15 Famous Portrait Photographers That Will Make You Inspired
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Do you find photography interesting? Are you a photographer? If that is so then which photo has inspired you to join the photography industry? For me, it was my grandfather’s picture taken by his friend. It was a picture of him jumping into a swimming pool from quite a height. I feel mesmerized every time I see the picture. The angle, the portrait shot, and the black and white aesthetic image really piqued my heart to think…hmm… why am I not pursuing photography as my career? So, I started researching famous portrait photographers to mesmerize myself even more.
Since I was a student of literature, I am obsessed with stories. I would run over hills and mountains just to get bold stories that could be a part of history. And there are many photographers over history, at present, and rising photographers who are telling stories through their work throughout times. So, let’s learn about some famous portrait photographers whose photography has inspired others and made their nameplates in the history book.
World Famous Portrait Photographers with Their Famous Photographs
Inspirations can be taken from anywhere in this world. And when the topic is about famous photographers, we have to stretch the radar globally. There are so many photographers to mention that if I start mentioning each and everyone's name, I have written a sequel-maintained book. Since it’s not possible to mention everyone. I’ll just mention my favorite photographers with their famous clicked pictures. I’ll also be explaining why I love that specific photo of that photographer.
Famous Portrait Photographers from History
Portraits have always held a unique place in the realm of photography, capturing not just faces but stories, and emotions, and sometimes even shaping history itself. Here, we delve into the works of some of the most famous portrait photographers from history, each with their own distinct style and contribution to the medium.
1. Robert Capa (1913-1954), The Falling Soldier (1936)
Robert Capa is the name that comes to my mind when I think of history-creating photography. "The Falling Soldier" is one of his most famous photographs. This picture was taken during the Spanish Civil War. In the word or literature, this is a moment of tragedy, the bravery and sacrifice of those who fought in the war are frozen in time. This single image not only holds the illustration of one soldier’s sacrifice, but it also represents the sacrifice of the soldiers. Capa’s ability to show the brutality of war through his lens still hits us today.
Robert Capa is a Hungarian-American photographer and journalist known as "The Greatest War Photographer" was born on October 22 1913 and was killed in the Vietnam War by stepping on a landmine. He was a wickless photographer who never hesitated to risk his life and went to the war zone.
2. Dorothea Lange (1895-1965), Migrant Mother (1936)
In the middle of the Great Depression Dorothea Lange turned her lens to the migrant workers and gave a face to the struggles of the time. "Migrant Mother" is a picture that silently expresses motherhood in a horrific situation.
For 60 years, WWF has worked to hep people and nature thrive. As the world's leading conservation organization, WWF works in nearly 100 countries. At every level, we collaborate with people around the world to develop and deliver innovative solutions that protect communities, wildlife, and the places in which they live.
- Dorothea Lange
Florence Owens Thompson and her children were in a California pea-pickers camp. Lange’s documentary approach brought to light the human cost of economic struggles powerfully reminded the struggles of the marginalized.
Dorothea Lange is an American photographer and photojournalist. She is best known for her photography during her depression-era work. She played a vital role in the development of documentary photography. She is popular for her outstanding work during the Great Depression era. Dorothea Lange died because of cancer at the age of 70.
3. Arthur Hjalmar Sasse (1899-1991), Albert Einstein (1951)
I don’t know about the others but this exact image is for sure something that you have seen before. Especially, if you are a Gen Z then I can see you are very familiar with this image. It’s famous in various memes.
This candid shot of Albert Einstein, sticking out his tongue is a nice change from the traditional portrait by Arthur Hjalmar is still an iconic photo. It was taken on Einstein’s 72nd birthday. I keep this image on the list of famous portrait photographers and their photography to lighten up the seriousness of this blog. Also, this is the lighter side of one of the greatest minds in history.
Keeping this aside I really want to admire Sasse’s ability to catch his subject in a candid moment. He is an expert in his game. His photography skills are still icons for many growing photographers.
4. Sam Shaw (1912-1999), Marilyn Monroe (1954)
Sam Shaw was Hollywood's first independent still photographer who was a close friend of Marilyn Monroe. This picture of Marilyn Monroe is a history-making posture for many Marilyn fans. This pose and photo have been recreated by many over the years.
This picture and pose were not an accident or any kind of candid. It was scripted. Yes, it was. Sam Shaw clicked the image on the film Seven Year Itch in 1954. This iconic moment is known as 'Flying Dress'. Immortalizing her iconic white dress moment over a subway grate. The photographs of Marilyn exude sensuality and vulnerability. Now it’s a cultural icon.
Sam Shaw was an American photographer. He was born in Manhattan. He was famous for his photographs of films and movie stars. He built his career by portraying talents for various covers. And what a success in that. He died at the age of 87 in Westwood, New Jersey, United States.
5. Kevin Carter (1960-1994), The vulture and the little girl (1993)
In my previous blog Inspiring Famous Photojournalists’ Photo Stories, I mentioned “The Vulture and The Little Girl” and the traumatic story behind the picture. Well, I would not talk about the behind story that I already have talked about previously. Since I noticed some of the readers want to know the after-story, I would talk about what happened next.
The photograph was first published in a black-white theme on 26 March 1993 in the New York Times. But then neither the picture caption nor the article mentioned anything about what happened to that girl afterward. That made a lot of people concerned about her. New York Times were receiving several phone calls and letters to find out about the girl. Then in just four days, the New York Times took a very out-of-the-box step and published an editor's note about the girl, which stated that the girl was doing better. They wrote, "that she recovered enough to resume her trek after the vulture was chased away." Also, that following week, the New York Times released a colored version of that picture.
Cavin Carter was the legendary photographer of the image. And a letter he committed suicide at the age of 33 years old. However, no incident could cover the loose of Kevin Carter.
Famous Photographers of the Present
We were talking about the legends of history who have contributed to the photography world. And I am highly impressed and influenced by the legends of photography. However, the legends from history are not the only ones who impressed me or motivated me to get into photography. There are many living legends as well whose photography will definitely make you think twice about the world. Let me present to you my favorite photographers of modern times.
6. Sebastião Salgado, GENESIS (2013)
Starting with the jaw-dropping image captor Sebastião Salgado. Black is my favorite color and love any time in black and white. And Sebastião Salgado is the master of portraying everything in Black and White.
This picture is from the book named “GENESIS” also by the photographer Sebastião Salgado. Just check out his other works for this book. The pictures will mesmerize you. GENESIS is a project where Salgado gave his eight years of hard work. Truly it made the project a masterpiece. Salgado showcases our beautiful planet with a pinch of how our actions are affecting it directly and indirectly. The message of this project was, that we must preserve what we have now. This book is very powerful since Salgado had over 30 trips to different places of the world to capture the best of the best to create this book.
Sebastião Salgado is a Brazilian photojournalist and social documentary photographer. For the sack of photography, he has traveled to over 120 countries and grabbed some amazing stories in his photography. He was born on February 8, 1944. and his full name is Sebastião Ribeiro Salgado Júnior.
7. Steve McCurry, Bicycles on Train (1983)
Steve McCurry. Heard the name before? You might have if you are a regular reader of Color Clipping’s Blog. Cause Mr. Steve McCurry has been featured before in photographers list. And why should I? He is one of the best out there.
No, we are not talking about the Afghan Girl today, since I have already talked about the incident and the after story as well in my previous blog, today I'll be focusing on "Bicycles on Train, West Bengal, India". Steve McCurry is obsessed with the colorful. His works are focused on culture, tradition contemporary etc. You will see many color combinations in McCurry's work which make his photography stand out.
Steve McCurry is an iconic figure in the world of photography. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He studied at Pennsylvania State University and went to work for a newspaper. He is mostly known for his world-famous work Afghan Girl.
8. Annie Leibovitz, Miley Cyrus (2008)
Can’t feel the global icon just like that. Annie Leibovitz is considered to be the world’s best photographer. Many people admire her work and you will be amazed by her as well.
As a teenager what was your favorite Disney TV show? Mine was Hanna Montana. Miley looked so innocent and cute back then. She was a cutie pie to everyone. But if you look at her now, she is a badass woman who doesn’t hesitate to speak up and show her bold side to the audience. But have you ever imagined where all of this started from?? The drastic transformation’s first step was taken in 2008. In 2008 Annie Leibovitz pictured Miley Cyrus in an off-white satin bed sheet only covering her torso. That creates a sensation among the viewers. Some also blamed Leibovitz because of Miley's Transformation. However, she apologized for taking this portrait of Miley afterward.
Leibovitz is an American portrait photographer. She is one of the best portrait photographers. She became famous globally after he took John Lenno's photo just 5 hours before his assassination. The photo became the cover of 'Rolling Stone' magazine. She was born on October 2, 1949.
9. Mario Testino, Diana, Princess of Wales (1997)
Who doesn’t know Mario Testino? He has various remarkable works worth the hype that he carries nowadays. Take this image for an example. This is Mario Testino’s most famous photo.
The image became famous because the image was taken in 1997. It was the year Princess Diana died. The dress that she was wearing and the images that she was posing for were to promote a charity auction. Just after 2 months of the photoshoot, she died in a car accident. The photoshoot was done for the Vanity Fair.
The life of Mario was not easy as well. Mario is not only a photographer. He is a creative director, guest editor, collaborator, art collector, and many more. His professional work has been questioned many times and even got rumored accusations of sexual harassment and assault. He has a controversial life. But that couldn’t stop him from delivering good stuff.
10. Lisa Kristine, Freedom-Ghana (2010)
You might know Lisa Kristina for some revolutionary photography over the years that she has done to stop the injustice that happened regarding slavery.
The baby in this picture is named Kofi. He was kept as a slave at the age of 4/5 on the Lake Volta. Lake Volta is the largest man-made lake in the world. He was rescued and was sheltered to be rehabilitated from slavery. Lisa went to the shelter and found Kofi struggling to pick up a water bucket and get it above their head. When he finally poured the cool stream over his body, Lisa clicked this picture. Isn't the picture so innocent in nature?
Lisa Kristine is an American humanitarian photographer and also an activist and active speaker. Her photography has drawn the support of charities and humanitarian organizations. Not only that Lisa is also a member of Explorer's Club. Kristine has achieved the 2013 Lucie Humanitarian Award.
Rising Stars/ Upcoming Portrait Photographers
After the list of history and modern-time photographers, it’s time to highlight some upcoming photographers. The future of photography. Some so many upcoming photographers have stepped into their field for the first time. This list of the upcoming great photographers is based on my personal opinion. So, don’t forget to let me know who is your favorite one. Or your assumption of who will shine in the future.
11. Bella Kotak
I’m starting off the list of upcoming legends with the Bella Kotak. There is a unique touch of personality in Bella Kotak’s work of art.
If you are someone who loves Disney movies and aesthetic pictures then her photography will melt your heart. There is a sense of royalty blended with colors in her art. For me, she has created a new world that looks so magical. Mostly, she pulls up beautiful floral costumes.
Bella Kotak is a world-famous photographer who creates breathtakingly dreamy photos in fine art and fashion. She makes a blend of reality with fantasy. She had studied architecture and design which helped her to go into detail to define every single detail.
12. Justin Hogan
Back to my love for black and white-themed photos. I already told previously how much I love black & white photographs. Based on that and the aesthetic, next on my list is Justin Hogan.
Justin Hogan is similar to Sebastião Salgado. Conveying deep messages within a very subtle and smooth picture. But to me, Justin Hogan's picture messages are more hidden. You can feel the depth of every image.
Justin Hogan is a world-wide known photographer, cinematographer as well as a director. He loves to call himself a super fan of sports. He lives in Los Angeles, CA. His photographs carry his passion.
13. Andi Elloway
This generation leaves on Instagram more than they leave in real life. Celebrities live a luxurious life on Instagram and also some people get paid for each and every image they post on Instagram. Now, I’m talking about the Instagram picture-perfect photographer Andi Elloway.
Andi Elloway is known for her talent in Instagram-perfect photographs. Her photographs will surely grab your attention and keep your attention for a quite long time. If you visit her Instagram, you will see that her Instagram page, you will notice every picture is very different from one another. Yet each has a different beauty on its own. Sometimes she plays with colors, sometimes she goes black and white, and sometimes the images are clicked from a fashion perspective. A photographer needs that art to capture beauty through her photography. and Andi has that.
Andi Elloway is an American fashion photographer and lifestyle photographer creating a sensation on the internet. She is becoming famous for her incredible knowledge of photography and fashion. She lives in West Hollywood, California, United States.
14. Caroline Mackintosh
Emphasizing natural beauty and aesthetics is something we should learn from Caroline Mackintosh. Caroline is truly bold and pulls off an unusual style of showcasing African life. If you are someone who doesn’t get bothered with nude photographs then Caroline’s style might be something that you feel artistic.
Take this photo as an example of portraying the art of Africa. This is a picture that makes you look twice to understand. The outfits that the models are wearing here are designed by an African designer for an African magazine. The posture and model's expression also made the image look more outstanding than others.
Caroline Mackintosh is not only a photographer. She is an artist. She is a writer, and a music performer, and also has her foot in visuals and films. She showcased her talents at a very young. She started her work with her dad's camera. This process makes her passion grow for photography and evolve herself towards landscape photography. Now, she is working with world-known renowned photographers.
15. Nadav Kander
Nadav Kander loves to play with irony. His photographs talked about the opposite objects that an object has. Like shamelessly shameful or ease with unease and similar topics. He portrays beauty with classy destruction.
This picture was taken for the Grand Establishment Thermal in Vichy, France until 29th September 2024. Rosamund Pike is already a big name in English movies. She is known for her amazing acting skills. Portraying from the literature-inspired movies to modern-day thrillers, she nailed every single character. Nadav finds uniquely beautiful objects in simplicity. He works with lights and forms in a way that can only be thought of by him. Check out his creations to have detailed ideas about his work.
Nadav was born in Israel. Later on, his family shifted to South Africa and settled there. The lifestyle of the natives inspires Nadav so much. He is not only a photographer; he is an artist and a director as well. If you are an upcoming photographer then he is definitely something that you should get inspiration from. So, we have listed the underrated photographers who deserve more popularity than any other. I tried to cover the best of the best photographers in this blog. However, there are way too many photographers are out of the frame. So, if I have missed any of your favorite photographers then do let me know. I will try to cover them in my next blog.
Wrapping up
In the end, after exploring the works of amazing 15 famous portrait photographers hopefully is powerful enough to give some motivation. This blog not only reveals their artistic talent but also their ability to capture the essence of beauty in nature. From the timeless black-and-white elegance of Robert Capa to the attractive and different way of Annie Leibovitz, each photographer has left an indelible mark on the art of portraiture.
Whether it's the raw image or the retouched brilliance of the artist, they nailed each inch of it. These photographers have shaped the way we perceive and understand the world around us. If you are someone who also wants to pave your path in photography but still struggles with photo editing and retouching then you should take the help of experts, like Color Clipping. With the help of the experts, you will also get the path of success soon. See your next blog, with another interesting topic! Sayonara.
Anika Wahab
Hello, it's Anika, Content Executive from Color Clipping Ltd with a devotion to contributing my skills and knowledge more simply. Keep learning and growing with us.
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