9 Famous Celebrity Photographers to Follow in 2024

I have always liked to look at photos captured by celebrity photographers. It made me curious about the people who took them.

As a beginner, I believe that famous professionals can teach us a lot. This is why I wanted to learn more about their experience and discover what handy tips they used to capture the iconic portraits of Justin Bieber, Princess Diana, Uma Thurman, and other famous people.

Leibovitz remains the most famous photographer across the globe, as she took plenty of memorable photos for the Rolling Stones, Vanity Fair, and Vogue.

I always get inspired by her work and hope that her example will help me discover how to make my photos stand out.

If you are into celebrities, you must have seen her photos of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West. By some estimates, she is paid $100,000 to $250,000 per day for her work.

Martin Schoeller is a highly popular celebrity photographer with a recognizable creative style. He specializes in close-up portraits and knows how to capture raw emotions and show the personality of his subjects. He excels in his ability to achieve the perfect lighting and uses neutral backgrounds to emphasize the subject's features and facial expressions.

His unique style and work approach allows him to capture intimate photos and grasp the essence of every person he works with. This famous celebrity photographer took pictures of Angelina Jolie, Barack Obama, Meryl Streep, Jay-Z, George Clooney, and other the most photographed people in the world.

Known as one of the most influential portrait photographers of the XXth century, Richard Avedon specialized in fashion and portrait photography and took photos in a distinct minimalist style.

Unlike other celebrity portrait photographers, he preferred to use a white background to showcase the personality of his models and capture their genuine emotions.

Avedon took portrait photos of the most prominent people in the world. In his portfolio, you can find the most iconic photos of Marilyn Monroe. He was able to masterfully capture her vulnerability and sadness.

Besides, he worked with Audrey Hepburn and took photos that demonstrated her elegance. His photos of The Beatles remain one of the most iconic pictures of the popular band.

The celebrity photographer Herb Ritts worked with the most famous people and fashion brands in the 1980s and 1990s. He took memorable photos of many supermodels, including Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, and Christy Turlington. Besides, he worked with such celebrities as Michael Jackson, Elizabeth Taylor, and Tom Cruise.

This fashion photographer became famous after taking a portrait photo of Madonna in 1986 that was used on the cover of her "True Blue" album. This picture became one of the most iconic photos of pop singers.

Being one of the most famous LA celebrity photographers, he directed many music clips, including Madonna’s "Cherish," Janet Jackson’s "Love Will Never Do (Without You)," and Chris Isaak’s "Wicked Game."

His works gained widespread recognition due to their unique style. He fully embraced a creative approach, which helped him become one of the most influential visual artists of his time.

Over the course of his career, Mario Testino took photos of almost all top celebrities, including Kate Moss, Brad Pitt, and Madonna. The portrait photos of Princess Diana he took for Vanity Fair in 1997 have propelled him to fame.

Because of them, he became recognized as one of the top portrait photographers. He decided to capture the princess in an intimate setting, which allowed him to take photos with a candid feel.

Testino remains popular in the fashion industry as well. He has worked with reputable editors and designers and contributed to the marketing campaigns launched by luxury brands, including Gucci, Burberry, Versace, and Dolce & Gabbana.

Mario knows how to capture the essence of glamour life. His services are often requested by fashion magazines. His works are often featured in editorial spreads.

Anton Corbijn is a well-known professional who worked on clips for Depeche Mode, U2, and Bryan Adams. Working as a stage photographer, Corbijn became famous after he took photos of the Dutch musician Herman Brood.

Remaining one of the top celebrity photographers, he keeps capturing stunning photos. Anton has already worked with such famous people as Bob Dylan, Miles Davis, Robert De Niro, Robert Plant, Stephen Hawking, Bruce Springsteen, Kate Bush, and Annie Lennox.

Jose Villa is a famous celebrity wedding photographer best known for his portraits of Jessica Simpson, Aerin Lauder, Lara Spencer, Brooke Burke, and Hillary Kerr. He focuses on important details to bring his point across in the most effective way.

His focus on composition and his masterful usage of natural light allows him to demonstrate high professionalism when capturing photos.

Jose prefers taking fine art and editorial photos when doing wedding photography. Due to his high professionalism, he often gets invited to high-profile weddings and works with celebrities.

His classic approach allows him to capture lovely romantic photos, which explains his popularity among clients who want to get exquisite wedding photos with a timeless feel.

This photographer remains famous for his works across many industries, including fashion, advertising, and entertainment. Born in Australia, Russell James became the top photographer at Victoria’s Secret.

You may have seen his stunning photos in popular magazines, including W, Marie Claire, GQ, Vogue, and Sports Illustrated. He took stylish pictures of top-level celebrities like Kendall Jenner, Tyra Banks, Heidi Klym, Naomi Campbell, Erin Wasson, and Gisele Bündchen.

Far from being satisfied with his already impressive accomplishments, the photographer became one of twelve recipients of the Hasselblad Masters Award in 2007. His services are in high demand, as he often directs clips, art films, and commercials for Victoria’s Secret and Gillette.

Now famous for his iconic photos of celebrity musicians, Mark Seliger first worked as the chief photographer of Rolling Stone Magazine. He spent 10 years there, which allowed him to gain valuable experience.

This highest-paid photographer is based in the US. Considered one of the most famous celebrity photographers, he gained prominence for his portrait photos. They were featured on 188 covers of the Celebrities magazine.

He took photos of President Barack Obama, Dalai Lama, Jennifer Lopez, Susan Sarandon, Mick Jagger, LL Cool J, Keith Richards, Lenny Kravitz, and Tony Bennett, among many others.