Errol Sawyer, an African-American photographer from New York City, son of playwright Robert Earl Sawyer, discovered Christie Brinkley at a local post office on the rue de la Gaité in the 14th arrondissement in Paris during the spring of 1973. Following a brief interview and a short series of headshots, he introduced Brinkley to model agent John Casablancas of Elite Model Management with whom he collaborated on portfolio development of prospective models. Initially, Casablancas hesitated because at the time, Brinkley's look was "too American." However, based on his confidence in Errol Sawyer's taste, he agreed to send Brinkley on several "Go-Sees" the next day and, as they say, "The rest is history."

Contrary to Mr. Casablancas’s description: “Errol Sawyer was a scout on our payroll.” Except for a small advance against future “Test Shoots”, Elite Model Management compensated Errol Sawyer for normal costs of film and development, but nothing more. John Casablancas ne