Bobby Holland

This Los Angeles based portrait photographer captures moments in time. "From the moment I took my first photograph," Bobby recalls, "I knew what I was meant to do." As a Grammy-nominated photographer and filmmaker, Bobby Holland has spent the last thirty years shooting Hollywood's top entertainers.

The famous like Stevie Wonders, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, Barry white, Bobby Womack, Little Richard, Denzel Washington, Sidney Poitier, Quincy Jones, Don King and Richard Pryor have all been captured by Holland's skills and charisma. Bobby quickly got himself noticed at SOUL Magazine. "It was my big break. I was received as a young, up-and-coming photographer," he says. "I had a steely determination and I was completely obsessed with all things photographic. People go to Hollywood to make their names. And so did I."

When I was working with SOUL Magazine I used to attend scores of concerts and take candid shots, both on stage and backstage... and that evolved into commissioned studio portrait sessions. Naturally, It was a bit nerve-wrecking the first time that it was just me and a superstar in studio sessions, but I learned the importance of extensive planning and pre-production before the subject ever walks in..."

Bobby got to know the entire Jackson family very well. "Michael was a very special individual. he was quite reserved but, unlike Stevie Wonder, he was always early. You just knew he was going to do great things...When it was time for him to step in front of the lens he could really turn it on and show everyone exactly why he was dubbed The King of Pop. Marvin Gaye was special too; quiet and laid back...he was more like a jazz singer to me, charismatic, deep and introspective. Don King would just enter a room and suck up all the oxygen. He just took over. These guys fully understood the power of their image.