Cynthia and Ariana Celebrate, Conan Steals a Trophy: A Peek Backstage With Oscar Photographer John Shearer
Nicole Fell
4 min read
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Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo sharing a moment of triumph after a crowd pleasing opening performance. Conan O’Brien jokingly trying to steal Adrien Brody’s Oscar. These moments from the 2025 Oscars didn’t make the ABC broadcast, but John Shearer — who this year served as an in-house, all access photographer for the Academy and Getty Images — captured them and many more.
“I like to just be a fly on the wall, my goal is for them [stars] to not notice me because the second they think there’s a photographer or media in the room or the dressing room, everything changes,” Shearer told The Hollywood Reporter Monday morning, mere hours after Hollywood finally took its post-Oscars slumber. “I try not to interrupt people or pose people or even let know that I was there because I don’t want to interrupt the moment at all. I want people to feel like they were there in the moment with me.”
Shearer is no stranger to award shows — he joked that he has shot virtually every star-studded ceremony in the country except this one. Some of his past credits include the SAG Awards, the Grammys and the CMA Awards. The veteran photographer is also behind one of the most recognizable pop culture photos of the last year: the poster for Taylor Swift:The Eras Tour film.
For Shearer, the most memorable photos of the night were of Wicked’s Grande and Erivo. He notes that his wife worked on Victorious, the Nickelodeon show where Grande got her onscreen start. “I love the photos of them with their glam team, preparing to take the stage just minutes before the show, and then seeing the excitement and everything after the performance when they ran down to the dressing rooms,” he said.
Below, Shearer shares photos and insights from Hollywood’s biggest night featuring Grande, Erivo, O’Brien, Brody, Colman Domingo and more.
I always come to rehearsals in the days leading up to the show. I like to meet with the stage managers, so they know what I’m doing during the telecast — and so they can tell me where I need to go to stay off camera. I check seat cards so I know where everyone is sitting. I like to watch the dress rehearsal, so I know what show moments are happening and when. I’ll make notes on the show schedule, so I remember where I need to be at any point during the show. I meet with camera operators, so I know what their plan is, to stay out of their way. Staying off camera during the live telecast is my No. 1 priority at these shows, so I want to make sure everything is buttoned up before it starts.
In this photo I am meeting with Getty Images’ senior director of photography, Neilson Barnard, the day before the show. We’re discussing logistics on the red carpet and finding the fastest way to get my images to a picture editor stationed backstage, so they can hit the Getty Images’ website in nearly real time.
Before the show, I always roam the backstage hallways and make introductions. To make candid photos backstage and in dressing rooms, I need everyone to know what I’m doing, and most importantly, to trust me. This is not only talent but publicists, managers, security — everybody.
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I only bring two small Leica cameras to these shows. I like to be as unobtrusive as possible — in order to capture candid moments, it’s best if the talent doesn’t notice that I’m taking their picture. I don’t use a flash, and the cameras are completely silent. I don’t want to interrupt anything that’s naturally happening.
Erivo, photographed backstage at the top of the show. I love this image because it shows her entire team working together and is a moment you would never see on the telecast. It takes a village.
Grande and Erivo embrace backstage after their show opening performance. I’ve known and worked with Ariana since very early in her career — she’s extremely kind, and I was so proud!
Coleman Domingo and Demi Moore, photographed in their seats during a commercial break.
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Zoe Saldana, photographed watching the live feed of the telecast before going onstage.
Robert Downey Jr. and Kieran Culkin embrace on the side of the stage, after Kieran’s win for best supporting actor.
Timothee Chalamet and Adrien Brody share an off-camera moment, after Brody’s win for best actor.
At the end of the night, several winners gathered on stage with Conan O’Brien. I caught this brief moment that I think makes the picture, of Conan trying to steal Adrien’s trophy.
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Here I am photographing Ariana Grande and Ethan Slater in the audience near the end of the night.
These were taken at the end of the show, while photographing Conan O’Brien and several winners with trophies onstage, once the telecast ended.
These were taken at the end of the show, while photographing Conan O’Brien and several winners with trophies onstage, once the telecast ended.
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