moments like that concert with Michael.

We recently launched the ‘Greatest Hits’ app, inspired by an app released by Richard Avedon’s foundation years ago. We have big plans in the pipeline. Right now, I’m preparing for an exhibition in Australia later this year, and even one in Fiji, which is quite exciting. I’m also working on a European tour for next year.

This project is my primary focus right now. But beyond this, I often tell people how music, as a universal language, gives me hope for mankind. My mantra is: more music, less nonsense.

Yitzi: How are you using your success to bring goodness to the world?

Chris: Interestingly, I don’t perceive myself as a success. I wake up every day feeling more like a failure. But the fact that I’m still here, that I’m still working, that I still have a camera in my hand — that’s my personal measure of success.

I strongly believe in giving back. I’ve mentored a lot of young photographers, many of them from the app Clubhouse. Around 50, to be precise, and about 30 of them have even visited me in person. I also provide assistance to groups of photographers in New Zealand and Australia. I enjoy sharing my wisdom and advice; I think I’m a natural-born teacher.

Funny story, when I was in high school, at 16, I knew more about photography than the teacher. So, he’d often let me lead the class. That experience helped foster my love for teaching.

Collecting quotes has been a hobby of mine since I was a kid. One of my favorites is, “If you don’t listen, you don’t learn.” My ultimate favorite, though, is “A goal without a plan is just a wish.” I emphasize the importance of having a plan to everyone I mentor, whether they aspire to be a photographer, musician, writer, pop star, or even a billionaire. Planning is crucial to avoid wasting time.

Here’s another favorite quote of mine, although unrelated to our conversation. It’s by John Wayne: “Life is hard; it’s harder if you’re stupid.”

Yitzi: That’s good. So this is our signature question that we ask in all of our interviews. Today, everyone sees themselves as a photographer, everyone has a camera. However, there is genuine art and wisdom behind it. What would you say are five tips anyone can use to take stunning photos?

Chris: That’s an excellent question. Five tips.

1. Firstly, remember that taking pictures comprises only 5% of the job. I’ve never been in the photography business; instead, I’m in the business of photography. No matter how beautiful your photos are, you can’t run a business without sound business principles. This holds for music, writing, directing — any field.
2. Secondly, practice makes improvement. You can talk about taking pictures all you want, but you need to go out and shoot.
3. Thirdly, shoot everything. My mentor, whom I fondly refer to as my “great brother,” told me this 43 years ago. At first, I didn’t understand, thinking I’d just take pictures of girls. But he insisted, and he was right. By shooting different subjects — food, actors, musicians, empty rooms — you learn and experience various aspects of photography.
4. Fourth, it’s all about moving forward. I don’t believe in moving on; rather, you should keep moving forward.
5. And lastly, the most important rule: be crazy, but don’t be stupid. Growing up, my parents always told me I was crazy, and I thought that was bad. But when I moved to LA, I realized everyone’s crazy there. So, embrace your craziness, but don’t make reckless decisions. Every great artist of our time has a little bit of crazy in them — and that’s a good thing. So those are my five tips.

Yitzi: Those are amazing. Now, let’s proceed to our final question. This somewhat ties into what we’ve previously discussed. Because of your remarkable work and the platform you’ve established, you’ve become an enormous influence. Many people look up to you, admire you, and hang on your words. If you could inspire a movement or share an idea that would bring the most good to the most people, what would that be? After all, you never know what your idea can inspire.

Chris: That’s a challenging question. Various ideas are racing through my head right now, and I can’t begin to express how much your words mean to me. One quote I live by is ‘desire to inspire.’ I was inspired at a young age by many people in this fascinating world. My favorite photographer Richard Avedon, Irving Penn, and my first mentor, Frank McDally, who passed away last year at the age of 100, have all inspired me.

I believe in inspiration and its ability to emerge from unexpected places. I learned early on to keep my eyes and mind open because you never know when an opportunity will present itself, and you need to be ready for it. At the age of 12, I had this ambitious dream of shooting the cover of Vogue. I was taught the importance of always being prepared, a lesson I still share with my friends today. If Vogue calls you tomorrow, will you be ready?

You must be prepared because opportunities and inspiration are unpredictable. They’ll come when least expected, and you better be ready. You might only get one shot at it. Let me share a story that might illuminate this idea.

I met a girl named Kate in New Zealand in February. Her mother had reached out to me via Instagram, wanting me to meet her daughter, who was a photographer. I invited them to an artist talk I was giving. After the talk, this woman introduced her 12-year-old daughter to me.

Chatting with Kate, I felt like I was talking to myself at the age of 12. It reminded me of the eager, young photographer I once was. I still carry that 12-year-old inside me, and he is what motivates me every day. I get to take pictures, and I’ve always preserved that inspiration and the inner child in me. Meeting Kate, who’s been successfully running her business for a couple of years and is an exceptional photographer, that’s what I live for.

Now, I’m at a phase in my life where I enjoy being around these passionate, young, talented people. However, I warn them that success in this field isn’t easy to come by. It’s not just about taking photographs; it’s about running a business. And in this age, where everyone considers themselves a photographer, it’s tough. But despite all the challenges, the passion for the craft makes it worthwhile. Does that answer your question?

Yitzi: You made perfect sense. I have a great article here. How can our readers buy the greatest hits? How can they support your work? How can they continue to follow your work?

Chris: Well, I would like people to download the app. Let me explain a little backstory about this app. Around twelve years ago, I started ‘Greatest Hits.’ Two years into it, I came across an app from the Richard Avedon Foundation. If you don’t know who Richard Avedon is, please look him up. He’s one of the greatest photographers ever.

I fell in love with their app, so I went to New York to meet the company that designed it. However, the meeting ended quickly when they told me it would cost $200,000. It was a lot more than I could afford at the time. Fast forward to eight months ago, when I met a company called Icebox in New Zealand. We started talking about ideas, and they agreed to collaborate with me on the app without charging me $200,000.

The goal of the app is to allow people to dive deep into the ‘Greatest Hits.’ They can see proof sheets, watch videos telling stories, and we’re just expanding. We’re going to incorporate virtual reality and augmented reality. Imagine coming to a photoshoot or being at a gallery, all through the app. This is just version one, and we’re really excited about building on it.

You can download the app from the App Store or Google Play. On my website, you can buy prints and catalogs. My dream is to keep developing this for the next few years.

As a side note, I’ve decided that when I turn 65, which is in two years, I’m going to stop talking about my music photography. I don’t want to be the old guy telling the same stories from his past over and over again. I want to have new stories, a new life, and new things happening. If you ask me about shooting Nirvana, I’ll tell you to download the app and watch the video.

Yitzi: That sounds fantastic. Well, Chris, this has been an amazing conversation. I feel so blessed to have met you, and I’m excited to share your story with the world.

Chris: Feel free to reach out if you guys need anything.