In the world of celebrity and fashion photography, few names command as much respect and affection as Mike Rosenthal. Known globally as a resident judge and photographer across 14 seasons of America’s Next Top Model and Asia’s Next Top Model, Mike’s work is a masterclass in the intersection of fine art and cinema.
But beyond the high-fashion sets and television cameras, Mike is celebrated for something rarer in Hollywood: he is genuinely warm, humble, and endlessly curious. I sat down with Mike in Los Angeles to talk about his transition from a teenage animator to one of the most sought-after directors and photographers in the business.
From Warner Bros. to the Academy Awards
Mike’s trajectory began at the tender age of 17 at Warner Brothers, followed by a stint as a senior digital animator at Landmark Entertainment Group. However, the pull of the lens was too strong to ignore. To hone his craft, Mike trained under the mentorship of Academy Award-winning cinematographer Russell Carpenter (Titanic, Avatar), an influence that is still visible in the cinematic lighting and depth of his current stills and motion projects.
The Faces of an Era
His portfolio reads like a Who’s Who of Hollywood royalty. Mike has captured the raw essence of icons including Robin Williams, Halle Berry, Robert De Niro, and Charlize Theron, as well as contemporary muses like Marion Cotillard and Christina Hendricks.
“Check out Mike’s impressive gallery of celebrity portraits above to find out what he really thinks of the stars behind the lens.”
A Life in Motion
Mike’s creativity isn’t confined to a studio. A passionate traveler, he has traversed the globe—from floating in the Dead Sea to running with the bulls in Pamplona and trekking the peaks of Machu Picchu. This global perspective fuels his music video work, where he serves as both Director and Director of Photography (DP) for high-octane projects like Equinox’s Heavy Lifting and Jumprope, as well as Matthew Morrison’s It Don’t Mean a Thing.
The Legacy Continues
Splitting his time between Los Angeles and New York, Mike remains a force in the gallery world and on our television screens. His ability to blend the technical precision of a digital animator with the soulful eye of a fine artist ensures that every frame—whether a still portrait or a music video—tells a story that lingers long after you’ve looked away.
Editorial Note: Featured Motion Projects
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Equinox – Heavy Lifting: (Director/DP: Mike Rosenthal | Production: 1+1 Production)
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Equinox – Jumprope: (Director/DP: Mike Rosenthal | Production: Kadota Productions)
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Matthew Morrison – It Don’t Mean a Thing: (Director/DP: Mike Rosenthal | Production: Normal)
Music Video: Equinox – Heavy Lifting
Muis Video: Equinox – Jumprope
Matthew Morrison – It Don’t Mean a Thing
