JEFF FASANO

Behind the Photos

SHERYL CROW

Veteran photographer Jeff Fasano has 2 days to go for his Kickstarter campaign—to publish his first fine-art book: AMERICANA PORTRAIT SESSIONS.

For a $100 pledge, you can choose to get an autographed copy of his book and a choice of a signed B&W Silver Gelatin Print (one of six B&W photos). There are also options for one of three Color Fine Art Pigment Photo Prints. Today, we feature the back story of one of the prints.

Sheryl Crow

We talked with Jeff Fasano about his portrait of SHERYL CROW:

This was shot at Sheryl’s house, at the barn below her studio, for Guitar Aficionado magazine. They’d never had a woman on their cover, and this was going to be the first woman on the cover of their magazine. When the magazine came out, this photo was a huge double-page spread. The publisher at the time was a woman and she came up to me at Songbirds in Chattanooga and said, “Jeff, you got exactly what we needed and wanted with Sheryl.” It’s why magazines like Guitar Player and Guitar World call me.

Sheryl is a pro. She knows how to move for the camera. She was a sweetheart. It was an easy shoot because she’s like a model—she knows how to move and you just have to say, “Hold on. Hold it right there.” And I was able to get the shot I need.

Sheryl seemed to be so at home in that Nashville environment, even though she moved here from Los Angeles. I was able to see that when I saw the photos. During the shoot, she said, “Jeff, I’m a bass player. Can I take some photos with my bass?” I said, “This is a shoot for a guitar magazine, and I don’t know if they’ll use it, but sure—let’s do it.” So she ran up to the studio, grabbed her bass and came back down and you could see that she was happy. She said, “I write all my songs on my bass. I see myself more as a bass player than a guitar player.” You could see how happy she was to take those photos.

We only shot for an hour and 15 minutes, and I was hoping we got the shots we needed. The magazine really liked the photos. When I saw what they did with the two-page spread. It was beautiful when the publisher said “you gave us more than what we needed.” I realized right then that I need to trust myself more.

If you walk along this path, and you know what you’re doing, doors are going to open—and you can walk through them. That’s how I got the opportunity to meet and shoot all these amazing musicians. I have been quite fortunate, and people will get to experience that in this new book.

To pledge your support for Jeff Fasano’s book AMERICANA PORTRAIT SESSIONS, you can now pre-order this first comprehensive photography book of the Artists of Americana Music via his Kickstarter project. Many of these portraits were photographed at AmericanaFest in Nashville.

Here’s the link to order the book and see the project:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/fasano/jeff-fasano-americana-portrait-sessions?ref=nav_search&result=project&term=jeff%20fasano

For every generation, a photographer emerges who captures the essence of the soul of the music that defines that generation. Jeff Fasano’s indelible images of the Americana music format have become part of the fabric of this amalgam of music that includes the best of storytellers whose music emotionally moves the listener—and transcends the life we live.

Jeff Fasano’s unparalleled access to stars like Sheryl Crow, Judy Collins & Stephen Stills, John Oates, The Avett Brothers, Jason Isbell, Rhiannon Giddens, Vince Gill, Keb’ Mo’, Lucinda Williams, Margo Price, Jewel, The McCrary Sisters and Kris Kristofferson gives it the kind of authority that comes from vast experience. It’s a book of intimate portraits that reveals the strength, heart, soul and musical genius of these great artists.

Marty Stuart & the Fabulous Superlatives

Jeff Fasano’s AMERICANA PORTRAIT SESSIONS is his visual essay of the stories of their life—capturing unforgettable moments of their musical journey. Watch these unrivaled photographs as they light your soul, listen to your heart reflect their treasured experiences and let them transcend your boundaries as you simply enjoy the ride.

www.JeffFasano.com

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/fasano/jeff-fasano-americana-portrait-sessions?ref=nav_search&result=project&term=jeff%20fasano