Many, many moons ago, I met someone who changed the trajectory of my life. I thought I was going to be a war photographer. Somehow, I got swept into a world of fantasy- but it was never really about beauty. It was about finding something real. I met Bruce when I was 17, through his force of a sister, Barbara DeWitt— her energy and curiosity as boundless as his. I remember being in my bedroom when she first called. On my wall was a postcard of Bruce Hulse and Talisa Soto on a Chris-Craft. When she said she wanted me to work on a job with her brother, and I asked who that was— “Bruce Weber”, she said— I covered the phone and screamed. A few years later, out of college, I took a full time job with him and this was my first time on set in NYC. Banana Republic Free Souls, 1992. He had already cast it. I was just there to learn and help. But it was the moment I understood everything. We were on a rooftop, then the Staten Island Ferry. It started to pour, and I remember feeling devastated— certain the day was lost. Bruce didn’t see it that way. He made something unforgettable out of it. That was his gift— not just seeing beauty, but finding it exactly where it wasn’t expected. I loved his images. But more than that, I loved how deeply he wanted to know the people in front of his camera— to understand who they were, not just how they looked. He loved a broken nose. Imperfection. He created a kind of family— long lunches, stories shared around a table. Some of my closest friendships in life came from those years. Happy Happy birthday, Bruce. ✨✨✨ (Just a few of the images captured here. The cast included Mark Vanderloo, David Boals, Kate Moss, Ethan Brown, Dominic Cina, and, pretty sure I remember the girl up on the sign to be Shalom Harlow! Can you see why I was inspired?!) | Jennifer Starr Casting