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Markus Klinko is an award-winning international fashion/celebrity photographer and director who has worked with many of today's most iconic film, music, and fashion stars.
Markus has photographed the likes of Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, David Bowie, Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears, Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, Kanye West, Anne Hathaway, Kate Winslet, Will Smith, Eva Mendes, Kim Kardashian, Naomi Campbell and Iman.
His editorial clients include Vogue, GQ, Vanity Fair, Harper's Bazaar, and Interview magazine. Brands such as Lancôme, L'Oréal Paris, Nike, Hugo Boss, Anna Sui, Pepsi, Skyy Vodka, and Remy Martin have hired Markus to create advertising campaigns.
Born in Switzerland of French, Italian, Jewish, and Hungarian descent, Markus spent his early years training to become a classical harp soloist. He studied at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique in Paris.
Later, Markus signed an exclusive recording contract with EMI Classics and a management contract with Columbia Artists Management. He received the Grand Prix de Disque for his recording of French harp music with the orchestra of the Paris Opera Bastille. Markus also performed in recitals and as a featured soloist with symphony orchestras around the world. He was also regularly featured in Vogue Italia, Vanity Fair, GQ, The New Yor Times, Madame Figaro, Stereo Review and Ongaku no Tomo.
After a hand injury, Markus became a fashion photographer and retired from his international concert and recording career.
Isabella Blow discovered Markus' work at the London Sunday Times and commissioned cover stories from the emerging photographer. Around the same time, Ingrid Sischy at Interview magazine hired Markus for various shoots. Iman and David Bowie followed, giving the up and coming photographer a chance to photograph them for their respective book (I am Iman) and album covers (Heathen).
From there, he created some of the most iconic album covers of our time, including Beyonce's "Dangerously in Love" and Mariah Carey's "The Emancipation of Mimi".
Want to learn more about Markus Klinko?
High-Fashion Photographers Declare Britney Spears to Be 'Hottest Woman' on Earth, Fox News, 2010
An Interview with Markus Klinko: Icons, Exhibits, Skinny Models, Model Mayhem, 2012
How we Photographed David Bowie with Wild Wolves, GQ Magazine, 2016
Famed Photographer, Markus Klinko, Is Bringing the 2000s Back, Galore Magazine, 2018
Beyoncé, Bowie and Britney: Celebrity photographer Markus Klinko shares his on-set secrets, CNN, 2019
Markus Klinko on Bowie Unseen, Vanity Fair, 2019
This Celebrity Photographer Single-Handedly Defined the 2000s, Harpers Bazaar, 2021
Fame, Fantasy and Photographs: The Pop Culture Moments Markus Klinko Defined, Skye Wellington, Lens & Pen Projects, 2021
An Exclusive Interview With ‘Heathen’ Photographer Markus Klinko, Francisco Beristain & Nick Vernon, David Bowie News, 2022
The Final Step: Turning My Photos Into Prints for Galleries Around the World, Markus Klinko, PetaPixel, 2023
7 Questions for Photographer Markus Klinko on His Era-Defining Images of Beyoncé, Mariah Carey, and David Bowie, ArtNet News, 2023
Markus Klinko: Bowie, Beyoncé and Beyond, FASHIONADO TV, 2023
Fashion Photography Is In Vogue, The Economist, 2024
Markus Klinko - Icon of an Era, 360 MAG: A No-Nonsense Conversation | Podcast on Spotify, 2024
