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United States Annie Leibovitz is a celebrated American portrait photographer known for her iconic and often intimate celebrity portraits, capturing the essence of her subjects for major publications and international campaigns. Her work has redefined celebrity photography and earned her recognition as a Living Legend by the Library of Congress.
IKEA collaborated with Annie Leibovitz, appointing her as their artist in residence to create a photographic document with 25 portraits that 'illuminate the nuance of life at home.' This collaboration also included mentoring five aspiring young photographers.
Bupa, the international healthcare company, partnered with Annie Leibovitz to launch the 'Picture of Health' campaign, aiming to portray health comprehensively through her photography.
Annie Leibovitz partnered with Lincoln to create a campaign for the 2017 Lincoln Continental, delivering stunning photographic work.
Hyundai continued its partnership with Annie Leibovitz for a portrait series called 'Journeys,' which captured and documented scenes from employee, dealer, and customer lives.
Celebrity Cruises teamed up with Annie Leibovitz to create an inclusive marketing library, intending to feature more diverse imagery in travel marketing materials, offering it to all travel companies.
UBS commissioned Annie Leibovitz for her exhibition 'WOMEN: New Portraits,' a project reflecting the changing roles of women, which toured 10 cities worldwide from 2016 to 2017.
The Walt Disney Company hired Annie Leibovitz to create a series of photographs featuring celebrities portraying various Disney roles and scenes for the Walt Disney Parks and Resorts 'Year of a Million Dreams' campaign.
Annie Leibovitz was the principal photographer for the 2016 Pirelli calendar. Her approach was a significant departure from tradition, focusing on admirable women rather than emphasizing sexuality, and featured figures like Amy Schumer and Serena Williams. She had previously worked on the 2000 calendar.
Leibovitz photographed celebrities for an international advertising campaign for American Express charge cards, which won a Clio award in 1987. One notable image from this period was of Sonia Braga for an American Express campaign in 1991.
In 2025, Annie Leibovitz produced several portraits for the television series 'The Chosen', enhancing the visual marketing of the show.
Anna-Lou Leibovitz was born on October 2, 1949, in Waterbury, Connecticut. Her early interest in photography was sparked when her father, a U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel, gave her a camera. The family moved frequently due to her father’s military assignments, and she took her first photographs while they were stationed in the Philippines during the Vietnam War. Leibovitz initially studied painting at the San Francisco Art Institute with the intent of becoming an art teacher but shifted her focus to photography after attending a workshop. Her passion for visual arts was also influenced by her mother’s involvement in dance, music, and painting. Leibovitz attended the San Francisco Art Institute from 1967 to 1971. In 1969, she spent several months on Kibbutz Amir in Israel, further developing her photography skills. By 1971, her photographs from Israel and a picture of Allen Ginsberg at a San Francisco peace march had already secured her a position at Rolling Stone magazine, marking the beginning of her professional career.
Leibovitz’s career advanced rapidly upon her return to the United States in 1970 when she joined Rolling Stone magazine as a staff photographer. By 1973, she was named the magazine’s chief photographer, a role she held for ten years. During her tenure at Rolling Stone until 1983, her distinctive, intimate celebrity photographs became a hallmark of the magazine. A pivotal moment in her career was photographing John Lennon and Yoko Ono on December 8, 1980, just hours before Lennon’s murder, a photograph that became one of Rolling Stone’s most famous covers. This period also saw her document The Rolling Stones’ Tour of the Americas ’75, with a notable image of Mick Jagger in an elevator. In 1983, Leibovitz transitioned to Vanity Fair magazine, bringing her unique style of brightly lit, staged portraits to another prominent publication. She continues to contribute to Vanity Fair and Vogue regularly. Her photographs often feature subjects in intimate settings, revealing their personalities.
Throughout her career, Leibovitz has achieved numerous milestones and recognitions. In 1991, she became the second living portraitist and the first woman to have a feature exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C. That same year, the French government honored her as Commandeur de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. She photographed an international advertising campaign for American Express charge cards in 1987, which won a Clio award. In 2007, a major retrospective of her work, “Annie Leibovitz: A Photographer’s Life, 1990–2005,” was held at the Brooklyn Museum, later traveling to multiple cities globally. She was commissioned by The Walt Disney Company in 2007 for the “Disney Dream Portrait Series” and photographed the 2016 Pirelli calendar, shifting its focus from sexuality to admirable women. Her work is held in prestigious collections including the Art Institute of Chicago and The Museum of Modern Art in New York. Leibovitz has also published several books, including “Annie Leibovitz at Work” (2008) and “Pilgrimage” (2011).
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