Brianna Capozzi has something to admit. She’s a womanizer

The thing that first brought Brianna Capozzi and Chloë Sevigny together? A pom-pom skirt purchased in Harajuku. Initially meeting in 2014 in New York restaurant Dimes, Capozzi complimented the actress on her skirt as they passed each other in the kitchen. A few weeks later, they met again in New Jersey on a shoot for Marfa Journal, where Capozzi strapped a large red lobster to Sevigny’s crotch. They became firm friends soon after.

Since then, Capozzi’s shot Sevigny countless times, creating some of the actor’s most memorable portraits as well as shooting her wedding to Siniša Mačković in 2022. Little wonder then, that Sevigny is so complimentary of Capozzi in the foreword of her latest photobook, Womanizer. “[Capozzi’s] directions, with her dance-like posing, are inspiring and aspirational,” she writes. ​“The humor she projects on set, and into the work itself, was something I hadn’t experienced in a long time — if ever…I hope she photographs me forever.”

A sexy, tongue-in-cheek image of Sevigny in New Jersey is one of many in Womanizer, a book that spans over a decade of Capozzi’s career, drawing from both her sizeable archive as well as images made especially for the book. ​“All of my work is about women and the eroticism of their power,” she says, wearing a camo tee as she calls in from her home in New York. ​“My last book [Sisters] was a bit of departure from my usual work style-wise, whereas this feels more like a retrospective. I’m just always interested in the subject of women.”

The book’s title comes from a Helmut Newton documentary Capozzi watched, where the German-Australian photographer is referred to as a womanizer by his critics. ​“I’m always very inspired by him, and I wanted to turn the word on its head,” she says. ​“I’m obsessed with shooting women, and I want to shoot them in an empowering way, [in a way that] takes back control of our bodies.”

That much is obvious from the book’s images. Whether it’s Selena Gomez posing seductively in inflatable Mickey gloves, a glammed-up Gwyneth Paltrow wielding a wrench or a topless Miley Cyrus in a Nashville meadow, there’s an undeniable humour and deep confidence that comes through in Capozzi’s snaps of her subjects.

Much of that is down to the on-set environment the photographer nurtures. ​“I like quiet on set, so no music unless the talent asks for it and I’m very conscious that people feel comfortable [at all times],” she says, ​“I’m like, are you sure? Are you feeling okay? Don’t do anything that’s going to get you hurt!”

That last warning was put to particularly good use when Capozzi shot Addison Rae for the book in 2024. ​“We were at my friend Nick Des Jardins’ studio,” she says. ​“He’s a set designer with a warehouse space full of props. It was extremely low-key but she was totally down to push for the most iconic photo.” That translated to Rae hanging upside from a hobby horse in a mesh dress and high ponytail, clear stilettos waving in the air. ​“I was so terrified for her!”

At this point, there aren’t many famous faces that haven’t had Capozzi’s lens turned on them. Is there anyone left on her list? ​“Lots!” she smiles, ​“Giselle, Grace Jones, Kate Moss, Isabella Rossellini…those are the heavy hitters.” If anyone’s got any leads, get in touch.

Womanizer, published by Rizzoli, is out 3^rd March