As the staff photographer at 'Saturday Night Live,' Mary Ellen Matthews is responsible for creating the stylized look of the still images used during each show. For this photo gallery, the highly regarded portraitist has selected photos of many of her most memorable 'SNL' musical guests, sharing in her own words her memories of working with these stars of rock, pop, R&B, hip-hop and country. Full interview below.

Mary Ellen Matthews has to employ several skills essential to her unique role at 'Saturday Night Live.' Not only is she required to display the versatility to photograph a varied and dizzying array of 'SNL' guest hosts and musical acts, she also has to perform under a tight deadline while a live program is being produced.

The New York-based Matthews started off working in film production and music publicity before making the transition to entertainment photography. In her career, she has documented celebrities ranging from pop stars (Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Janet Jackson) to politicians (Al Gore, George Bush, John McCain) to sports legends (Tom Brady, Derek Jeter) to rock gods (Mick Jagger, U2, Neil Young). Her experience also includes film and television stills and publicity, advertising campaigns, celebrity weddings and rock tours.

For 'SNL,' she has been responsible for devising, adapting and maintaining the distinctive look of the show's still images since 1999, a position she does not take for granted. "I'm still in awe of this job," says Matthews about having such a crucial role in a program she grew up admiring. "Every week is still like my first show.

"It's a true honor to be so involved with this legacy of 'Saturday Night Live,'" Matthews adds. "I try to keep up the quality of those who have come before me in doing this job." She's especially grateful to work with 'SNL' creator and executive producer Lorne Michaels and the rest of the cast and crew. "It's like a second family to me."

Justin Timberlake, December 16, 2006: "He's practically almost a cast member. He knows the show so well, and we’ve worked together a few times, so there's a familiarity to our process. He is just Showmanship Central. I was doing a lot of research on the old Andy Warhol 'Interview' magazine covers, so there’s definitely that feel to it. It makes the image more dynamic, that’s for sure. This seemed to have that movement."
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Carrie Underwood, March 24, 2007: "Such a professional, killer voice and a sweet girl. I just think she’s darling and gorgeous. This is not a glamour magazine shot; it's a little off -- just different. She’s not looking at the camera, there’s an interesting look in her eyes."
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Janet Jackson, April 10, 2004: "This is when she hosted and did the music so it was a huge week for her. I talked to her stylist, and she loved the idea. So we got the gardenias and the mic and lit it like that, and she was pleased with it. As a fan of Billie Holiday, she was honored to get into that role. She worked it, she was feeling it."
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The Killers, September 30, 2006: "From Las Vegas, sweet guys. I felt that sort of Western-y influence I wanted to give them -- a little deconstructed, maybe. I feel like it has that old Western feel, this one especially."
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Fall Out Boy, March 4, 2006: "They were so … I don’t want to say surprised, but I just was like, "Let’s get everyone jumping up in the air." I think it’s fun for bands to let themselves go, ‘cause usually it’s the same kind of thing. At 'SNL,' it’s a very fun environment. -- we try to bring that out in them a little bit."
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Beck, October 28, 2006: "He had puppets onstage during one of the songs, and we decided to put them in the picture. It was part of the act. They were using them during the performance, so how could you not use the puppets in the picture? Just too much fun."
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Eminem, October 30, 2004: "That’s actually one of my favorites. He’s so soulful in his eyes, you know? He’s done the show a few times, and I have a good rapport with him. He's very professional, knows his job. I’ve done other work with him outside of the show."
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Gwen Stefani, December 9, 2006: "Fun to photograph, for sure. Great subject, and again, using the space differently, having her lay down. There’s no acrobatics or anything -- a very direct portrait. She’s comfortable doing anything, I’m sure, but this seemed to work."
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The Strokes, January 21, 2006: "I shot them in a studio, and I live in [Manhattan's] East Village and saw this location I thought would be perfect, so I photographed the street corner and dropped it in."
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Red Hot Chili Peppers, May 6, 2007: "I wanted them to come out of the camera a little bit and show some personality, that personality of what they are, especially Flea. They’re very tight. Like brothers. This just fell into place so easily because they were such a unit and work so well together."
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Arcade Fire, February 24, 2007: "They wanted to be involved in what we were doing, which was really fun, ‘cause there’s so many of them to display. So I gave them a camera, and they ran with it. Also, they were very excited to be there. They actually played an aftershow following the end of this show. We went off the air, and they played five songs till almost 2 o’clock in the morning, which doesn’t usually happen."
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U2, November 20, 2004: "Obviously, if you’re working for U2 you get a little fluttery, but I’m such a music fan that I always get fluttery with them. So I am always so impressed and overwhelmed by what they all bring here. But we try to mix it up. Try to see them like we haven’t seen them before. And we can be a little more relaxed, or try to get them to relax a little more here."
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Kanye West, September 29, 2007: "This is the first time he was on; he was great. He seemed to be very excited to be here. So it’s him looking at himself -- and he loved it. I just think it’s interesting that he’s facing himself – he’s such a confident performer that he can face himself. It’s addressing that a little bit, but he’s not humorless."
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Feist, November 3, 2007: "Sweetheart, sweetheart, sweetheart. Lovely person. I just wanted to do nice portraits of her, no jumping around for her. From when I met her, watching her perform, it just seemed like this sort of take on how we would approach her photo shoot would suit her. Quiet moments are good, too."
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Keith Urban, February 10, 2007: "He was an amazing performer, I remember that – great guitar player. So I asked him to bring his guitar, and he was agreeable. Guitars are great props, aren’t they? And he was playing a little bit. I don’t think he was plugged in, but yeah, he sure was [playing]."
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Wilco, March 1, 2008: "To have them booked on the show and get to work with them, it was a dream come true, really. Super-sweet guys. Jeff [Tweedy] has the Nudie suit on. He put it on for the photo. I was so honored."
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Bjork, April 21, 2007: "I just thought of an ice cream cone for her, and she loved it. I just think it’s a darling little picture. She ate it, too -- the whole thing. We picked a flavor that would match: strawberry or whatever. I think she left with it."
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The Shins, January 13, 2007: "I happened on this cover of [an album by the 1950s group] the Champs and showed it to them, and they were so into it. So I just had them position themselves on bikes, and it’s just a laugh, isn’t it? We just got them into the same positions, and then did some Photoshop work. And some color work. It really came out well, I think. It’s one of my favorites. It kept all the texture from the album cover itself, so it really had that feeling."
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AFI, January 20, 2007: "I remember from this picture, trying to think differently about how most of these are done. You know, usually line them up to eat up the space, but I wanted to try something different. I explained it to them and they were very into it. So this is a little bit different than what I usually do."
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Tenacious D, December 2, 2006: "I saw the Simon & Garfunkel cover -- 'Bookends' -- where they’re both in the turtlenecks and they’re kinda leaning on each other, so we kind of riffed off that. [Simon & Garfunkel are] one great duo in our musical history. They're just another one [laughs]. With Jack Black, you always kind of get a show. Kyle Gass as well. They’re loose, let’s say, but amazing musicians."
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Death Cab for Cutie, January 14, 2006: "Yet another different kind of placement of the band, for lack of a better way to say it -- composition. The mop toppy thing – those two remind me of it a little bit … I don’t want to say Beatlesque. Again, it’s the composition. I’m looking to change that up as much as I can. I usually draw it out or show them some kind of inspiration and see if they’ll go for it."
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Foo Fighters, October 13, 2007: "I think it just says a lot about who they are, for sure. I think it really captured them. Dave Grohl is so free-spirited, free-living, has a great time with what he’s doing. And they’re such a group, I think they really enjoy what they’re doing. And they were happy to be there that day."
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Neil Young, December 17, 2005: "This was a challenge. Neil’s such a generous performer/artist that he just wanted everyone in the band. You can tell how excited they all were. I think we did another shot of just him. But it makes for such a good experience fore everyone to be able to be part of this, in the band. It’s his family."
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Pearl Jam, April 15, 2006: "Different lighting -- you know, I’m such a fan of music across the board, but of them, for sure. I just thought this would be an interesting take, especially with Eddie Vedder. His bone structure being that it is, this would really work for them."
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