How Photographer Edie Baskin Defined the Look of 'SNL' for 25 Years (Exclusive)
- - How Photographer Edie Baskin Defined the Look of 'SNL' for 25 Years (Exclusive)
Liz LindainJanuary 18, 2026 at 3:00 AM
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For 25 years, photographer and art director Edie Baskin was the woman who defined Saturday Night Live's signature look.
As the sketch comedy show's photographer from its very first episode in 1975 to 1999, Baskin oversaw the creation and shooting of its iconic bumper photos — the portraits of each week’s host and musical guest that briefly appear before and after commercial breaks.
After stepping down from the role before the premiere of SNL's 26th season, Baskin returned to her hometown of Los Angeles. Since then, Mary Ellen Matthews has taken over her spot.
Live From My Studio: The Art of Edie Baskin. Courtesy of Edie Baskin and Sarah Hall Productions Inc." data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/X_zulaOuaT6oxI6P4zJqLw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTEyODA-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/aol_parade_744/f28f50bc2383fabe75ff583998b99953>Live From My Studio: The Art of Edie Baskin. Courtesy of Edie Baskin and Sarah Hall Productions Inc." src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/X_zulaOuaT6oxI6P4zJqLw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTEyODA-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/aol_parade_744/f28f50bc2383fabe75ff583998b99953 class=caas-img>Edie Baskin posing with her book, Live From My Studio: The Art of Edie Baskin. Courtesy of Edie Baskin and Sarah Hall Productions Inc.
In October 2025, the same year SNL celebrated its 50th anniversary, Baskin released her very first photobook, Live From My Studio: The Art of Edie Baskin. The book brings together Baskin’s groundbreaking work from SNL's early years. Her iconic, hand-colored portraits of the biggest names in film, television, music and comedy helped cement the sketch comedy show's cultural imprint, as well as showcased a nearly forgotten artistic technique — shooting in black and white, then painting each image meticulously by hand.
Earlier this month, Parade Magazine had the opportunity to interview Baskin to talk about her career, the inspirations behind her work and the iconic SNL bumper photos and advice she has for aspiring photographers.
The interview below has been edited for length and clarity.
A bumper photo of Lily Tomlin on November 22, 1975.Courtesy of Edie Baskin and Sarah Hall Productions Inc.
How did you get your job at Saturday Night Live specifically?
I first met [executive producer and showrunner] Lorne Michaels at a poker game at the Chateau Marmont [in the West Hollywood neighborhood of Los Angeles]. We became friends, and not long after, he asked me to photograph a Lily Tomlin special he was producing in California.
Later, when I was back in New York, Michaels called to say he was relocating there to develop a new television show. When he arrived, we reconnected, and I invited him to my studio to see a body of work I’d made in Las Vegas — black-and-white photographs of neon chapels that I hand-tinted. He responded strongly to them. I asked whether there might be a role for me on the new show, and some time later, he invited me to 30 Rock to present my work to the heads of film and talent. They asked if I could bring the same approach to New York that I had applied to Las Vegas. I said yes, and those images ultimately became my first contribution to Saturday Night Live's original title sequence.
What/Who is your inspiration when it comes to the iconic bumper photos?
The energy of the show itself was my inspiration. I had already created the title sequence when I began doing the bumpers, and I continued hand-tinting my photographs so they reflected my own style. When that style evolved over time, it was a conscious creative decision on my part.
Who are your photography/art inspirations in general?
Man Ray, Dorothea Lange, Luis Gonzalez Palma, Ed Ruscha, Jean Pagliuso and illustrator Kevin Sloan.
What was it like to revisit your old work while making Live From My Studio: The Art of Edie Baskin?
It was truly a trip down memory lane for me. I had not looked at that work as a body of work in quite some time. It also led me to look at other things I had done.
Who is your favorite person to photograph or work with?
I loved photographing Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin. I photographed them many, many times, so I knew them by working together so often.
Mary Ellen Matthews worked with you for a little bit in the 1990s before taking over the department. What do you think of her work now?
I love her work. It is extremely different than mine. Mary Ellen approached things in a very different way than I did, and I am extremely proud of her.
What made you want to leave SNL? What do you think of the show now?
At that time, my husband wanted to move to California, and it felt like the right moment for me as well. My father had passed away when I was 21, and after years in New York City, the move offered a chance to be closer to my mother. I had been doing the show for 25 years, and the timing felt right.
Your book was recently named one of the Best Indie Arts & Entertainment books of 2025 by Kirkus Reviews. How did that make you feel?
I was incredibly honored, delighted and proud that they spoke of me in this manner.
Do you have advice for aspiring photographers? Especially those who want to break into the TV/comedy industry?
Keep shooting. Always have a camera with you; you never know what is going to inspire you.
If you want to be shooting [television and comedy], go to comedy shows and stand in the back and shoot. Just be at the events and photograph them. Build up a portfolio doing that kind of work. But you have to really stick with it and get involved with people; you need to make connections.
The cover of Edie Baskin's 'Live From My Studio: The Art of Edie Baskin.'Courtesy of Sarah Hall Productions Inc.
Live From My Studio: The Art of Edie Baskin is currently 21% off on Amazon. Meanwhile, a new episode of SNL will air on NBC this Saturday at 11:30 pm ET, with Stranger Things' Finn Wolfhard as the host and musical guest A$AP Rocky.
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This story was originally published by Parade on Jan 17, 2026, where it first appeared in the Books section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
