Jim Carrey
The iconic split portrait showcasing Jim Carrey's expressive range.
The Brief
When 65 Media needed a striking photograph of Jim Carrey for the biography section of his personal website, they turned to me during my time as a producer at the company. The challenge: capture an intimate, detailed portrait that would serve as the visual centerpiece for Carrey’s online presence.
Five Minutes in Bel Air
The shoot was as spontaneous as it was brief. I had arrived at Carrey’s Bel Air home with a traditional backdrop setup, but Jim had a better idea. “Why don’t we use these?” he suggested, gesturing to the rich velvet curtains of his personal movie theater.
It was a moment of creative collaboration that perfectly exemplified Carrey’s intuitive understanding of visual storytelling. The velvet backdrop absorbed the flash photography beautifully, allowing us to focus entirely on lighting Jim himself.
Using a single off-camera flash in a softbox with a 50mm lens, I employed soft side lighting to bring out the intricate details of his iris, exactly what would make the portrait “pop” on the website.
Alternative portrait from the 5-minute session.
Behind the Scenes
What made this shoot particularly memorable wasn’t just the photography: it was being surrounded by Carrey’s personal collection of iconic movie props. Seeing “The Mask” from his breakthrough film sitting casually among other memorabilia was a surreal reminder of the career we were documenting through this portrait.
With no time for test shots, every frame counted. The intimacy of the theater setting, combined with Carrey’s natural ease in front of the camera, created an atmosphere where authentic moments could unfold quickly.
The final eye design as featured on the biography page.
The Creative Vision
The resulting portrait became the foundation for an elaborate digital artwork that would define Carrey’s website aesthetic. The detailed eye photography served as both a literal window into the biography section and a metaphorical representation of Carrey’s depth as a performer.
Press Recognition
The project gained significant attention when Entertainment Weekly featured the website launch:
Just in time for today’s release of his big Disney holiday flick, remake A Christmas Carol, comedian Jim Carrey has relaunched his personal website, and let’s just say, it’s not uninteresting. In fact, echoing his sometimes-comedic sensibilities, it’s got an almost fantastical, psychedelic vibe to it.
The review specifically praised the biography page’s visual impact, noting how the eye photography created an innovative navigation experience that perfectly captured Carrey’s creative spirit.
The complete biography page design showcasing the eye navigation.
The full website design featuring the portrait photography.
The Easter Egg
True to form, the project included an unexpected moment of levity: a spontaneous shot of me emerging with antlers, creating a playful behind-the-scenes moment that perfectly captured the collaborative spirit of working with one of comedy’s most creative minds.