Original Saturday Night Live photographer Edie Baskin is taking a page out of her successor’s book, releasing her own collection of SNL photo work for the first time.
Baskin was SNL‘s first head photographer, sticking with the show from its 1975 debut through 1999. Over that time, she was responsible for creating some of the show’s most enduring images and iconography.
The 240-page anthology of her work, titled Live From My Studio: The Art of Edie Baskin, compiles 350 of Baskin’s portaits of SNL cast members, hosts, and musical guests into a 11.22 in x 12.8 in hardback book.
Baskin photographed the show’s first-ever opening title sequence, and by episode two, was taking her own photos of each host to use as photo bumpers. Her early years at the show were marked by a hand-drawn style in which she added color to each photo by hand.
SNL‘s current photographer, Mary Ellen Matthews, began at the show as Baskin’s protégé. Taking over the photo department in Season 25, Matthews’ own bumpers have come to represent the later eras of the show. She compiled them in her own collection, The Art of the SNL Portrait, which was released just weeks after SNL‘s celebratory 50th anniversary weekend.
Baskin’s book will similarly take advantage of SNL‘s 50-year milestone. The book is due out just 12 days before the 50th anniversary of SNL‘s October 11, 1975 premiere.
Live From My Studio: The Art of Edie Baskin is due out on September 30th. The book will be published by ACC Art Books and distributed by Simon & Schuster.
