Conversations with Jasper Soloff

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jasper Soloff.

Hi Jasper, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up in New York City and originally started out as a dancer. I trained in classical ballet at places like Ballet Hispánico and Gelsey Kirkland Academy of Classical Ballet, spending most of my teenage years focused on movement and performance. Dance really shaped the way I see the world visually—how bodies move, how emotion can be expressed physically, and how choreography can tell a story. That sense of movement still influences the way I approach photography and film today. 

When I went to Sarah Lawrence College, I began studying photography and quickly fell in love with the darkroom. I started with black-and-white film and became obsessed with printing and experimenting, sometimes spending entire days developing images. Photography felt like a natural extension of dance for me it allowed me to capture movement and emotion, but also explore identity and storytelling in a new way. 

Later, studying fine art at Central Saint Martins in London was a turning point. That’s where I really started to develop my voice as an artist embracing bold color, self-expression, and exploring my identity more openly in my work. After returning to New York, I began shooting friends and collaborators in the queer community, often in very DIY ways, and those early shoots eventually started gaining attention online. 

From there my career grew pretty organically. I started photographing artists and cultural figures like Billie Eilish, Dove Cameron, and Pete Davidson, and directing music videos for musicians including Tate McRae and Tinashe. My work has appeared in publications like Vogue, GQ, and Paper Magazine, and I’ve directed global campaigns for brands such as Maybelline and Fenty Beauty. 

At the core of everything I do is a desire to celebrate individuality and self-expression. My work is very much about color, movement, and creating space for people—especially queer artists to feel powerful, joyful, and seen.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Being a creative comes with a lot of highs and lows. There are moments when things move quickly and opportunities appear everywhere, and other moments where you have to step back and reconnect with why you started making work in the first place. Over time I’ve learned that the most meaningful projects usually come from that slower, more intentional place when the focus isn’t on chasing the next big thing, but on creating something that actually feels personal and necessary.

This year I’ve been putting a lot of energy into personal work and documentary storytelling. Documentary has become really important to me because it allows for deeper collaboration and time spent with people, rather than the quick pace of commercial work. I’m currently working on documentaries about Starr Andrews, an incredible figure skater who made history as one of the few Black women to reach the podium in U.S. figure skating and earned international recognition with a silver medal at Skate Canada. 

I’m also developing a project about Sam Pauly, a Broadway star known for originating the role of Katherine Howard in SIX and continuing to build a powerful career on stage. Both of these stories are really about resilience what it means to stay committed to your craft even when the industry can be difficult or unpredictable.

Working on these films has reminded me that creativity is really about community and connection. Some of the most fulfilling work happens when you’re collaborating with people you admire and telling stories that deserve to be seen. Right now my focus is less on scale or visibility and more on making work that feeds the soul projects that feel authentic, grounded in passion, and rooted in the communities around me. When you create from that place, the work tends to find its own path.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a photographer and director, and my work sits at the intersection of portraiture, movement, and storytelling. I specialize in creating vibrant, emotionally driven images and films that center individuality and self-expression. A lot of my visual language comes from my background in dance, so movement, color, and energy are always really important elements in my work. Whether it’s a still photograph, a music video, or a documentary project, I’m always thinking about how to capture a sense of life and personality in the frame.

What does success mean to you?
Success, to me, is about making work that you’re genuinely proud of and having it resonate with people who inspire you. It’s less about commercial milestones and more about creating from a place of love, curiosity, and passion for the art itself. When the motivation comes from that place, the work tends to feel more honest and meaningful.

Of course, commercial success can be part of the journey, but I don’t think it should be the main measure of whether something is valuable. Some of the most fulfilling projects are the ones that come from personal ideas, collaborations with friends, or stories that feel important to tell. When you focus on creating work that feels authentic and true to you, it naturally attracts the right audience and opportunities.

For me, success is really about staying connected to that sense of purpose—making art that feels alive, sharing it with a community that inspires you, and continuing to grow creatively. If the work is rooted in passion and care, the rest tends to follow.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jaspersoloff.me
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasperegan?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==