Sonia Moskowitz Took That Photo: From Covering the Met Gala, Donald Trump, and Studio 54, the Storied Photographer Hits Art Week in Miami

If there’s a hot red carpet event or an exclusive party, chances are Sonia Moscowitz walks away with the captivating shot.

For 50 years Moskowitz has been photographing some of the most famous (and in some cases, infamous) celebrities in the world, capturing iconic moments through the decades.

She’s covered everything from the dramatic fashion statements at the Met Gala, to the swankiest VIP parties in the Hamptons, to Manhattan’s legendary Studio 54 — where the likes of Andy Warhol, Diana Ross, Liza Minnelli, Halston and countless cultural icons held court during the days of decadent disco.

People still talk about the mystique of Studio 54 and what went on there — the open drug use, the anything-goes attitude, the celebrity clientele it attracted, whether they partied hard or simply posed for paparazzi.

Moskowitz was one of the few photographers granted intimate access to the club’s inner world, From the night Ian Schrager and Steve Rubell opened the exclusive club in 1977 to the night it closed in 1980, she had a front-row seat at 54. She saw it all and documented it all: the glamour, the raw, unfiltered energy, the chaos, and bore witness to the cultural revolution that played out behind the velvet ropes.

Now some of Moskowitz’s iconic photographs from the Studio 54 era will be part of a show in Miami for Art Week presented by Bit Basel called “Beyond the Velvet Rope: Nights at Studio 54.” It runs at The Sagamore Hotel from Dec. 3–7.

We caught up with Sonia Moskowitz before she headed south for the show to ask about her career, her creative approach and yes, that photo of Donald Trump she took in 1997 standing next to a young model named Ingrid Seynhaeve along with Jeffrey Epstein that’s been recirculating in the press lately.

Breaking In and Landing at Studio 54

You’ve been a freelance photographer for decades. How did you break in? How did you end up at Studio 54?

I was an art major (painting) in college in the Boston area. I took a class at MIT of all places and took classes with Minor White, a nature photographer, in exchange for working there. I went to graduate school for art therapy at Pratt and worked in that field for years.

I then began to hang out with some photographers, including Gary Winogrand. I bought a Leica and was influenced by their street style, using a very wide angle.

I started going to events. There was a gallery opening on 57th Street — a painter who painted showgirls topless. I happened upon that (laughs). I met a publicist when I was at Regine’s (nightclub), and she said there would be this amazing club opening in April and she invited me to cover it.

On the opening night of Studio 54, I was part of a group of photographers who were then regularly invited there. I always got in.

Inside Studio 54

What was it like to cover Studio 54?

It was magical. I would get there early at 9 or 10 p.m., which was way too early. People didn’t come till 11 or 12 midnight.

Every night was a show — people dancing, people discoing on the dance floor; they didn’t care about being photographed. Some nights were special themes.

(Franco) Zeffirelli, the Italian filmmaker, would have dinner tables with small people in fancy clothing.

The Regulars

Who were the regulars at 54?

So many celebrities — the regulars were Cher and Bianca Jagger, Halston, Liza, Diana Ross. Andy Warhol was there all the time, almost every night.

Beyond Studio 54

What else were you covering then?

Sometimes I’d do three events a night — a Broadway opening, another event, then Studio 54. I started to get assignments from Newsweek magazine, and the Soho News allowed me to cover a lot of events.

The Trump / Epstein Photo

Talk about this photograph of Trump, Jeffrey Epstein and the young model that you took in 1997.

I’ve photographed Trump many times. That young girl — that was at a Victoria’s Secret party in NYC. She was a model, I don’t remember her name. Maybe he was dating her at the time. I’m sure I have more photos with Jeffrey Epstein somewhere. The one you see of Trump and Epstein everywhere — that was taken at Mar-a-Lago by a company that does wedding photography.

How was Trump toward you and photographers?

He was a well-known celebrity in New York. He was on The Apprentice. He was always dating somebody. He was comfortable having his picture taken.

He liked the publicity?

Oh yes, he loved it. He loved the publicity.

I photographed his wedding to Marla Maples. The press was invited to the Plaza Hotel — not to the wedding itself, but to the Plaza where it was held. Epstein was at the wedding. Another photographer got a shot of him there. I also shot Trump and Ivana many, many times. I have a binder of color slides of Donald Trump.

Career Highlights

Any “pinch me” moments in your career?

The Met Gala when Princess Diana came up the stairway — the photo ended up on the cover of Newsweek. It wasn’t a great photo, but it was a headshot of her.

Any other standout moments?

One of the most amazing things I went to was in Morocco for Malcolm Forbes’ 70th birthday on the Concorde. Other press as well — Ron Galella. That was a big highlight.

Her Creative Approach

How do you approach shooting a subject?

I like spontaneous moments. I try to use available light; I try not to shoot with flash. I find it flattens out a lot of images — it’s a little different (the approach).

Early Life and the East End

Where were you born?

I was born in Germany on an American Army base. When I was two years old — my parents were Holocaust survivors — we ended up coming to the States, and I grew up in NYC on the Upper West Side.

When did you discover the East End?

I first came to the East End in the late ’70s, early ’80s, settling in Bridgehampton.

Favorites

Do you have a favorite person to photograph?

Christie Brinkley. She is the best. She’ll always do something fun, and she’s just the loveliest person.

Art Week In Miami

Sonia Moskowitz’s show “Beyond the Velvet Rope: Nights at Studio 54,” presented by Bit Basel, runs from Dec. 3–7 at the Sagamore, 1671 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, Fla. @soniafotog on Instagram.

Angela LaGreca

Editor, Co-Founder/Publisher

Angela LaGreca, Editor-in-chief and co-Founder/Publisher of Spark Hamptons, is a four-time Emmy Award-winning journalist, producer, writer and comedian/host. Her TV credits include NBC’s “Today,” ABC’s “The View,” and, most recently, the primetime cable news program “Cuomo” on NewsNation. On the East End, she was the Creative Director at LTV, VP Features/Events/Photo Editor at Dan’s Papers, and has performed at Guild Hall, Bay Street Theater and the WHBPAC. Her publishing career began at Modern Photography, where she was managing editor. LaGreca lives in Manhattan and East Hampton and can be reached at angelatvmedia@gmail.com and angela@sparkhamptons.com .