The Best of the Best

BY: Andy Shoulders

Great fashion photography has brought us some of the most iconic images we’ve ever seen. The modeling industry wouldn’t be an industry at all if there weren’t amazingly talented photographers to capture those truly memorable fashion moments. Get to know these top talents of today, and you’ll soon see that not all fashion photographers are created equal.

1. Annie Leibowitz

Even the non-fashion obsessed are undoubtedly familiar with Leibowitz’s work. In addition to her iconic images of actors, athletes, and musicians, Leibowitz has captured countless fashion images through the years as well. She started working for Vogue in 1988, and has blazed quite a lavish and intricate fashion trail ever since. She’s done campaign shoots for Prada, Roberto Cavalli, and Dior (just to name a few), and her work continues to be some of the most memorable the fashion world has ever seen.

 

2. Peter Lindbergh

Peter Lindbergh is a German fashion photographer who is famous for his black and white images. He began his career shooting for French Vogue in 1978, and his work soon started appearing in Vanity Fair, Allure, and Rolling Stone. He released his first book titled “10 Women By Peter Lindbergh” in 1996 and won “Fashion Layout of the year in 2014.

 

3. Steven Meisel

Even though his fashion images are some of the most game-changing in the industry, Steven Meisel himself is a bit of an enigma as he’s rarely photographed or interviewed. He’s been credited with launching the careers of Linda Evangelista, Naomi Campbell, and Doutzen Kroes. Fun fact: he’s photographed every Vogue Italia cover since 1988 and every Prada campaign since 2004.

 

4. Patrick Demarchelier

“I have Patrick!” We’ve all heard that famous line from “The Devil Wears Prada.” Patrick Demarchelier is one of the most significant fashion photographers of all time, and he’s given us some of the industry’s most iconic images ever (check out his shots of Christy Turlington for British Vogue in 1992). He’s photographed every top model through the years, and even became Princess Diana’s official photographer – the first non-Brit ever to do so.

 

5. Ellen Von Unwerth

If there’s any photographer who knows all sides of the fashion industry, it’s Ellen Von Unwerth. She started as a model for 10 years before eventually going behind the lens. She quickly became known for her strong feminist approach to her images, which quickly became some of the most memorable in the industry (that famous Guess ad with Claudia Schiffer being just one of them). In a 2018 interview with Harper’s Bazaar, she explained her inspiration: “The women in my pictures are always strong, even if they are also sexy. My women always look self-assured. I try to make them look as beautiful as they can because every woman wants to feel beautiful, sexy, and powerful.”

 

6. Mario Sorrenti

Mario Sorrenti became best known for his nudes for Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar, as well his ad campaigns for Calvin Klein. His provocative and stunning images have also been featured in W and Vanity Fair, and also in campaigns for Lancôme and Benetton. He consistently showcases his work internationally, most notably at the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Museum of Modern Art.

 

7. Chen Man

Chen Man is a Beijing-based visual artist whose mediums include photography, cinematography, graphic design, and visual art. Her work has been featured in Vogue, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, and Cosmopolitan, and her studio, Studio 6, has produced campaigns for several major brands such as L’Oréal, Dior, Guess, and Uniqlo.

 

8. Mert & Marcus

The working name of two fashion photographers, Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, Mert & Marcus have pioneered the use of digital manipulation in their field. They are best known for their portraits of sophisticated, powerful women, with a strong emphasis on appearance, stating: “The difference between us and other photographers is that we care a lot about appearance. We spend most of the time in the makeup and hairstyling rooms.” Their work has been featured in Vogue, Interview, and W, and they’ve shot campaigns for Missoni, Fendi, and Kenzo.

 

9. Nick Knight

Nick Knight first made a name for himself with his book of photographs titled “Skinheads” in 1982. He rose through the fashion ranks, and eventually caught the eyes of Yohji Yamamoto and Peter Saville. Soon after, he shot campaigns for Alexander McQueen, Dior, and Yves Saint Laurent. In November 2000, he launched SHOWstudio.com, a site dedicated to cutting edge fashion media (which was previously featured on PROVOKR). SHOWstudio has been a huge contribution to the fashion world in its envelope-pushing nature and influential contributors.

 

10. Mariano Vivanco

While working for “Dazed and Confused” in 2001, Mariano Vivanco met uber-stylist Nicola Formichetti and began collaborating on numerous iconic fashion covers (Details, Elle, and Vogue just to name a few). He’s published seven books for Dolce & Gabanna and even has three portraits in the National Portrait Gallery of Lily Cole, Nicola Formichetti, and Rafael Bonachella. His numerous shots of celebrities early in their careers led to 2008’s “Ninety Five Chapel Market,” and his close relationship with Formichetti led to his amazing photographs of Lady Gaga for i-D Magazine’s “Exhibitionist Issue.”