The most famous Vogue photographers
These famous photographers took different paths, but all landed at "Vogue" magazine, where they achieved international acclaim. Here are 10 of the world's most famous fashion photographers.
The king of fashion
Karl Lagerfeld, born in Hamburg in 1933, was one of the most influential names in fashion in the late 20th century. Since 1983, he's been chief designer of the French label Chanel. But he's also established himself as a highly accoladed fashion photographer.
French photo talent
Patrick Demarchelier has worked with supermodels like Linda Evangelista, but his perhaps biggest career moment was taking the official portrait of Lady Diana as the first non-British photographer permitted to do so. Demarchelier is one of the most in-demand fashion and commercial photographers in the world and his work has graced the cover of "Vogue" many times.
A knight with a camera
British photographer Sir Cecil Walter Hardy Beaton began his career shooting portraits. He created cover shots for "Vogue" as early as the 1930s, and in 1937, he photographed the British royal family. Queen Elizabeth II knighted him in 1972. Beaton, who is known for his glamorous portraits of fashion and film personalities, died in England in 1980.
Photos from the front
American photographer Elizabeth "Lee" Miller took some of the most memorable fashion shots of the 20th century. Also a military correspondent for the US Army, she earned her stripes documenting the Nazi attack on London and the Allied landing in Normandy during World War II. Before the war, she also worked as a model. In 1977, Miller died of cancer at her home in England.
The art of photography
Irving Penn is also among the most significant photographers of the 20th century. He was born into a Russian-Jewish family in the US and studied art in Philadelphia. Since the 1940s, he's shot for "Vogue" and made a name for himself as a fashion and portrait photographer. Later on, he also went into still life photography. Penn died in Manhattan in 2009 at the age of 92.
Self-taught success story
After David Bailey served in the Royal Air Force, he went into photography, teaching himself the art. He was later contracted by "Vogue" and photographed countless film, fashion and music stars, including Cat Stevens and Alice Cooper. Like many other top British photographers, he also took portraits of the royal family. He resides in London.
A black-and-white career
Herb Ritts, who is known for his black-and-white works, was also self-taught. His breakthrough came in 1977 with a photo of Richard Gere. In the 80s and 90s, he worked for many of the major fashion magazines, including "Vogue." He was open about his homosexuality and being HIV-positive. He died from the disease in 2002.
Insider tip
Outside of the fashion world, Mario Testino is not that well known, but inside, he's a celebrity. Many of his works, including those for "Vogue" or "Vanity Fair," are among the most famous fashion pictures of all time. Testino was born in Lima, but now lives in London.
In the footsteps of Vincent van Gogh
Peter Lindbergh was born in 1944 in what is now Poland, but grew up in Duisburg in western Germany. He studied painting - van Gogh was his role model - and later turned to photography. In 1978, Lindbergh moved to Paris and worked first for "Vogue," then for other international magazines. He predominantly worked in black-and-white. Today, he lives in Paris, New York and Arles.
Revealing the process
Nick Knight not only photographed celebrities, but also founded a prize-winning platform for online fashion communication: showstudio.com. On it, Knight shows "the entire creative process - from conception to completion." Knight is one of the many photographers featured in the "Vogue 100" exhibition, which runs through May 22 in the London National Portrait Gallery.