Article by Brad Balfour

"I always took photos of nature and the usual things other people do--family, friends and parties. I created diaries of all the events around me and I was also going to parties shooting them here and there for my own sake." explains Patrick McMullan. "At one party I met Annie Flanders of Details Magazine and she needed someone to run around with party writer Stephen Saban. Annie loved my photos so I got the job."

From that rather simple beginning, McMullan transformed a lighthearted afterthought into a career. And what a career. He's now on everyone's party list even Irish Connections. And he can be out every night of the week 366 days if need be. He started out the master of downtown New York "shooting regular people. I loved working with Stephen. He was an icon at the time and his column in Soho News was terrific. He liked oddball and quirky things and sometimes we went uptown too." Even though McMullan has moved uptown professionally--"I contribute work to Vanity Fair, Harper's Bazaar, New York Magazine, Hamptons, Interview, Ocean Drive, Allure, among others" -he remains a downtowner, still in the same apartment he's had for 25 years, only expanding to an office on 14th Street to house his 14-or so person staff: "Everyone knows my address. I am most clearly on the lists. I'm a professional who's been doing this for a long time; it doesn't make sense for people to not invite me--but not because of me, but because I know everyone. I know more people than most publicists. They're comfortable with me because they know me. I always carry a camera and if I am invited I am to assume it's to work. If someone doesn't want me to work, but attend as a guest, I have no problem with that, but usually I would just as soon stay home read, watch TV or go to dinner" Usually that's not the case though and this Long Island native continues to be the perfect party guest--"I am never interested in being a personality or famous. I am not interested in controlling the room, Ijust feel that if I I'm going to give it out I should be able to take it too. I always take pictures of regular people who intrigue me. At parties I am a great introducer and an asset at getting people together I mean, I's intelligent, and funny." (he laughs). From a House Beautiful party to a party New York Magazine had for Corky Pollan, McMullan can be found, employing his gift of gab and social skills to get the best pictures around of the hottest people out and about.

THE FIRST EVENT

My first was a bowling party with Anita Sarko at the Poolroom on 14th St. In those days they didn't have people to just run around because it was mostly fashion celebrity photographers. I always had a camera in my pocket so I was prepared to shoot at any time. That allowed me the free dom to capture any picture I thought was interesting or unusual.

FAVORITE PEOPLE TO PHOTOGRAPH

I'm not that enthralled with celebrity myself. I love models in a strictly fatherly way because they are so sweet and pretty. Anyone who has a good sense of humor are also fodder for my work. I absolutely admire intelligent people, not that models aren't intelligent. They have to be pretty smart to make as much money as they do. I even like doctors. I knew Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow before they became famous and they are very nice people. I adore Gwyneth, she's a real person. I love Julia Roberts and Cindy Crawford. I hung out with Lit Taylor and truly loved her. Jackie Onassis was wonderful and classy. I enjoyed John Kennedy Jr as well as his wife Carolyn. I knew her before I met him. It is so sad what happened, because he would have been a great, great man. He was a tn~eblue person with no hidden agenda but was genuinely altruistic. Sometimes I wonder if his death might have been engineered.

THE HARDEST PEOPLE TO SHOOT

John Kennedy, Jr. was very difficult because his picture was constantly being taken and he really didn't like it. He just accepted it. I knew him for 20 years and every now and then I would ask him, "Hey, John, how about a picture?" He would look at me and smile and say, "How about not?' Gabriel Byrne is another who hates to have his picture taken. He also knows that I hate taking pictures of people who hate having their picture taken so he really tries to get it over with pretty quick. I've gone to dinner with him and he's a very considerate and charming man, very down-to-earth with a great sense ofhumor and definitely not intent about his celebrity.

DIFFICULT PEOPLE TO PHOTOGRAPH

Kevin Costner is really obnoxious. I was at a party working for Vanity Fair in Miami and saw him across the pool so I didn't feel I was imposing. When he saw me take the picture he came over and started yelling and screaming. I can understand if people don't want their picture taken. I am pro-choice in all areas of my life and celebrities are entitled to their privacy and should not have to pose for a picture if they do not wish to. It was just that I had been speaking to him and believed he understood why I was there, so it wasn't necessary to go off. He could have politely said, "I would appreciate it if you wouldn't take my picture," and that would have been it.

FUNNIEST PHOTO STORY

Sean Penn used to be involved in a lot of fights and there was always something in the paper about it. One day I wound up at a party with him and Robert DeNiro who were hanging out together. I was carrying my son Liam, who was two or three at the time and I took a picture of them. Penn leaned over to my son, and the next thing I know, Liam hauls off and punches him. It was pretty funny because for once someone else was throwing the punches.

SON LIAM

He's not particularly in awe of celebrities. He's met Schwartzenegger and thought it was cool but he wasn't overwhelmed. He also met Leonardo DiCaprio and h~id his picture taken with him; the girls thought that was cute. Liam looks a little like Leonardo so he was excited about that. He liked Jessica Simpson. He's not a celebrity hound but a normal teenager-smart, witty and charming--an all-around great kid. He understands that anyone with a modicum of success has to devote time and effort to his work. This weekend I am working but he and his friend are going to accompany me. At his age they enjoy hanging out with their friends. Although I get to spend quality time with him I don't have enough time to do the stupid stuff, like play ball or whatever. Although he likes videos and making movies and he's a really good artist. He's athletic and on the soccer team. His mother and I get along very well, although we are not together any more. I'm very excited about seeing him this weekend. As a matter of fact, he is the only person I get excited about seeing, believe it or not.

IRISH BACKGROUND

I come from a large Irish family and we are extremely close. We had a family compound where the dan would gather and everyone would sit around and sing old Irish songs, especially after a few drinks. "Too-RaLoo-Ra-Loo" and "Wearin' of the Green" were two favorites. I cannot sing but I really enjoyed the songfest. I would love to go back, I've even thought of becoming an Irish citizen. Both sides of my family are Irish so I have family there too. I would love to take my son; maybe take the whole summer off especially when he gets older and can appreciate it. However, I don't think it's something I'11 be able to do. I'd just love to meet interesting people and just connect. I went over once to visit where my grandfather was born in County Antrim of Northern Ireland. The backyard was right on the beach. It is a beautiful, fabulous place. I find the Irish to be charming. I want to go there and photograph people from an American perspective.

THE BEST PARTIES

Vanity Fair's parties at Oscar time are quite fabulous. They're some of the best I have ever attended. 98% of the best celebrities are there, including musicians, directors, producers. li:me Magazine also had a wonderful party for its 75th Anniversary with a fantastic mix of people, from Dr. Kervorkian to Tom Cruise to John Kennedy Jr. and President Clinton. The club Area had terrific parties with lots of different themes.

MY OWN PARTY

For the past 20 years I have held a St. Patrick's Day party. He was a 'Grand Man himself. People think it is my birthday party, obviously because my name is Patrick, but it isn't. I adore parties and I am a great party-thrower. Now I have developed a party committee.

WORKING ON NOW?

I just finished Fashion Week which was exhausting. There were about 18 people working for me. Fashion is an area I got into in '94 when I started shooting shows backstage, which is my specialty. I originally wanted to do a book on shows--men's and women's-so I had taken lots of sexy shots on all the glamorous and beautiful people. My publisher decided that since they'd done women's books I should do a book on the mentitled Men 's Show (Edition Stemmle). I've had an idea for a book that is very '80s with all my '80s black & white stuff like I used to do for Details. Then when I was going to the Victoria 's Secrets' fashion show in Cannes, a publisher was interested in that too and that became my second book--The Secrets of the Riviera (Welcome Rain Publishers). They are both coming out soon. Now I am preparing an exhibit at Tony Shafrazi's Gallery which incorporates pictures from both books and lots of fashion stuff that is fun and colorful. We have to organize everything; that's quite an undertaking.

PHOTOS TO INSPIRE NEW IDEAS

I want all my writer friends to give me a quote for my '80s book so I can make a compilation of them. I would love to do more books like the ones I've done. Perhaps one on Introductions, one on Kissing. I'd like to spend a day as a high school photographer, do some documentary films and more fashion shoots.

THE NEXT SPREAD

I just did a 14-page spread for Marie Claire with Christina Cruz, who was fabulous and loved working with her. I would like to do interiors--there is so much I want to do, but I will always be a party photographer. Actually to sum up, the biggest thrill of my life is when someone says to me "I love the picture you took of me." That makes it all worthwhile.