Esteemed fashion photographer Patrick Demarchelier has died, as announced by a post on his Instagram account. "It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Patrick Demarchelier on 31 March 2022, at the age of 78," it reads. "He is survived by his wife Mia, his three sons Gustaf, Arthur, Victor and three grandchildren."
Renowned for creating chic celebrity imagery with a fashion angle, Demarchelier shot icons the likes of supermodel Naomi Campbell, Beyoncé, Madonna as well as actress Lupita Nyong’o. He also led campaigns for luxury brands such as Chanel, Dior, Yves Saint Laurent and Carolina Herrera—creating evocative imagery that were simple but polished.
View this post on Instagram
A visual match made in heaven was formed when Princess Diana appointed Demarchelier as her personal photographer in 1989. This made him the first-ever foreign photographer hired by the royal family. Their partnership became a permanent one, with Demarchelier’s photographic style helping to accentuate the elegance that the late Princess Diana exuded.
Arguably his most iconoclastic work, his cover for the December 1991 issue of Vogue featured the princess herself. The soft lighting spoke volumes about her sophisticated demeanour. And a simple, straight-on angle gave the viewer agency to focus on her features, providing an unprecedented close-up study of every intricate detail of Diana’s face.
View this post on Instagram
There's only perfection in every space you look and that is exactly what Demarchelier excelled in: making reality look like perfection and perfection look like reality.
