Nadoosh: Some lucky people that I am really really jealous off but they also inspire me. (1)

Photographer Brad Elterman

Brad Elterman started his career at the age of 16. Yes 16 with a borrowed camera. Basically he is the luckiest teenager I’ve ever heard about. He lived in L.A when he was a teen, always had a camera hanging on his neck and he loved hanging out at the clubs that plays 1970s rock and roll so believe it or not he was hired to photograph bands and celebrities in these clubs. He wasn’t a paparazzi because they weren’t there yet , he was a celebrity photographer …. At the age of 16 !!!!. Yes it was as easy as that because it was the 1970s. He was responsible on photographing and conveying the Roc and Roll scene in that time in Hollywood encompassing pop, punk and rock bands including the Faces with Rod Stewart, David Bowie, the Sex Pistols, the Runaways, Kiss, Queen, Blondie, the Ramones, the Bay City Rollers, Abba, Boney M, Kenny Rogers, The Who, Leif Garrett, Michael Jackson, etc. Also the fact that he wasn’t just a photographer for these bands but also a friend is killing me because some of them I consider my favorite bands.

Some of the magazines that Brad contributed to include:US: Creem, Circus, Rolling Stone, People, Hit Parader, Phonograph Record Magazine, Rock Magazine, Rock Scene, New York Post, National Enquirer, The StarJAPAN: Music Life, Rock ShowEUROPE: Muzeik Express, Photo Foto, Pop, Pop Rocky, Bravo, Das Freizeit, Magazun, Popcorn, Poster Magazine, Oh Boy, Fabulous 208, Jackie, Sounds, New Musical Express, Melody Maker. Often Brad was hired to do official publicity photos by major record labels including RCA, Warner Bros, MCA, Mercury, Columbia, RSO and Capitol Records. All these magazines before turning 20 !. After that he started his own business when he formed in 1980 one of the first Los Angeles-based photo agencies, California Features International, Inc. which specialized in providing celebrity coverage to magazines and newspapers worldwide.

He likes to call his style “raw” because in his photo sessions he doesn’t use hairstylists, makeup artists or anyone else for the lights and this stuff. Just him and the person he wants to photograph.

Blondie by Brad Elterman