Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Rozzi

Hi Mary, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?

In 1986, I first picked up a camera at the age of 16. My friends and I would dress up in our coolest outfits and head out to the golf course in Mason, Ohio, where I would photograph them. The excitement I felt in anticipation of getting the film back from the drugstore was overwhelming. Freezing moments in time became my obsession, and that’s when I truly understood the meaning of passion.
At 18, I enrolled in the photography program at The Parsons School of Design in NYC and never looked back. I loved fashion, meeting new people, traveling, and the endless excitement and possibilities that came with being a photographer. I worked my way up the ladder, perfecting my craft as an apprentice to world-renowned photographers for over eight years in NYC. I was a sponge, eager to absorb everything I could. At the time, there weren’t many women behind the camera; I looked young and was perceived as pretty. I felt the need to prove myself, so I worked harder than my peers in hopes of securing a seat at the table.
In 2000, I decided it was time to expand my knowledge and experiences and venture out on my own. After 12 years in NYC, I packed up my apartment and moved to Paris. I didn’t speak the language and knew only a handful of people. In New York, I had perfected my technical skills; in Paris, I would refine my point of view and find my voice.
I stayed in Paris for about 12 years, and it was the best decision I could have ever made. It was life changing and highly transformative. Europe provided me with the opportunity to be unique and share my perspective on women, fashion, and identity within the fashion world.
Today, at 54, my passion for what I do has never been stronger. Photography defines my identity. I feel the light around me and navigate my life as if looking through an invisible frame. I have photographed so many incredible people, including Angelina Jolie, Viola Davis, Jodie Foster, Jennifer Garner, and Salma Hayek. I have traveled extensively and had opportunities I could have never imagined. My archive of work over the last 40 years is expansive, and I am currently editing it to produce a monograph along with the story of my journey.

Formal Bio

Mary Rozzi is an Italian-American photographer and filmmaker born in Los Angeles in1970. She currently resides on the West Coast of the United States.
Rozzi’s passion for photography ignited at the age of 16, propelling her to pursue formal education at the prestigious Parson School of Design in New York. During her formative years, she had the privilege of working alongside some of the industry’s most renowned photographers, including Satoshi Saïkusa, David La Chapelle, and Michel Comte. These invaluable experiences served as the cornerstone of her career in fashion photography, a field she viewed as a potent means of societal expression and historical documentation.
Rozzi’s photographic style is distinctive and marked by qualities such as intuition, visual sensitivity, elegance, empathy, and a profound commitment to her subjects. She is deeply engaged in collaborative work with artists and models, endeavoring to capture the seamless synergy between form and subject, thereby cultivating her unique artistic aesthetic.
Rozzi’s artistic philosophy rejects the conventional dualistic separation of form and subject.Instead, she strives to unite these elements, creating an immediate and emotionally resonant connection during her photographic sessions. Her work consistently conveys a sense of authenticity and humanity, reflecting her unwavering dedication to truth in her art.
Rozzi’s portrait photographs are striking in their ability to capture the subject’s rawessence. Her extensive body of work includes portraits of Angelina Jolie, Jodie Foster, Jennifer Garner, Viola Davis, Jessica Chastian, Lil Nas X, Paris Hilton, Yara Shahidi, Lupita Nyong’o, Laura Harrier, Winnie Harlow, Tyra Banks, Salma Hayek and Meryl Streep. Rozzi fosters a collaborative and comfortable environment on set, working closely with the makeup artists, stylists, and her subjects in order to create an organic image.
In 2017, Rozzi’s concerns about the portrayal of women in the media led her to initiate a groundbreaking project, “The September Issues.” This biannual publication showcases the creative expressions of female artists who tackle contemporary societal themes, offering a perspective that transcends feminism to encompass a more inclusive feminine viewpoint.This undertaking has significantly influenced her artistic journey and personal relationships, enabling her to express her artistic sensibilities more freely. The project resulted in a remarkable series of portraits that graced her inaugural solo exhibition, hosted by Remèdes Galerie in Paris.
Rozzi’s art is a powerful reflection of her commitment to capturing the evolving paradigms within our society. Her work contributes to the ongoing discourse on identity by amplifying diverse, positive voices , making her a vital and resonant figure in contemporary photography and the broader art world.
Rozzi is Tri lingual in English, French and Italian and a 6 th generation pyrotechnic.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?

It has not been smooth. I am a woman in what was a very male-dominated industry, and I am an artist in the ‘industry’ of fashion . Photography is 50% technical, 50% having an eye, and 50% luck. I have often been questioned about my ability to use a camera, the lighting, and the technical skills required to execute my work. I have had to prove myself time and time again, demonstrating that I am as competent, if not more so, than my peers. This has made me strong and confident in my ability to overcome any challenge. I have been told that I am a pioneer for other women artists.
The medium of photography has seen a lot of evolution. Not only is it a very expensive medium, but it has also been reinvented at such a rapid pace over the last 15 years. This means that one is constantly faced with the constant investment to an already expansive repertoire of working practices, as well as keeping up with the speed and volume of work being produced.
Sustaining a lifelong career and staying relevant in a volatile market is also a challenge.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?

I am best known for my photographs of women. My work is sensual, sensitive and thoughtful. I always aim to capture the true essence of the people in front of my camera. I strive to help them see their authentic selves. I am often told that working with me is not only about the photograph itself but also about the entire experience of being photographed. I want my subjects to feel empowered and to walk away feeling as though they have been seen.
I am most proud that I am still here, continuing to be inspired and loving my job. What sets me apart is my enduring passion and dedication to my craft, as well as the unique experience I provide to those I photograph.

Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?

Mentors have been incredibly valuable throughout my life. They may not come in the form you expect, and someone may be mentoring you without you even realizing it. Different mentors come into your life at different times, in all shapes and sizes and recognizing who that person may be at any given time is the key.
If you want to be a photographer, I truly believe that experience and perseverance are everything. So, shoot, shoot, shoot, and if you truly love it, don’t ever give up.

Pricing:

• Consulting 350 / hr
• Private portrait sittings /5k- 15k
• Rebranding and content creation studio rates / Contact me

Contact Info:

• Website: www.maryrozzi.com, www.remedes-galerie.com
• Instagram: @maryrozzi

Image Credits
Portrait of me by : Gillian Doyle

all other images by me