He is one of the world's most sought-after and celebrated contemporary fashion photographers. He came to London from Peru in the late 70s and made his name in the most prestigious fashion magazines such as Vogue and Vanity Fair.
"The life of a photographer is nomadic and uncertain, it helps to have some things, people and places you can be sure of and London has given me all of these." Mario Testino
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| Kate Moss and Mario Testino, source: taschen.com |
He has also contributed to the imagery of leading fashion houses such as Burberry, Gucci, Versace among many others and published nine books of his work, the latest about his greatest muse, Kate Moss.
He first worked with her at the beginning of the 90s in Paris when she was 17 years old and he continues to do so more frequently than with any other model. He was the official photographer of her wedding to Jamie Hince and some of the shots were published by American Vogue.
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| Photographed by Mario Testino, source: vogue.com |
"I have grown up with him photographing me; we have grown up together in a sense. The trust between us means that we are free with each other, he does not trap me in a set way of being, we find the picture together." Kate Moss
Many galleries have exhibited his photographs including the National Portrait Gallery in 2002 with the renowned "Portraits", which toured to other cities across the world.
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| Diana Princess of Wales photographed by Mario Testino |
Mario Testino has also received royal commissions, who can forget his portrait of Diana Princess of Wales? A Testino portrait is unmistakable, he always captures people in their best light and has a penetrating ability to turn a face into a legend.
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| Claudia Schiffer photographed by Mario Testino (German Vogue June 2008) source: vogue.de |
He is not indifferent to what's going on in the world and those in need, contributing to different charity organisations such as Elton John Aids Foundation, Aid for Aids, Save the Children and Women to Women among many others.
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| Isabella Blow photographed by Mario Testino, source: npg.org.uk |
He cares about people and one of his greatest pleasures in life is to make them laugh. Maybe this is the secret behind his magic, he connects with them on a deeper level and somehow brings out their inner self.
Today he celebrates his 57th birthday.
Other fashion birthdays:
Donna Karan
Karl Lagerfeld