His images for these periodicals reflected his understanding that fashion masterworks are best appreciated in a wider aesthetic context, be it a starkly beautiful natural landscape, a sublime work of art or architecture, or a well-designed bar or restaurant. His work also graced the covers of Life and Rolling Stone, but it is the world’s top fashion magazines that provided his primary stage. In 1992, Liz Tilberis, newly named editor in chief of Harper’s Bazaar, brought him to the magazine for what became a 12-year partnership, which he kicked off with a stunning cover photo of model Linda Evangelista.ĭemarchelier was responsible for shooting numerous high-profile print campaigns for scores of designers, including Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent, Louis Vuitton and Dior. In 1989, Diana, Princess of Wales, who had seen and admired his work for Vogue, asked Demarchelier to be her personal photographer, making him the first ever non-British official photographer to the royal family. Soon, his own work was appearing in Marie Claire, Elle and 20 Ans, among other publications. In 1975, having developed a reputation in France, he followed his girlfriend to New York, where he freelanced as a fashion photographer, assisting the likes of Jacque Guilbert and Henri Cartier-Bresson. In the 1960s, after working for a photography lab printing newspaper photos, Demarchelier began assisting professional photographers in the fashion world, including Hans Feurer, who shot for Vogue magazine.

Born in France in 1943, he received an Eastman Kodak camera from his stepfather for his 17th birthday and, without any formal training, taught himself to develop film and make photographic prints. Patrick Demarchelier was one of the most influential fashion photographers of his generation, contributing images regularly to Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar, including many covers.

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