Steven Paul Whitsitt
Born (1960-10-25) October 25, 1960
Port Huron, Michigan, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
EducationBrooks Institute of Photography
Known forPhotography

Steven Paul Whitsitt (born October 25, 1960) is an American portrait, architecture, and fashion photographer.[1] He was Michael Jackson’s personal photographer from 1994 to 1996, during the HIStory period[2]

Early life

Born in Port Huron, Michigan.[2] on October 25th, 1960, Steven Paul Whitsitt is the third of four children of Sally Rae Whitsitt (Hocket) and Paul Arthur Whitsitt. He enlisted in the US Navy in April of 1981 and was stationed in Ventura County, California[2] with the United States Naval Construction Battalions, better known as the Seabees. His interest in photography started in the military, picking it up as a hobby before receiving an honorable discharge in April 1986.[2] After his military discharge, he attended The Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, California, and graduated in June of 1990 with a BA in Photographic Illustration[2]

Career

Michael Jackson

While working as an assistant in Los Angeles in 1993, another assistant contacted him, requesting he cover for a job they couldn't attend. That job was to assist Michael Jackson’s official photographer at the time, Sam Emerson, during the “Black or White” video. He remained as the photographer's assistant for 3 years, while simultaneously working as a freelance photographer. While working for Jackson, he went to Neverland Ranch, attended Michael Jackson’s appearance at the 1993 Super Bowl halftime show, worked on Jackson’s music videos, and assisted on the Dangerous World Tour.[2]

After returning from the tour, Sam Emerson was let go, and he was offered the opportunity to become the head photographer based on the results from a test shoot in New York City. The shoot involved Jackson wearing a military uniform and tassels on his shoulders. Jackson was pleased with the results and hired him as the official photographer.[2]

He was the official photographer while Jackson was recording his HIStory album, shooting stills and single covers for the songs “Smile,” “Scream,” and “You Are Not Alone.”[3] He also covered Jackson’s philanthropy work with hospital visits and with the Heal the World Foundation.

His photos were featured in the gallery at Kingvention 2016,[4][5] a yearly Michael Jackson fan celebration convention in London. He was an on-stage guest speaker at Kingvention 2017 with Pez Jax, founder of Kingvention.[4][6]

Charlie Chaplin and the "Smile" single album cover

Jackson always had an affinity toward Charlie Chaplin, and especially his film "The Kid." In 1994, Michael wanted to shoot a single cover for the song “Smile” in the same style as a scene from the movie where Charlie Chaplin's character sits on a stoop with Jackie Coogan in a publicity photo. He helped produce the shoot and took the photo used on the album cover.[7][8][9] He also shot several close-up portrait shots of Michael while Michael was in the Charlie Chaplin costume.[8] These photos, along with other photos he took, would later be featured in the official Michael Jackson Opus.[10][11] The Chaplin photos were also featured at the Yuz Museum Shangai's "Charlie Chaplin. A Vision" exhibition in 2018.[12][13] This is a touring collection established by the Musée de l'Élysée.[13] His photos will become a part of the museum's permanent collection in 2020.[13]

In 1996, he was let go during the shooting of Michael Jackson's You Are Not Alone music video,[14] and later moved to North Carolina.[2]

Teaching

After moving to North Carolina, he taught photography at the Carolina Friends School in Durham, North Carolina, for five years.[15]

Architectural photography

He has worked as a residential and commercial architectural photographer since 2003,[16] and has authored/co-authored 6 books on architectural photography, all published by Schiffer Publishing Ltd.:

  • Arts & Crafts Houses[17]
  • Lowcountry Plantations: Georgia & South Carolina[18]
  • Esherick, Maloof, and Nakashima: Homes of the Master Wood Artisans[19]
  • Handmade Houses[20]
  • The Kitchen Guide[21]
  • Built with Stone: Eight Contemporary Artisans[22]

He has received 6 Houzz awards for Best of: Design and Best of: Service from 2014 to 2017.[16]

References

  1. ↑ "Steven Paul Whitsitt Photography | About". Steven Paul Whitsitt Photography. Retrieved 2018-10-18.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Making Connections That Matter: Photographer Steven Paul Whitsitt". Retrieved 2018-10-18.
  3. ↑ Najar, Brice (2016-09-20). Let's make HIStory : an insight into the HIStory album. Latouche, Laetitia. [Place of publication not identified]. ISBN 9781533296726. OCLC 1078895936.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  4. 1 2 "Steven Paul Whitsitt – Kingvention". Retrieved 2019-05-31.
  5. ↑ MJVibe - Michael Jackson Fan Club (2016-08-12), Steven Paul Whitsitt Kingvention Announcement, retrieved 2019-05-31
  6. ↑ MJVibe - Michael Jackson Fan Club (2017-04-30), Steven Paul Whitsitt KINGVENTION 2017 Announcement, retrieved 2019-05-31
  7. ↑ "Steven Paul Whitsitt – Interview". bricenajar.com. 2016-09-19. Retrieved 2018-10-19.
  8. 1 2 "Steven Paul Whitsitt Photography | Michael Jackson". Steven Paul Whitsitt Photography. Retrieved 2018-10-18.
  9. ↑ Hector Barjot (2017-03-19), S2-EP20-Steven Whitsitt Interview-with english and french subtitles, retrieved 2018-10-19
  10. ↑ foreword by Reverend Jesse Jackson (2009). The official Michael Jackson opus. [St. Peter Port, Guernsey]: Opus Media Group. ISBN 9781905794287. OCLC 801280005.
  11. ↑ NEWSPAPERS, Chris Lee, TRIBUNE (12 December 2009). "Lush, 26-pound 'Official Michael Jackson Opus'". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2019-05-31.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  12. ↑ "World Premiere at Yuz Museum of "CHARLIE CHAPLIN. A VISION" A major retrospective exhibition of the King of Comedy". Yuz Museum Shanghai. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
  13. 1 2 3 "If you happen to be in Shanghai..." Steven Paul Whitsitt Photography. 27 May 2018. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
  14. ↑ Eddi Goma Music (2017-10-15), Kingvention Events [PART 2]- THE MAIN EVENT [30/09/17] (Stick on the captions), retrieved 2019-05-31
  15. ↑ "Making Connections That Matter: Photographer Steven Paul Whitsitt". www.omagdigital.com. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
  16. 1 2 "Steven Paul Whitsitt Photography - Durham, NC, US 27713". www.houzz.com. Retrieved 2019-05-31.
  17. ↑ Paul., Whitsitt, Steven (2010). Arts & crafts houses. Skinner, Tina. Atglen, Pa.: Schiffer Pub., Ltd. ISBN 9780764336706. OCLC 699502832.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  18. ↑ Skinner, Tina (2010). Lowcountry plantations : Georgia & South Carolina. Whitsitt, Steven Paul. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing Ltd. ISBN 9780764334153. OCLC 475457019.
  19. ↑ Tina., Skinner (2009). Esherick, Maloof, Nakashima : homes of the master wood artisans. Whitsitt, Steven Paul. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing. ISBN 9780764332029. OCLC 264045717.
  20. ↑ Paul., Whitsitt, Steven (2009). Handmade houses. Skinner, Tina. Atglen, Pa.: Schiffer Pub. ISBN 9780764332036. OCLC 264045049.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  21. ↑ M., Jensen, Laura (2008). The kitchen guide. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Pub. ISBN 9780764328893. OCLC 183266446.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  22. ↑ Paul., Whitsitt, Steven (2011). Built with stone : eight contemporary artisans. Marth, Jesse. Atglen, Pa.: Schiffer Publishing, Ltd. ISBN 9780764339417. OCLC 776633413.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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