Allison Michael Orenstein (aka A/O) is a New York-based portrait photographer who got her start in high school in Boca Raton. Photographing best friends and crushes evolved into a career connecting with people through her lens.
Her personal project The Queer Artists Series focuses on queer performers. "The artists I shoot are those whose work I love and admire. The portraits are a way to get to know them. I want to document queerness, otherness, at this moment in time in New York City."
A/O loves shooting celebrities. A highlight was photographing comedian Tim Conway. “When I got to the shoot, I told him it was my birthday and he said, “Why are we here?!?! We should go out and celebrate and eat some cake!” We didn’t eat cake but we did have fun, and he gave me one of his books. I asked him to sign it for my Mom, who was also a huge fan, and he wrote, “Dear Roberta, You owe me $12.95. Love, Tim Conway”. Other memorable celeb shoots include Parker Posey, Allison Janney, and Joel Grey.
A former DJ and lifelong comedy fan, A/O uses music and humor to help her subjects relax. She curates playlists (mixtapes) for her subjects on Spotify. Olivia Newton-John for Toni Collette and blues and honky-tonk for John Waters. As for comedy, she has 5 go-to jokes that are guaranteed to get laughs, just ask her assistants.
A/O currently lives in Williamsburg with her three favorite subjects, her wife Simone and their Insta-famous dachshunds Louie and Teddy. Follow them @louiesaintlaurent
