Up On The Roof

I was sent to photograph a couple from a show that I’m now slightly obsessed with — spending the day with “Boris and Jessica“ was going to be surreal. Nevertheless, I’ve worked with plenty of celebrities, and know my way around para-social relationships.

Some of my best recent pictures have been complex portraits of couples (like here, and here), so I was excited when this recent assignment came in from the Guardian Saturday Magazine. Boris Fishman and his wife, Jessica Cole, appeared on Showtime's Couples Therapy as part of season four.

Boris was unhappy with his portrayal, and the public response in the aftermath. As a sometime contributor to the Guardian, Fishman was asked to give an inside perspective on being on a show like this, but they got more than they asked for when he outlined how the appearance scarred them deeply.

The direction from the magazine was to get a set up of them looking in opposite directions while sitting on their couch, and then anything else that caught my eye. We ended up doing three set ups: on the couch, their sloped roof, and in their swimming pool.

The roof shot struck me as the most promising, as the background was textured and real, while still visually simple. Plus, the slope allowed me to play with perspective with the various figures. We shot with them as a couple first and then brought in the children. Actually, the children brought themselves in.

Although the roof looks dangerous in the photos, it's bottom edge is just a foot and a half off of the grass. And Jessica was always aware of where the kids were, so it was adventurous for them, but not precariously dangerous.

I enjoyed working with both of them, but I made a particularly good bond with Boris. He clearly was shaken by the waves of anger and hate sent his way. I tried to give him low-key humane feedback on the show, and working with him. He went on Couples Therapy to get help, and came away more traumatized.

Images: On the roof with Boris Fishman, Jessica Cole and family. Shot August 18, 2025 in rural New Jersey.