New Cover. The Vampire Diaries. The Return:Midnight

The last book of my first trilogy for The Vampire Diaries, The Return – by L.J. Smith. I shot for the incredible HarperCollins Publishers, who I LOVE, they are all such a great group of people! This cover was art directed by the incredible and warm-hearted David Caplan, graphic design by the lovely and talented Jennifer Heuer, hair and makeup extraordinaire Roshar, one of my favorite team members. First asst Derrick C.

The shoot was lovely, I adored our model!! She became the character Caroline in the novel. What an amazing day we had on set, it’s an incredible series to be a part of. Congrats to all the success of the books and tv show and everyone involved, esp the fabulous L.J. Smith.

all 3 of my covers for the Return Trilogy

BAYSIDE tears

My cover and feature for AP Magazine and Hot Topic. All Images ©Carrie Schechter

Me First and the Gimme Gimmes: Behind the Scenes

A few months ago I had the pleasure to shoot Me First and The Gimme Gimmes for Fat Wreck Chords . We met on a chilly afternoon in Williamsburg Brooklyn to shoot a few EP covers and a press kit. I met Vanessa (Mutiny) & Fat Mike a year ago when I shot his other band NOFX for Alternative Press Magazine. We had a great time on the first shoot and I was excited they chose me for this project.

Me First and the Gimme Gimmes are amazing. I love when intelligence is mixed with punk sarcasm. It’s a pleasure to work with them as always. The first EP cover released is Go Down Under, its awesome and out now. Look forward to my next few EP covers to come out soon.  Behind the Scenes photos by: Eric B.

Top Covers for 2010

Well its been quite a crazy year, I’ve gotten to shoot some of the most beautiful & gold hearted people, and work for clients that keep those creative juices boiling.

I’ve been a bit slow at keeping up with all the incredible work I’ve done this year on the blog, there’s been so much shooting going on I haven’t gotten a chance to celebrate it all at the end of 2010 yet…but it will come soon. On Jan 3rd I shoot my first mag cover of the new year (best way to start off 2011) and I can’t stop feeling overwhelming gratefulness for everything and everyone that’s been a part of my life so far and excited for all the people I have yet to meet.

This post though is about my 2 covers for the Village Voice that made the TOP 10 2010 COVERS. My Jersey Shore, The Guido Ideal cover was voted #10 best Cover by the Village Voice by one of my favorite Art Director’s John Dixon. It’s his intelligence coupled with humor and out of the box thinking that keeps the Voice covers topping each issue after issue.

Voted #1 Voice cover was my cover of Debrahlee Lorenzana, the Citibank banker fired for being too sexy.

Thanks John & thank you Village Voice, it was the best cherry anyone could have put on my vegan ice cream sundae for 2010.

Also The Jersey Shore was voted 13th most popular story of 2010, & Debbie the Banker came in at #1!!!

Congrats to the writers that brought the story to light and to life, Elizabeth Dwoskin and Tony Philip!

Also on the NEW YORK TIMES most talked about stories, Debbie the Banker came in at #15!

I have an incredible team, its takes a community to produce a hot shot, so on these 2 covers special shout out to Margina Dennis, Angelique Vasquez, Jessica Zindren, Eric B., Mike M., & Ross T. I love you guys, you always rock my world!

Happy, healthy, wealthy, lucky, adventurous, exciting, dream living, personal world domination building, over the top creative New Year to you all. 2010 went out like a rock star and 2011 is already coming in guns blazin

There are very exciting things coming in the next few months, thanks for caring and sharing and enjoying my work. So excited to share it when I can (including another stint in front of the camera in Feb.)

Onward and upward in 2011!

In a Soap + a Nomination

I received a Nomination in the Fashion Category from the International Color Awards. The nominated image is from my series, “Cruel, Cruel Summer“(pictured below).

In random news ….

At a celebration one night, a friend in the daytime drama industry and I were joking about me being on tv. A month later the casting directors intern from As the World Turns called and I had the opportunity to be an extra.

I arrived at the studio & was showed to my private dressing room. After I got settled (and tried to calm down the mutant butterflies in my stomach) I took a walk to the green room for lunch and was overtaken by a warm & loving crew & cast that welcomed me right in.

in my dressing room before wardrobe

I hear the call over the speakers that its time for me to go to set. I get my final dusting, wardrobe check, the director gave me some quick direction, someone shouts….”quiet on set….aaaaand…action”. one take, no walk through, and that’s a rap.

on set

It was a blast, but I couldn’t wait to get back to the other side of the camera for a cover shoot the following day. See the clip below – if you blink you’ll miss me walking through the background.

**I highly recommend turning the volume off, I haven’t figured out how to remove the loud “hum” yet…sorry.

Niia…..behind the scenes

me, niia

I photographed the girl with the magic voice a little while ago…. her name is Niia Bertino. (Check out some of the finals shots here.) She is a classically trained pianist with one of the most intoxicating voices I’ve heard in a while. I’m in love with “Masochist” and “Learn My Body” at the moment.

From age 16-21 Niia was signed to Wyclef Jeans label. I recognized her voice from  Wyclef’s smash, Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill) featuring Akon, Lil Wayne, Raekwon & Niia.

michelle, niia, gigi, & myself. photo by eric

I met Niia at her old managers office to discuss shooting her press kit … I loved her as much as I love her music. Niia knew exactly how she wanted to be photographed, which was awesome.

Before the shoot I went to see her live. The audience hardly breaths while she sings, which almost led to a riot when the bartender dared try to shake a martini for a customer during “Last Man”.

On set: The fabulous designer and stylist  Gigi Burris,  the talented hair and makeup artist Michelle Coursey , myself, and my 1st Eric B. convened at Niia’s residence with Rocco & Wednesday on a beastly hot summer afternoon. Now working on her solo career, Niia is recording her new album and I personally can’t wait.

In loving memory of Rocco Bertino. Huge thanks to the wonderful Cory Greenwell for the behind the scenes photos!!

rocco

Oh snap…and thread

After going to the Bauhaus exhibit some months back at the MOMA, I was even more inspired to go back to basics..light, line and shape.  I walked into Mood, and got excited by spools of thread and snaps…finals below.

Marina from Fenton Moon Agency.

Hair and Makeup: Roshar

My Official Site

My cover for the Village Voice

Recently I had the pleasure of shooting the cover for the Village Voice. I am a native New Yorker and I grew up on the Voice, so I loved being asked to shoot the cover. I shot the lovely Debrahlee Lorenzana, “Is this woman too hot to work in a bank?” about her lawsuit with Citibank.

I had superior art direction from Art director John Dixon, who was absolutely amazing to work for.

The story has gone international and has been a hot topic since the paper was released. You can also see the photos on news channels, The View, papers from Madrid to London, 11 o’clock news programs, etc. Its been quiet a frenzy and luckily I have an incredible team of angels by my side. They are production team Monique and Casey of KWC Productions and I couldn’t be more grateful.

You can read the story live:

Photographer: Carrie Schechter | Art Direction: John Dixon | Make up and Hair: Margina Dennis | Production: | Location: Brooklyn | 1st Asst Eric B.

my official site

Candace Bushnell for Hello!

Recently I had the pleasure of shooting the wonderfully warm, sophisticated  and beautiful author, Candace Bushnell. Candace is the author of books such as Sex & the City & Lipstick Jungle as well as columns in major newspapers. As Sex & the City 2 is  hitting the big screen, her latest book, Carrie’s Diaries, is hitting book shelves and is already a hot seller worldwide.

The feature is on newsstands now in Hello! Magazine Canada. We shot at the gorgeous Jumeirah Essex House Hotel in Manhattan. I had amazing creative direction from Kristine and Shauna at Hello!, it was a blast to work for them.

Grab the issue for the full scoop from Candace, you can see the final image on my site.

Photographer: Carrie Schechter | Photo Editor: Kristine Ryall | Deputy Art Director: Shauna Narbonne | Hair & MU: Meli Pennington | 1st Asst: Ross

Aponus Cosmetics Ad Campaign

When I was in Italy for my Capsule Collection at the Bauer (hosted by Ministerio Della Belleza) I had the pleasure to shoot for a wonderful line of skin care products for Aponus Cosmetics in Abano Terme. The products are AMAZING. I was given so many that my luggage was over weight I had to buy a suitcase at the airport to come back to America. It was so worth it because my skin has never looked so good. The water in Abano Terme has long been known for some pretty amazing healing qualities and after spending a few days in the spa (thank you Aponus Cosmetics) my skin was amazing.

The shoot itself was hysterical. I got to work with the gorgeous Estonian model Elena, who luckily could speak Russian, Italian, and English so we could communicate easily (and she could help me with my client.) Elena is a fire cracker, shes strong, bold and beautiful and I completely love her. We shot mid afternoon on a beautifully sunny Fall day in Italy, in the healing waters the region is known for. For a joke she had the client go out and get us bright-colored swimcaps. For the first time in history, I forgot a bathing suit, so the spa provided me with a super 80’s one piece that really smushed my body parts for this great behind the scenes below with my sharpie marker tattoo.