Peruvian-born and London-based, Mario Testino is known for his glamorous, intimate portraits of royalty, supermodels, and celebrities—from Princess Diana to Kate Moss, Gisele Bündchen, Madonna, Rihanna, and beyond . His work has defined modern fashion photography and is featured across Vogue, Vanity Fair, Burberry, and Gucci campaigns .
Gear Evolution: From Contax Point‑and‑Shoot to 100‑MP Hasselblad
Contax Point‑and‑Shoot Cameras
Early in his career, Testino relied heavily on compact Contax point-and-shoots, often carrying two at once. These small cameras, paired with on-camera flash, allowed him spontaneity and intimacy—hallmarks of his style in early editorial and candid portrait work. A Reddit thread confirms:
Fashion photographers Terry Richardson and Mario Testino both shot on a semi‑regular basis with relatively inexpensive point and shoot fixed lens cameras.
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| Contax T3 |
Transition to High-End Digital Systems
As editorial demands grew, Testino adopted state-of-the-art digital gear. He now frequently works with a 100 MP Hasselblad H6D and other high-resolution systems for commercial shoots, combining technical precision with his signature lush aesthetic.
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| Hasselblad X6D 100C |
Lighting, Style & Portrait Philosophy
Testino’s ability to create images that feel both glamorous and approachable stems from his gift for putting subjects at ease. Whether shooting royals or supermodels, he excels at capturing real moments of charm and vulnerability.
He balances controlled lighting with natural mood: soft flashes for clarity on fashion sets, and ambient light for subtler editorial portraits.
Notable Work & Image Style
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The Vanity Fair portrait of Princess Diana (1997) became an iconic image in part for its warmth, elegance, and technical finesse.
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His Towel Series on Instagram—a minimal portrait series often done spontaneously—showcases his ongoing comfort with digital and quick human interaction on set.
Legacy & Takeaway
Mario Testino’s progression—from simple fixed-lens Contax cameras and flash, to multi-million-dollar royal sets shot with top-tier Hasselblad systems—illustrates a career built on human connection, compositional instinct, and adaptive gear savvy. Despite major shifts in technology, he remains devoted to the emotional resonance of each image.
Books featuring Mario Testino's work
In Your Face : see it on Amazon
Mario de Janeiro Testino : see it on Amazon
