PORTRAITS

Imitation of Christ Spring Summer 2022

Jerry & Gita Stahlecker Wedding Lake Como

Model Jenah Doucette

formerly Conrad Muhammadof the Islam Nation, photographed in Halem, NY

Model Jenah Doucette photographed for Bassam Fellows 2019

Glamour magazine

Band of Vices

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA AUGUST 05, 2016 Victory Hall Opera rehearsal of Someone Younger (Der Rosenkavalier) on August 5, 2016. Pictured: Octavian played by Brenda Patterson (Photo by Deborah Jaffe for The Washington Post)

I went to the industrial home of designer Rick Owens and Michele Lamy who at that point lived in an industrial commercial space across the street from Michele's restaurant in the heart of Hollywood. Although I still have the tear sheet, I can't remember what magazine gave me the assignment, but I do remember it was British. Michele Lamy is one of the most extreme eccentrics of fashion world, which is made up of eccentrics. She is best known as wife, muse and creative partner of fashion designer Rick Owens, but the French/Algerian has been a clothing designer, performer, film producer, and restaurateur. She was one of the emblematic figures of Los Angeles underground. She opened the famous cabaret-restaurant Les Deux Cafes in 1996 in a decrepit 1904 Arts and Crafts bungalow that she moved onto the parking lot on Las Palmas Avenue in Hollywood. She worked Paul Fortune to turn the old bungalow into a magical space filled with plants, a fountain, outdoor fireplace and bar and french country ambiance. From 2000 to January 2004 on Monday nights she hosted a private party called Cachet thrown by Audrey Bernstein and Apple Via. I frequented it a lot when I was living the bi-coastal life between NY & LA. It was at Les Deux Cafe where I met most of my fabulous and inspiring LA friends. And it was those fantastic nights that inspired me to move permanently from NY to LA in 2002. Between 1997 and 2003 you could find Michele in her. Michel closed Les Deux after meeting Owens through his then-boyfriend and hired him as a pattern maker for her own line, Lamy. In 2003 Michele and Rick moved to a five-story live/work mansion in the Seventh Arrondissement in Paris where Rick worked for the luxury firm Revillon.

Rob Thomas lead singer for the band Matchbox Twenty photographed in his home for Glamour magazine.

Comedian Chris Rock

Diane Von Furstenberg photographed in her office on Washington Street in the West Village for Glamour Magazine by Deborah Jaffe. 

Catherine Deneuve photographed in Paris, France at Chanel fashion show 1985 with her dear friend Yves Saint Laurent, not pictured.

This was just an incredible stroke of luck! My brother, David Jaffe, who at the time was a TV cameraman for ABC NEWS gave me his press pass to the Chanel fashion show. He didn’t want to go. He also gave me his Nikon F3, one of his many cameras that he wasn’t currently using. (thank you David) When I was let into the tent since I had a press pass and a professional camera I was shown to the runway where all the other photographers were. Well, I wasn’t ready for that. From what I remember at this writing, June 25th, 2020, there were less than 1% women in the group. They were all very pushy. Every photographer was seated on his camera case, which in those days were made out of metal, like a Haliburtan suit case. I didn’t have a case. Which meant that I was too low if I sat on the floor to be able to see over the raised runway. When I knelt, I was too tall. I found out that the hard way, the fashion editors sitting in chairs behind me kept wacking me on the head with their handbags! Not fun! But, when I turned around to say “je désolée” I saw Catherine Deneuve and Yves Saint Laurent being seated and snapped this shot of her!

The Sentinel, Marfa Texas

BTS of Tara Subkoff’s Imitation of Christ fashion show 2021

I went to Liberty University to shoot Jerry Falwell for John Kennedy’s George magazine.

It was a surreal experience.

Photographed for Glamour magazine

Writer Barbara Eherenreich at home in Arlington, Virginia

Nickey Kehoe

Mumbai, India

Portrait of staff at The Sentinel Marfa, Marfa Texas

New York Times Magazine

Glamour magazine

The late Boxer, Joe Frazier photographed in his boxing studio in Philadelphia, PA. I went to Joe Frasier's gym to photograph his daughter Jackie Fraser for a story for Glamour magazine about Jackie Frasier against Leyla Ali in Las Vegas.

I drove from New York city with my photo assistant. We got there a little early so I decided to knock on the door and see if anyone was there. It was cold outside and I didn't see any place to hang out there while we waited for the call time. To my surprise a sleepy Joe Frazier opened the door and let us in. He was sleepy, and I assumed he had spent the night at his gym. Jackie arrived and I photographed her. I asked Joe if I could photograph him, he was quiet and shy, but I got him to pose for a few shots. He changed out of his sweats into this clean white tee shirt and brown cordauroy jacket. I could tell he was in pain. He moved slow. I felt bad for him because I could tell he was suffering.

The Sentinel, Marfa Texas

Dre Shapiro Kagawa House

Julie Simon of Julie Simon Cakes owner photographed on the grass of her rental home 2018

Marie Claire magazine

Journalist and Press Secretary, Ron Nessen, was the first government official to host Saturday Night Live. He started out his career covering the Vietnam War for NBC News. Photographed in his home in Bethesda, MD. 

Lisa & Benjamin Shield Lifestyle Shoot by Deborah Jaffe

Fashion Designer Geoffrey Beene photographed in his studio on 57th Street in New York City.

April 13, 2019 Los Angeles, CA. Artist Kathryn Andrews in and around her studio. Photographed by Deborah Jaffe

Model Lauren Dozier photographed in 2024 by DEBORAH JAFFE

Los Angeles California

Joan Rivers photographed in New York City for Glamour Magazine.

Robin Tremper

Owner, The Sentinel Marfa, Marfa Texas

November 14, 2020 The Sentinel Marfa Dinner Chef Evelyn Garcia

Lisa & Benjamin Shield Lifestyle Shoot by Deborah Jaffe

Robin Tremper

Photographed for Glamour magazine

I went to the Los Feliz home of Nora Kirkpatrick, actor and founding member and accordion player for the band Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros.

The Sentinel, Marfa, Texas Dinner Chef Evelyn Garcia

Nora Kirkpatrick photographed by Deborah Jaffe

April 4, 2016. Alexandria, Virginia. Melissa Fitzgerald is an American actress and the Senior Director of the nonprofit organization Justice For Vets. She is best known for portraying Carol Fitzpatrick on The West Wing.

I spent the day with Melissa Fitzgerald. We started out in her apartment in Alexandria, Virginia. We picked out a few outfits for her to be photographed for a story on her in The Washington Post. On this shoot, since it was for a newspaper, I worked without a team. There was no photo assistant, digital tech, hair, makeup or stylist. She had a tons of clothes to pick from and since she is also an actor she knew what would work. W then we headed a short distance away to her office at Justice For Vets where she advocates for veterans rights. I shadowed her while she had meetings and worked in her office. We ended the day at the White House and shot a quick portrait.

Maisie Crow

I spent the day with the lovely Justine Bateman at my home in Los Angeles. She was knitting and crocheting. Here she wears a pair of hot pants she knit. She was beautiful and fun. We shot a lot more than what the magazine requested, but that is usually what I do.

2019 I had a chance to spend some time with director, producer and head of Cannes Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu. It was a wonderful night celebrating the ceramic tradition in Oaxaca Mexico.

November 14, 2020 The Sentinel Marfa Dinner Chef Evelyn Garcia

Street Symphony

Nickey Kehoe

I was lucky photographed Kerry Washington a few times. She was so kind and gave me as much time as I needed even though she had just gotten off the red eye from New York city and she hadn't had her her hair or makeup done. What you see here is Kerry Washington with no retouching in her natural state.

Tory Grace Test

This was my first celebrity portrait. Joan Rivers, American stand-up comedian, actress, writer, producer, and television host and fashion designer, arrived a few hours late to Industria Studio in New York's West Village. I was so nervous. My friend and fellow photographer James Levine helped me set up the white background and do some polaroids while we waited. To be honest, when she arrived with her daughter, Melissa, and her lap dog, I got scared. I'm sorry to say that I was a little shocked to see her without her hair and makeup. But, a few hours later, she emerged from the dressing room as the beautiful Joan Rivers we know and love. She was one of the nicest people I have ever photographed. She asked me why I was still single and wanted to set me up with a nice Jewish man. She knew exactly how to pose in front of the camera. She moved like a 1950's model. When I got to close she whipped up her arm and put her hand in front of my lens. She would control exactly how close I could shoot her. She was a lot of fun and was so kind. I photographed her with her daughter Melissa as well. It was my first celebrity portrait and one of the most memorable. In the years to come I would bump into Joan on flight from NY to LA, and backstage at Live With Regis and Kelly show. She was always super friendly and at least pretended to remember me.

Thank you to the then Creative Director, Donald Robertson and then Editor-in-Chief, Bonnie Fuller , who incidently the team behind the American version of Marie Claire magazine, for giving me a chance.

Rachel Bilson photographed in Los Angeles for In Style magazine.

Salvatore Ferragamo campaign

Photographed for Glamour magazine

Photographed for George magazine

Portrait of man © Deborah Jaffe © Deborah Jaffe Getty Images

Photographed for The Washington Post

I shot Jen Meyer at her father’s home in Malibu for IN STYLE magazine.

Wanda Sykes backstage at the Chris Rock show photographed for Glamour magazine.

Nickey Kehoe

Bassam Fellows

Lisa & Benjamin Shield Lifestyle Shoot by Deborah Jaffe

Lisa & Benjamin Shield Lifestyle Shoot by Deborah Jaffe

Vanessa Zippo

Dancer shot at the Imitation of Christ fashion show 2021, designer Tara Subkoff

Vanessa Zippo

I photographed basketball player Grant Hill and his wife singer songwriter Tamia in Orlando Florida for Glamour magazine. At the time they were having a little argument about something. It was pretty funny and a little uncomfortable to me to see them argue, then pose, then argue, then pose. You might be able to see it in his eyes. I think she covered the tension up well. They were both pros and lovely people. Grant grew up near me in Maryland.