We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Gabriella Spiegel. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Gabriella below.

Gabriella, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

I graduated from college in May 2020, so for a million reasons that was a hard and scary time. About two weeks before my virtual graduation date, I received an email from Elle Magazine saying that they liked my photography, and wanted to work with me on an article for their September issue called, “Fall Fashion, Through the Eyes of 2020 Graduates.” We were still very much in the time of lockdown, so my models were my two sisters, which was great because a lot of my work at that point was about, and continues to be about, capturing our sisterhood. Kenzo, Marc Jacobs and Max Mara looks were shipped to my house on Long Island, where the three of us were currently living at the time, and we had virtual fittings with the fashion director and team at Elle. It was my first time ever being so close to clothes like that, clothes I have dreamed of working with since flipping through fashion magazines with my mom. In September, I ran to pick up the issue at my local Barnes & Noble, and I could not believe my work was in print, and beyond that, that my sister was really in the September issue of Elle Magazine. It felt like the culmination of all of my time and hard work at photo school, and it got me excited for all that my career can be one day.

Gabriella, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Gabriella Spiegel and I am a photographer based in New York City. I graduated with a BFA in Photography and Related Media from the Fashion Institute of Technology in 2020, with minors in Art History and Film and Media Studies. Growing up watching countless films, I have always incorporated storytelling into my own work. Much of my photographic inspiration comes from the close relationships I have with the women around me, often using my two sisters as muses to highlight the way sisterhood looks and feels to me. Portraiture has always been an amazing way to connect with the people around me, and I continue to find fulfillment in collaborating with my subjects to tell a story. I take pride in my ability to listen to what my clients want, and work with their vision to not only provide exactly what they are asking for, but to also meld their ideas into my own artistic style. From portraits of themselves, to putting together a shoot with models and their fashion designs, or working with a publication, the list goes on.

Any advice for managing a team?

As a photographer, you are often the leader on set, and can make or break how the whole day runs. The most important thing I have found for having a successful shoot while maintaining morale, is preparation. Because there are so many moving parts on a photoshoot, it means there are a lot of things that can go wrong. Hiring a team that are not only experts in their specific fields, but also have a positive outlook and are open to flexibility, is the first step. After that, I mood-board and make checklists to ensure I have all of the equipment and artistic ideas I will need to make the day run smoothly. The day of the shoot is so chaotic, and so much has to get done, that extensive preparation is the only way I am able to shut off the planning/technical part of my brain, and get in touch with my creative side! No matter how much you prepare, problems will of course still arise on the day. Being a photographer requires quick thinking on your feet, and a calm disposition to keep your team and client happy and excited to work.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Working with other creatives! When I decided I wanted to pursue photography while I was in high school, the part that was really appealing to me was the idea of someday working with the people who made the movies that I would rewatch constantly. Moving into my career, I have been able to work with musicians, actors, and designers whom I really admire. When I reach the final photographs, it is really fulfilling to have a product that feels like the perfect combination of our individual artistry.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.gabriellaspiegel.com
• Instagram: @gabriellaspiegel