The Art of the SNL Portrait, with Mary Ellen Matthews

“Live From New York, it’s Saturday Night!” That single sentence has become a catchphrase for devotees of comedy and popular culture over the past 50 years—generations of fans who willingly turn their attentions from the height of weekend revelry to the televised antics of Saturday Night Live. Week in, week out for more than two decades, a single photographer has conjured visual magic behind the scenes, creating inventive and irreverent portraits that air for three seconds each as so-called “bumpers” that transition to and from the show’s commercial breaks.

In this week’s podcast, SNL’s photographer in residence Mary Ellen Matthews regales us with details about what’s undoubtedly the world’s best photo gig—a position she’s held for 25 years. From the fateful phone call she got in 1993, inviting her to assist the show’s founding photographer, Mary Ellen offers candid insights into her journey from mentee to team leader. Along the way, we pull back the curtain on the creation of some iconic images and learn what it takes to be “in the driver’s seat [with] a whole busload of very important people to take care of.”

“My job is to make this easy and fast,” she notes. “And I don't want anyone to be overthinking anything because they've got enough to worry about with all the sketches and all the pre-tapes and their responsibilities to the rest of the show, which is the most important thing.”

Guest: Mary Ellen Matthews

 

Episode Timeline:

• 2:58: Living the dream as SNL’s resident photographer while being creative under stressful deadline pressure.
• 4:50: Mary Ellen’s early immersion in photography, at the side of her hobbyist father.
• 7:02: Arriving in NYC, early work for a record label, and the call to assist SNL’s founding photographer in residence, Edie Baskin.
• 12:02: SNL’s transition from film to digital, plus the cameras Mary Ellen shoots with today.
• 15:46: Conceptualizing the weekly portrait shoots and collaborating with subjects.
• 20:16: Behind-the-scenes of a dicey photo shoot, plus SNL’s weekly production timeline.

27:35: Episode Break

• 28:22: Beyond portraits, the images Mary Ellen shoots as props for SNL sketches—sometimes with a 4x5.
• 33:20: The scheduling of SNL portrait shoots and getting portrait subjects to have fun.
• 36:44: Testing for shoots, the atmosphere on-set, and flying by the seat of your pants.
• 40:15: Communicating with a celebrity’s team to get everyone on the same page about shoots and concepts.
• 42:40: The general workflow of SNL portrait sessions: from shoot preparation to editing and post-production.
• 45:17: Advice for emerging photographers looking for work or applying for an internship.

 

Guest Bio:

As a top entertainment portrait photographer, Mary Ellen Matthews is specialized in creating iconic images of well-known personalities—from pop stars to sports legends to rock gods. Since 1999, she has been photographer in residence at Saturday Night Live, where she’s responsible for creating the distinctive look of the show's still images. Through her exuberant presence that puts subjects