I Took the Famous Elizabeth Holmes Photo. Here Are My Thoughts After Watching ‘You Can See Everything’

Key Points:

• In 2014, photographer Ethan Pines spent several hours with Elizabeth Holmes for her Forbes cover shoot, capturing images that portrayed her as a confident and pioneering CEO of Theranos, then celebrated as the world's youngest self-made female billionaire.
• Pines recalls Holmes as approachable and sincere during the shoot, doing her own hair and makeup, and wearing a simple black outfit, with the iconic photo featuring her holding a vial of fake blood representing her company's technology.
• Holmes later expressed strong dislike for the Forbes cover image, possibly due to the subsequent scandal and her conviction for wire fraud, which led to an 11-year prison sentence; Pines believes the photo would have been viewed positively if Theranos had succeeded.
• Despite Holmes’ current disapproval, her team continued to use the famous vial-holding image in social media and billboards, which surprised Pines, who noted a shift in Holmes’ public demeanor from CEO swagger to portraying a brilliant scientist.
• Pines remains uncertain about the true nature of Elizabeth Holmes, reflecting that while he felt he met the genuine person during the shoot, the revelations and documentary "You Can See Everything" complicate the understanding of her character.