Leslie Hassler is a top headshot and portrait photographer in New York City.  Known and trusted by her many celebrity clients as well as actors, corporate portraits and entrepreneurs.

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I've been drawn to visual images ever since I was a little girl. I remember winning a camera in an art contest and photographing all of my classmates in school. Then as a teenager, I plastered my walls with photographs!

When I was 18, I was accepted at the Ford modeling agency and worked in front of the camera for some amazing photographers: Patrick Demarchelier, Arthur Elgort, Bruce Weber, Fabrizio Ferri etc. While living in Paris I learned to speak French and spent all of my free time at a bookstore called Shakespeare and Company. I immersed myself in French culture and developed my artistic eye as I strolled the city streets. It was then that I became fascinated with the history of photography; reading biographies on Alfred Steiglitz, Tina Modotti, Robert Capa, and Henri Cartier-Bresson. 

When I made my way back to New York I enrolled in NYU film school and settled in the West Village. I’ve always been drawn to the world of film. I love being around actors, directors, writers and movie sets. With my background in film, I see things through the lens of a movie camera and I’ve been told my images reflect that.

Styling my shoots is really important to me and I often pull out pieces from my vintage clothing collection to give the photos a unique feel. 

My studio is a loft in Chelsea. The atmosphere is relaxed and comfortable. I photograph people. Actors, entrepreneurs, writers, musicians, chefs, corporate portraits, celebrity portraits for magazines, advertising and fashion lookbooks. I keep the vibe loose with an emphasis on capturing honest, candid moments almost always with a sense of humor.

I'm a brand ambassador for Beyond Sushi so great catering!

  

With a focus on portraiture, Leslie's photographs have appeared in magazines worldwide, including Rolling Stone, W Magazine, The N.Y. Times, Vogue, Glamour, New York Magazine, Elle, Vanity Fair, Entertainment Weekly, Bon Appetit, People, and on many covers including G.Q. A graduate of New York University, she was raised in Los Angeles, but now lives in New York City and works in both cities.