There aren’t many magazines nor celebrities that MarioTestino hasn’t photographed so it isn’t surprising that he is regarded as oneof the most sought after fashion photographers. Born in Peru in 1954 where he studied Economics at theUniversidad del Pacifico before coming to London in 1976 where he began topursue a career in photography. Whilst living in a flat in an abandoned hospital, he was selling portfolios to hopeful models for £25 and studying photography.
With an obvious talent his career has since sky rocketed and hehasn’t looked back. Since the start of his career he has had a number ofexhibitions including an exhibition, “Portraits” in 2002 at the NationalPortrait Gallery, London which then visited Edinburgh, Milan and Tokyo This exhibition really cemented his reputation as a fantastic photographer.Unsurprisingly, he has received a number of awards as well including the Rodeo Drive Walk of Style award and a Doctor Emeritus from the University of the Artsin London.
It can be difficult to catch Mario on land as he isfrequently jetting to shoots across the world for a range of publicationsincluding Vogue, Vanity Fair, Harpers Bazaar as well as shoots for fashion housesincluding Gucci, Missoni and Sonia Rykiel. He has also become the favouriteroyal photographer, known for his portrait of the late Diana, Princess of Wales,for a Vanity Fair cover. Since then Mario has also received commissions tophotograph Prince Harry, The Duchess of Cornwall and Her Majesty Queen Rania ofIsrael. Known for creating photographs that capture elegance and place them inreal life settings, it is little wonder he has become a firm favourite withcelebrities and royals alike.
Alongside the fashion photography he has also becomeinvolved in a range of charity work. This has included donating to charitiessuch as the Naked Heart Foundation, Aid for Aids and the Elton John AidsFoundation. This work gained him an honour in 2008 and was awarded the HeroAward by Aid for Aids. In 2008 he worked in Peru with Save the Children andvisited the El Salvador clinic which was built for children with tuberculosis,using sales of his portraits of Princess Diana. Mario has in some ways created some massive changes in thefashion industry, by snubbing the supermodels and their huge payment demandsfor lesser known models and supporting them instead. Described by UK Vogue asbeing able to make “anyone he photographs look the best they ever will” it isquite possible he has had a large part to play in the careers of many people,models, celebrities and Royals alike.
With an obvious talent his career has since sky rocketed and hehasn’t looked back. Since the start of his career he has had a number ofexhibitions including an exhibition, “Portraits” in 2002 at the NationalPortrait Gallery, London which then visited Edinburgh, Milan and Tokyo This exhibition really cemented his reputation as a fantastic photographer.Unsurprisingly, he has received a number of awards as well including the Rodeo Drive Walk of Style award and a Doctor Emeritus from the University of the Artsin London.
It can be difficult to catch Mario on land as he isfrequently jetting to shoots across the world for a range of publicationsincluding Vogue, Vanity Fair, Harpers Bazaar as well as shoots for fashion housesincluding Gucci, Missoni and Sonia Rykiel. He has also become the favouriteroyal photographer, known for his portrait of the late Diana, Princess of Wales,for a Vanity Fair cover. Since then Mario has also received commissions tophotograph Prince Harry, The Duchess of Cornwall and Her Majesty Queen Rania ofIsrael. Known for creating photographs that capture elegance and place them inreal life settings, it is little wonder he has become a firm favourite withcelebrities and royals alike.
Alongside the fashion photography he has also becomeinvolved in a range of charity work. This has included donating to charitiessuch as the Naked Heart Foundation, Aid for Aids and the Elton John AidsFoundation. This work gained him an honour in 2008 and was awarded the HeroAward by Aid for Aids. In 2008 he worked in Peru with Save the Children andvisited the El Salvador clinic which was built for children with tuberculosis,using sales of his portraits of Princess Diana. Mario has in some ways created some massive changes in thefashion industry, by snubbing the supermodels and their huge payment demandsfor lesser known models and supporting them instead. Described by UK Vogue asbeing able to make “anyone he photographs look the best they ever will” it isquite possible he has had a large part to play in the careers of many people,models, celebrities and Royals alike.
