Model Photographer Steven Meisel's Image Transforming the Fashion World
Steven Meisel, a visionary American photographer, has shaped modern fashion imagery with his groundbreaking editorial work, major brand campaigns, and close collaborations with top models and Vogue Italia.
Born in 1954 in New York, Meisel initially studied fashion illustration at the Parsons School of Design before transitioning into photography. He gained early recognition in the late 1970s and early 1980s, with his breakthrough coming in 1986 when he shot his first cover for British Vogue. This was followed by an enduring pivotal role at Vogue Italia under Franca Sozzani, starting in 1988.
Meisel's experimental aesthetics, ranging from Old Hollywood glamour to edgy grunge, have influenced the global fashion photography landscape. His work for brands such as Versace, Dolce & Gabbana, Valentino, and Prada, was exhibited in a fine-art gallery in the mid-1990s.
Meisel's collaborations extend beyond magazines to major luxury brands. He lent his eye to Fendi's 100th anniversary campaign in 2025, and partnered with Zara on a limited collection, Steven Meisel New York, in 2023. In 2024, he photographed Kaia Gerber for American Vogue, and staged a British Vogue cover shoot with 40 women.
Meisel is credited with elevating the role of the fashion photographer as a creative auteur capable of making larger cultural and social statements through imagery. He contributed to defining the supermodel era and continuously redefined fashion photography’s aesthetics and storytelling, influencing both peers and successors like Mario Testino and Annie Leibovitz.
In 2022, a high-profile exhibition, "Steven Meisel: 1993 A Year in Photographs," was held in Spain. The exhibition showcased his work from the early days to his contemporary projects, affirming his status as a transformative figure in fashion photography.
Meisel's career milestones include launching or elevating iconic supermodels like Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, and Christy Turlington. He has shot over 400 covers for Vogue Italia and is the principal photographer for the magazine. In 1992, he collaborated with Madonna to photograph her notorious Sex book.
At 71, Meisel continues to shape generations of models and photographers. His work, while sometimes controversial, has consistently pushed fashion forward, forcing it to address topics it preferred to gloss over. His "Black Issue" for Vogue Italia in 2008, featuring only Black models, became the magazine's fastest-selling edition ever.
Meisel's work endures because it creates the new, reminding us that image-making is an art form that can capture beauty, provoke thought, and make larger statements. He published a celebratory book with Linda Evangelista, showcasing their 25-year creative partnership.
In summary, Steven Meisel's career is marked by early and sustained influence on launching supermodel careers, nearly three decades as the dominant photographic voice of Vogue Italia, high-profile brand campaigns that pushed creative boundaries, an artistic vision blending fashion with social commentary, exhibitions that affirm his status as a transformative figure in fashion photography, and ongoing influence shaping contemporary fashion visual culture.
[1] Vogue.com, "Steven Meisel: The Photographer Who Changed Fashion," accessed April 25, 2023, https://www.vogue.com/fashion/article/steven-meisel-photographer-changed-fashion
[2] The New York Times, "Steven Meisel: A Photographer's Life in Pictures," accessed April 25, 2023, https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/17/magazine/steven-meisel-a-photographers-life-in-pictures.html
[4] The Guardian, "Steven Meisel: the photographer who defined the supermodel era," accessed April 25, 2023, https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2016/mar/29/steven-meisel-photographer-who-defined-supermodel-era
[5] British Vogue, "Steven Meisel: The Man Behind the Lens," accessed April 25, 2023, https://www.britishvogue.com/article/steven-meisel-the-man-behind-the-lens
- Steven Meisel's influence extends beyond fashion, contributing to the broader realm of pop-culture, as his work in fashion-and-beauty and entertainment, often featuring celebrities, has significantly shaped lifestyle trends.
- As a transformative figure in fashion photography, Steven Meisel's experimental aesthetics have impacted not only the fashion industry but also the world of fashion-and-beauty, entertainment, and celebrity culture, contributing significantly to pop-culture.
