What We Do With Matt Berry

I’m set to do a portrait sitting with Matt Berry, and I’m revisiting the notes from the phone call with New York Magazine Senior Photo Editor Maya Robinson. My scratched note reads, “Shy and British - not energetic…Doesn’t do a lot of press.”

This could be a disaster, or a quiet opening to something special, so I prepare a full range of set-ups. Berry walks into the suite of our fancy hotel room in blue jeans and a red scarf tied around his neck. It’s nine a.m. on a Sunday; he’s on time and in good spirits.

As the groomer does her work Matt and I make small talk. She’s soon done and steps away, only to return 5-minutes later to nudge us to get started. “We’re just chatting for a bit,” I say, and turn back to Matt. It struck me as valuable to set a leisurely pace for the session. I knew that time was limited, but I’d rather have a relaxed sitter for 30 minutes, than an uptight one for 45.

In actuality, we quickly found an easy commonality, as Berry shoots his show, “What We Do In The Shadows,” in my childhood hometown of Toronto. I haven’t lived there for thirty years, which made our conversation interesting - he knows the current city, and I was familiar with it’s background and geography. The big takeaway: Toronto continues to have some decent dive bars.

Top Image: Organized notes for the session: 30% on-set shot list, 70% security blanket.

Second Image: Matt Berry finds his spot on West 33rd Street in New York.

Bottom Image: Left: BTS photo by Alex Setzer; Right: Ultra-clean photography.