Art Imitating Life

Brad Elterman’s career started with a borrowed camera at the age of 16. His first photo, of Bob Dylan performing onstage, was published in 1974.

That lead to endless nights of covering the rock scene in Hollywood encompassing pop, punk and rock bands including the Faces with Rod Stewart, David Bowie, the Sex Pistols, the Runaways, Kiss, Queen, Blondie, the Ramones, the Bay City Rollers, Abba, Boney M, Kenny Rogers, The Who, Leif Garrett, Michael Jackson, etc.

“It was my education in life,” says Brad, who left school to travel with bands and visit European magazine editors at the age of 19. “I had a front row seat in life which took me everywhere from Munich to Tokyo to Rio." Brad toured Japan with teen idol Leif Garret, traveled to South America with German pop stars Boney M, and did tour dates with The Eagles and Rod Stewart, just to name a few.

Some of the magazines that Brad contributed to include:US: Creem, Circus, Rolling Stone, People, Hit Parader, Phonograph Record Magazine, Rock Magazine, Rock Scene, New York Post, National Enquirer, The StarJAPAN: Music Life, Rock ShowEUROPE: Muzeik Express, Photo Foto, Pop, Pop Rocky, Bravo, Das Freizeit, Magazun, Popcorn, Poster Magazine, Oh Boy, Fabulous 208, Jackie, Sounds, New Musical Express, Melody Maker. Often Brad was hired to do official publicity photos by major record labels including RCA, Warner Bros, MCA, Mercury, Columbia, RSO and Capitol Records.

In 1980 Brad formed one of the first Los Angeles-based photo agencies, California Features International, Inc. which specialized in providing celebrity coverage to magazines and newspapers worldwide. Brad covered Award Shows including The Oscars, Awards, American Music and Grammy Awards countless times.

In 1985 Brad wrote and published a book entitled "SHOOT THE STARS: How To Become A Celebrity Photographer," which garnered him interviews on Oprah, CNN and AM Los Angeles.

In 1992 Brad co-founded Online USA, Inc. one of the first Digital Photo Agencies employing some of the finest American and British photo-journalists, again specializing in photos of celebrities. Online USA was subsequently purchased by Getty Images in 2000, in a deal that CBS MarketWatch called “the deal of the day”. Brad remained with Getty Images as a consultant for a year following the sale.

Photographers who influenced Brad were Terry O’Neil, Bob Gruen, Richard Creamer & Helen Levitt.

Currently Brad is working on a Fall 2004 photo exhibition to be held in Los Angeles. Signed limited editions of Brad's Photography are available.

Brad can be contacted at: brad@bradelterman.com