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Meet the Photographer Who Takes ‘In the Moment’ Polaroids of Ariana Grande, Nicole Kidman and More of Hollywood’s Biggest Stars

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Meet the Photographer Who Takes ‘In the Moment’ Polaroids of Ariana Grande, Nicole Kidman and More of Hollywood’s Biggest Stars

He’s captured Ariana Grande’s playful looks for the camera, Nicole Kidman’s effortlessly cool stare, and Mikey Madison’s soft smile. And he did it all on a Polaroid camera.

If you’ve ever seen a well-lit and vibrantly colored Polaroid photo of your favorite celebrity at an awards show or after-party, chances are Andrew Tess was the one behind the camera.

“Shoot Ari, Cynthia [Erivo] and Michelle [Yeoh]I mean, that was brilliant,” he told Yahoo Entertainment about shooting awards-season contenders for Paper Magazine at the National Board of Review Awards on January 7. “[Wicked] was one of those moments. It’s part of the Zeitgeist and it’s something that I’m so excited and inspired about [by]. Catching them made me feel so excited to contribute to them in my own way. ‘

Ariana Grande at the National Board of Review Awards on January 7 (Andrew Tess)

Tess’s appreciation for the art form is evident in his work. These portraits, although posed, feel more open than anything else. There is a real “in the moment” quality to the way his subjects are depicted. “I do feel like the actual artifact, the actual physical object has so much beauty,” he said of the photos.

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For Tess, photographing exclusively on Polaroid film was not always the plan. He had tried his hand at all kinds of cameras when he started his career, but none of them felt right. Knowing that Polaroid Photography had brought him joy as a child, Tess decided to return to the style in hopes of recapturing that feeling – and he did. That was 10 years ago.

“I don’t want to say it took off right away,” he said. ‘At first everyone said, ‘Why is he shooting with a Polaroid camera?’ ‘ But eventually people caught on and I think they saw the artistry and the intention that I had with it. ‘

In the chaotic environment of awards and the celebrations that follow, Polaroid Photography offers a welcome change of pace. The physicality of holding the camera, printed image and Sharpie—so celebrities can make up their portrait—makes for a significantly more intimate experience than taking hundreds of photos with a top-of-the-line digital camera, where the images are primarily a screen.

Julia Fox in Willy Chavarria’s fall/winter show at New York Fashion Week in February 2024. (Andrew Tess)

“I’m doing a portrait of Julia Fox and she’s in a very fast-paced environment and a lot of things are happening around her,” he recalled of the fall/winter of Willy Chavarria’s February 2024 show at New York Fashion Week. “And yet, suddenly, when we go to do that Polaroid, it creates a sense of stillness right there and then – especially in terms of the distance at which I have to conquer my subjects. It’s obviously a bit closer than a standard photographer. To have [the celebrity] Draw the picture and give them the Sharpie, it’s kind of very grounding. “

Taking the photo and having the star subject sign it is only part of the process. After scanning the portraits back in his studio, Tess uses the editing tricks he’s learned over the years to achieve his signature look.

“So much of the work really comes into my post-production process, where I say it’s almost like the Polaroid shifts in some ways from a photograph to a painting with the level of color work I do individually. I really think of them as individual works of art,” he said. “The image itself is so beautiful, but I can kind of see the difference of what the physical object is versus the work that’s been done in a digital space, so to speak.”

Also rooted in Tess’ work is his connection to pop culture. Living in New York and having access to the theater have played crucial roles in shaping his creative sensibilities.

“I really believe those experiences influence my sense of color, curating a very specific connection to pop culture,” he said. “I’ve always wanted to create something that lives in the realm of pop culture.”

Tess also cites Ryan McGinley, a fellow photographer in New York who is credited with creating Polaroids Art between the late 90s and early 2000s, as one of his biggest influences. McGinley to the attention of skateboarders, musicians and the city’s LGBTQ community, as well as A-list celebrities like Brad Pitt and Beyoncé.

Of McGinley, Tess says his photographs are “so dynamic and they’re so different from the work that I do and yet I think you can also see the humanity in his work in a way that maybe a lot of people can see through my Polaroid work.” “

Beyond the camera, Tess’ humanity is no more evident than when he mobilizes relief efforts for those affected by the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles. He was instrumental in putting together the donation drives at two Ray’s Bar locations in New York and setting up the following GoFundMe page to cover shipping costs to Los Angeles.

“In New York, I feel like so many of us felt so helpless and desperate to do anything,” he said. “We started planning on Friday [Jan. 10] And on Saturday morning [Jan. 11]I think the post [about the fire donation drive] had 6 million views. It had just become so viral in terms of people sharing it and wanting to raise awareness about the cause. “

The 2025 Awards season will still continue as Hollywood grapples with the devastating effects of the wildfires. At a time when Tess is usually booked and busy, he is more concerned about giving LA locals the opportunities they need most.

“I would like to make work in LA and my hope is not for me to shoot the work, but so that the people who live there can actually have work to go back to and bring back jobs and things to make a living,” he said. “Hopefully the awards can bring a lot of visibility to the loss and devastation, and be a platform for people to donate money to support these causes in LA”

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