NEWSCeleb Photographer Mark Liddell "Exposes" Hollywood
Nov. 11 2009, Published 10:05 a.m. ET
He's been capturing the images of Hollywood biggest names for the past ten years, and now celebrity photographer Mark Liddell is revealing his A-list and worldwide famous subjects in his new book Exposed: 10 Years in Hollywood. The English photographer has worked with the likes of Jessica Alba, Janet Jackson, Britney Spears, Halle Berry, Jenny McCarthy — and the list goes on.
Mark opened up to OK! about the highlights of his career, working on set, and some of the larger-than-life celebrities he has worked with.
Exposed: 10 Years in Hollywood will be in bookstores on Nov. 16.
You have worked with some of the biggest names in Hollywood.
I shot with Britney. Well, I think that I am the only person that has worked with her in the last ten years since she was 17.
What can you tell me about Britney that we wouldn’t know?
I can tell you that she is an incredible mother and a woman who has such a heart and she is really strong… Britney will always be one of the special people in my life. I interviewed Britney and it's in my book.
You have seen her go through so much. Are you happy to see where she is now?
I am thrilled and you know, Britney is back and I'm photographing her again. I just shot the last three single CD covers for her and she is incredibly strong and in an amazing place and surrounding herself with great people.
Can you tell me an interesting experience you had with a celebrity on set?
We actually had a funny experience with shooting Jennifer Aniston because we were shooting on location and I’d had Indian food for lunch. It didn’t agree with me at all and let's say there was no private restroom. The food had an effect on me that you can imagine, so I had to make the one and only exit out of that house, drive through the hills to my house, and unfortunately I had to return with a different pair of jeans. Jennifer was none the wiser.
Want OK! each day? Sign up here!
You shot Heath Ledger. What made him so special in your eyes?
Heath had an intensity and depth about him and one of the elements that I like to bring out in people is their soul and Heath was huge in that department. He didn’t want to be perceived as the male model wearing fashionable clothes. He wanted to be real and that’s why I enjoyed working with him.
What has been your favorite shoot?
My two favorite shoots have been shooting Jessica Alba and Britney Spears’ baby photographs because seeing the tenderness — seeing them as amazing mothers — seeing a whole other side of them is something that nobody else can see.
You've said Halle Berry was hard to shoot because her beauty made you nervous?
Yes! I was a nervous wreck shooting Halle. I was so nervous because I have seen so many beautiful pictures of her that I had a moment of insecurity and doubted that I could make her look as beautiful as everyone else, so I became a nervous wreck and starting sweating and when I met her I was like a stuttering fool in front of her.
Interview by Patricia Ramos
CHECK OUT SOME OF MARK'S CELEBRITY SUBJECTS:
