9 Female Photographers Who Shaped Fashion

Women comprise some of the most important and impactful elements of fashion history, namely in the realm of photography. From the mastery of Annie Leibovitz to the girl gaze aesthetic of Petra Collins to the fashion surrealism of Sarah Moon, the landscape of the fashion world today has long been captured and shaped through the lens of these women. For World Photography Day, L'OFFICIEL celebrates nine female fashion photographers and how their work changed the fashion industry.

Throughout the 20th century, Louise Dahl-Wolfe's photography defined beauty from the '30s to the '60s. Dahl-Wolfe worked closely with fashion editor Diana Vreeland, who together shaped the aesthetic of Harper's Bazaar. Her point of view showcased elegant, independent, and fashion-forward women, creating a new empowered standard for portraying women in photography. 

Regina Relang was the quintessential fashion photographer of the mid-century. Regina Relang archived the fashion looks of the prominent fashion houses of the '50s and '60s, including Christian Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, and Pierre Cardin. Her work was largely featured in Vogue and Harper's Bazaar, showcasing both Parisian chic and mod fashion in her work. 

Corinne Day was one of the most influential photographers of the '90s, known for launching the career of a then-teenage Kate Moss and stylizing the grunge era of photography. The quintessential '90s cool kid, her work is known for its rawness, intimacy, and, of course, the prolificity of Kate Moss throughout her portfolio.

Annie Leibovitz is one of photography's biggest names, crossing the threshold of strictly fashion photography into the broader scope of celebrity and culture. Her striking and whimsical style is recognizable and distinct, which has granted her the ability to capture the globe's most celebrated icons. With work in nearly every fashion magazine and subjects ranging from Kate Moss to John Lennon to Kimye to Queen Elizabeth II, Leibovitz has seemingly photographed the world in its entirety.

Collier Schorr's photography is portrait-based and highlights queer figures and experiences. With a knack for capturing both subcultural identities and mainstream stars, Hari Nef, Harry Styles, Lady Gaga, and Zoe Kravitz, are just a few of many subjects. Schorr has been active since the late '80s, with a lot of her work being published in her own books.

The photographer who defined the modern female gaze, Petra Collins' dreamy and ethereal aesthetic defined the look of the 2010s and onwards. Whether in hyper-feminine cinematic scenes or soft portraits of celebrities like Zendaya, Collins' portfolio is for women, by women. She has even ventured into fashion beyond just photography and launched a clothing collection called "I'm Sorry by Petra Collins" that fits the stories told in her photographs.