Gone are the days when you would have to visit an art gallery to see some stunning photographs and works of art. Now, because of social media, fashion photography is accessible to anyone who has an Instagram account. What's more, you don't have to go to a catwalk or buy glossy magazines to see the latest creations of fashion designers and brands. Here are some of the best fashion photographers of today that you can follow on Instagram. You're welcome!
First, you should know that fashion photography is vague, as it is first and foremost planned to sell and promote clothes. This kind of work represents, on one hand, the talent and craftsmanship of a photographer and on the other hand, the work of fashion designers, art directors, stylists, and makeup artists. These photos require multiple talents combined and they are usually commissioned by diverse publications or fashion brands. You might have heard about Annie Leibovitz, Richard Avedon, or Helmut Newton. They are three of the most famous fashion photographers of all time, contributing to the constant upgrading of the genre, making it excellent for being displayed in galleries and showrooms. Today, fashion photography emerges in two formats: the fashion editorial - which can be a sequence of images printed in magazines and published on social media. Secondly, it can be done as a promotion, in direct association with a brand. The following fashion photographers are documenting some popular haute couture fashion but also street fashion, two styles that are growing in the last years. Get ready to follow them and learn about the latest trends.
Lou Escobar - @lou__escobar
A photographer dedicated to her work, truly unique in style, Lou Escobar shoots like she wants to showcase an electric journey into the unknown, with the help of her supporters. Her photographs are packed with colorful personalities captured at dinner parties, motels, and empty roads at the night. She admits that she draws her inspiration and is influenced by the cinema, especially by David Lynch and Quentin Tarantino. She is a self-taught artist and she has also traveled to Mexico, Cuba, and all over the US.
So far, she has had collaborations with Ray Ban, Diesel, and other famous brands, leading to more collaborations with fashion publications like the Schön magazine. She admits that not only editorials, but all kinds of partnerships are adding up to her portfolio of experience and profession. But she likes working with magazines because she can use more creativity, as fashion shoots can be more restrictive. For magazines, she can do her magic through storytelling.
Victor Demarchelier - @victordemarchelier
No matter what project he's working on - like taking photos of Natalia Vodianova for Dior or capturing his beautiful wife, Héloïse Guérin, a French top model for Vogue, Victor has a thing for light. Light is a key subject in every work he's doing because he's looking for unique elegance and timelessness in it. Demarchelier was born in the United States and he studied art and economics at Vassar College in New York. Patrick Demarchelier, his father, is also a fashion photographer - and a quite famous one. Of course, Victor inherited the talent and the know-how from his parent, so he debuted into this fashion universe quite young. Since then, he has worked for Harper’s Bazaar, Antidote, and Vogue but also for major fashion houses like Calvin Klein, Dior, and D&G.
Valentin Fabre - @valentinfabre
Valentin Fabre is one of those new photographers that can get your attention very quickly, with photographs you cannot forget. His aesthetic and rainbowy pictures are inhabited by personalities wearing metallic costumes. He also likes to play with light, shadows and blurs.
So far, Fabre has collaborated with Hyperbeast, Adidas, and Harper’s Bazaar among many other brands and unique creators. His work is renowned for its strong composition and the colors he uses, and he admits that one of his greatest inspirations has been the painter David Hockney. From him, he got the idea of playing with colors, especially bright ones. He states also being influenced by Tim Burton, and we can see why. The young photographer reminds viewers about what fashion photography really is: a collaboration in its complexity between the stylist, photographer, makeup artist, hairdresser, and set designer. This collaboration can teach you a lot from other professionals' experiences, enhancing your own expertise and value and even giving you more reasons to be inspired.
Other famous fashion photographers are Pamela Hanson (with an outstanding list of clients that contains Vogue, L’Oreal, and Victoria’s Secret), Zhang Jingna (one of today’s leading female fashion photographers), and Daniel Jackson (who worked with models like Gigi Hadid and Doutzen Kroes).