AIPA president Jodie James interviews Emily Hlavac Green, a New York-based photographer from New Zealand.
Emily is known for her ability to develop concepts and bring them to life through her camera. With a diverse portfolio of clients ranging from Footlocker Women to The New York Times, Emily’s work has been featured in prestigious publications such as Vogue Italia, La Botanica, and Flanelle magazine.
Jodie: For those who don’t know who you are, can you tell us a bit about yourself and your photography journey so far?
Emily: I grew up in the South Wairarapa and Wellington on a sheep farm. Although I didn’t have access to a lot of art, my parents were creative, and not having a lot around me meant imagination was my form of entertainment.
After high school, I studied a BFA photography major in New Zealand, which really focused on conceptual photography rather than commercial photography. I learnt how to harness and appreciate light by shooting on film and developing in the darkroom.
Post-study, I started a small studio with a collective of other artists and self-assigned photo shoots of almost anyone who would let me.
Moving to New York was my dream. I’d come here often, and try to figure out how to make it work. A job came up with celebrity chef Annabel Langbein for the role of in-house photographer – which is kind of unheard of in New Zealand. I knew Annabel was planning a launch into the US market, and could see this as a possible avenue to get to NYC.
Working with Annabel, I directed and shot multiple cookbooks, and really learned on the job how to produce and execute food and lifestyle shoots from top to bottom. This is where I learnt how to shoot food and amassed a huge body of food work.
I then moved to NYC, hustled hard, joined a coworking studio, went to portfolio reviews, and gradually picked up jobs here and there. For the first year or two I travelled back to New Zealand a lot to serve clients there. Now 7 years on I am finding my stride and able to be more selective about the work I take on. I base myself between New York and Los Angeles, though end up travelling around a fair bit too.
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