The Art of the SNL Portrait
Original price was: $55.00.$35.14Current price is: $35.14.
The electric spirit of Saturday Night Live as captured by longtime resident photographer Mary Ellen Matthews. A New York Times bestseller!
Andy Samberg in a giant martini glass. Billie Eilish peeking out of a pile of snow. Kevin Hart writing his own cue cards. Paul Rudd as Paul McCartney. Sarah Silverman dusting the NBC marquee. Alec Baldwin as the Godfather.
These are just a few examples of Matthews’s bold, dynamic, and playful celebrity portraits that for over two decades have artfully highlighted the hosts and musical guests who help bring the show to life.
Week after week, photographer Mary Ellen Matthews makes magic happen on Saturday Night Live with her inventive, irreverent, and truly original photography for the “bumpers”—portraits of the host or musical guest that transition the show to and from commercial breaks.
Published on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of SNL and exquisitely designed by Pentagram, this book is the first collection of Mary Ellen’s remarkable body of work as well as a celebration of America’s longest-running comedy TV show.
Includes:
* More than 200 color portraits and behind-the-scenes photographs
* A foreword by SNL founder and executive producer Lorne Michaels
* Mary Ellen Matthews in conversation
* A thumbnail index of all the images with captions by the photographer
From the Publisher
Publisher : Harry N. Abrams (March 4, 2025)
Language : English
Hardcover : 272 pages
ISBN-10 : 1419782533
ISBN-13 : 978-1419782534
Item Weight : 3.95 pounds
Dimensions : 9.6 x 1.2 x 11.55 inches
8 reviews for The Art of the SNL Portrait
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Original price was: $55.00.$35.14Current price is: $35.14.
The Hawk –
Great behind-the-scenes insights on SNL’s photo bumpers by Mary Ellen Matthews
I’ve been a fan of Mary Ellen Matthews’ SNL portrait photography, so I’ve been waiting patiently (for years) for this monograph of her work.This book doesn’t disappoint as it provides wonderful behind-the-scenes insights into Ms. Matthews’ creative process in producing the SNL bumper portraits each week. Since taking over as head SNL photographer from her mentor, the legendary Edie Baskin in 1999, these shots have evolved into telling their own stories and with new visual technologies, such as animation.As SNL creator and executive producer Lorne Michaels wrote in the book’s foreword: “Mary Ellen is both an artist and a star.”
Kat Phillips –
Stunning photos with a mid book layout
The photos are STUNNING but 2 things kept this from being 5 stars for me:1. A lot of the photos are two page spreads with the subject’s face lost in the gutter (center spine) of the book. What could have been gorgeous 2 page photos end up looking strange because half the image is hidden and it distorts the persons face. Considering the price of the book and quality of the photos I wasn’t expecting such a glaring layout misstep.2. There are no captions on any photo so if you want to know who is in the photo you have to go to the index at the back of the book and look them up. Not a huge deal – just more of a nuisanceOverall it’s worth getting for the ICONIC photos I’m just surprised such a pro photographer would allow the layouts I experienced
Mr. Man –
Absolutely amazing photos but an unfortunate design team fail.
Marry Ellen Matthews is an AMAZING photographer. As a photographer myself, I’ve loved and admired her work from day one. I was so excited for this book so it pains me give it a less than stellar review with no fault to her. Ellen’s brilliant work deserves nothing but the highest praise. As others have mentioned (no need for me to upload my same photo examples) the two page layouts are unforgivable from a design point. How does a team of designers look at this and decide it’s okay to place the subject in the center of a two page fold? That’s book design 101 and a rookie would even know better. It’s a compete disservice to Ellen’s work and I’m sorry for the celebrities who found themselves in the book with their head’s and bodies caved in. I hope Ellen puts out another book but stays clear of the design team that put a damper on what would otherwise be a fantastic book.
Dana –
Huge Disappointment
Book layout is atrocious. Splitting faces on 2-page shots? Making readers flip to the back for captions? Who in the world approved this approach? The photographer should have maintained control of her product from start to finish – hard to believe she was in favor of these presentation decisions.
Lily10 –
Very disappointing
So disappointing. Many of the photos of faces are across the left and right pages, rather than being seen on one page. It seems to me that this photographer is pretentious and lacks respect for some of her subjects.
mjhani3 –
Great coffee table book and photo are amazing.
Bought it as a gift for a friend who is really into pop culture. Great coffee table book.
Charlie –
For the SNL fan
If you love SNL, this is a great book of the creative process of Mary Ellen Mathews. Beautiful pictures of the cast and hosts.
Gerard Canta –
Great photos
Matthews is one of the most imaginative photographers in the world. I have always wanted this book to be made. That said, I wonder why the publisher chose to run so many large photos, to be split over two pages. I also think the editor should have made a small note of the subject on each photo rather than in the back of the book. Maybe future pressings will correct these mistakes. For this price, it should have been done.