Who is the Greatest Fashion Photographer?

There is a lengthy list of potential for the best fashion photographer. However, we have managed to narrow it down to five of our favourite digital artists who have specialised in fashion photography at some point during their careers. 

5 Best Fashion Photographers and Biggest Names in Celebrity Photography

fashion photographer

Annie Leibovitz

Annie Leibovitz (B. 1949) is a famous photographer known for her celebrity portraits. She has stated in many interviews that she does not classify herself as a fashion photographer. However, much of her work could fall under the umbrella of fashion images, especially considering her career history. 

Before becoming one of the greatest portrait artists and top model photographers, Leibovitz studied at the San Francisco Art Institute. She then went on to begin her with Rolling Stone Magazine before moving on to Vanity Fair and Vogue. 

Annie Leibovitz also has a book titled Wonderland, which captures 340 photographs, including her work from the magazines mentioned earlier and her celebrity work with names such as Sarah Jessica Parker, Lily Cole and Lady Gaga. 

David LaChapelle

David LaChapelle (B. 1963) is a featured artist on the Imitate Modern Diary due to his fascinating photography career. 

His incredible work ethic is arguably a result of his difficult upbringing and challenging adult life. After studying at the North Carolina School of the Arts, he persuades his photography career. LaChapelle then went on to work under Andy Warhol and other celebrities in the industry. 

LaChapelle is not strictly and solely one of America’s most well-known fashion portrait photographers. Alongside his photography career, he is also a videographer, director and celebrity portrait artist, and he has undoubtedly contributed a considerable amount over his long-standing career. 

David Bailey

You could use David Bailey photography as a synonym for best fashion photography as David Bailey (B. 1938) is an easy choice for one of the most outstanding British fashion photographers. 

Bailey grew up in East Ham, London, and admits to having struggled in the school system due to his (at the time, undiagnosed) dyslexia and dyspraxia. As a result, Bailey left school at 15 years old and eventually found himself in the Royal Air Force in Singapore. During this episode of his life, he found himself practising photography and was then inspired to pursue this as his career. 

Bailey is known for his rock and roll lifestyle and his photography of celebrity icons, including The Beatles, Andy Warhol and many more. He has also shot memorable work to capture the life of the swinging sixties and the celebrity culture during the peak of his career in the 1960s and 70s. 

His work has also been exhibited in major museums worldwide, and he even shot around 800 photographs for Vogue in just a single 12 month period. In addition, the Imitate Modern and the Tasche websites now feature some of his work so that you can see his collection of top model photography for yourself. 

Daniel Sachon 

Among other modern fashion photographers represented by Imitate Modern is British artist and director Daniel Sachon (B. 1995). Of course, the previously mentioned photographers have long-stanging, international careers as some of the top fashion photographers. However, we would love to highlight Daniel’s work as an emerging name in this space. 

Despite having youth on his side, Sachon is well known for creating a sense of timelessness and nostalgia in his work and often captures feminine energies, glamour and allure in his portrait photographs. 

You can view some of his current work, including his series, using various well-known dog breeds on his Instagram portfolio

Mario Testino

Peruvian-born fashion photographer Mario Testino (B. 1954) is one of the world’s most influential figures in this space. And a spokesperson for The Observer even commended Testino as ‘the world’s most prolific magazine and fashion photographer’. 

Testino has worked with the likes of Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell and Cindy Crawford. And like our represented photographer David Bailey, Mario Testino has also worked with Queen Elizabeth II. In 2003, Testino’s photographs were featured on countless magazine covers, including Vogue Paris, French Elle and Harper’s Bazaar UK, as well as over 100 advertising campaigns for designers such as Louis Vuitton and Dior.

Along with his eye-widening career, Mario won the Vogue/CFDA Fashion Photographer of the Year Award for his work with Burberry and Calvin Klein that year. He also followed up this honour by taking home another CFDA award two years later for his work with Chanel.

Additional to his incredible career as a photographer, Testino has also opened a museum and worked as a creative director, among other outstanding achievements. 

More Acclaimed Photographers

These photographers are among the fashion photographers who have made their mark on the industry by creating images that speak volumes about their subjects. Still, there are also various types of photographers that you may be interested in learning about. So be sure to read the other diary entries on the Imitate Modern website for more information. 

Connect with these Works by the Incredible Fashion Photographers

These fashion photographers are all unique and memorable for their talents and archive of incredible work that will be in art history books for decades to come. In addition, these five celebrity and fashion photographers often challenge societal norms and evoke creative thinking with their thought-provoking and iconic work. 

So if you’re interested in viewing or even owning a copy of the photographs from these incredible names, browse through the collection of work available on the Imitate Modern online shop. We specialise in working with both world-renowned photographers and emerging talent to connect art enthusiasts with pieces that can inspire them, transform their spaces and allow you to own a snapshot of fashion history. 

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