What Camera Gear do they use?

Richard Avedon – Redefining Fashion and Portrait Photography Richard Avedon (1923–2004) was an American photographer whose work reshaped the worlds of fashion and portraiture. Known for his crisp, minimalist style and ability to reveal the essence of his subjects, Avedon created some of the most iconic images of the 20th century. From glamorous Vogue spreads to raw portraits of working-class Americans, his photography blurred the line between commercial art and profound social commentary. Camera Gear Richard Avedon was meticulous about his equipment, choosing tools that matched his bold artistic vision: Rolleiflex Twin-Lens Reflex – his early work in fashion and reportage was often shot with this medium-format classic. Avedon and Rolleiflex Nikon 35mm cameras – used during assignments that required speed, mobility, and spontaneity. Deardorff 8×10 large format view camera – his signature tool for portraiture, producing razor-sharp, monumental images. Deardorff 8x10 Stud...

  Peter Lindbergh – The Poet of Fashion Photography Peter Lindbergh (1944–2019) was one of the most influential fashion photographers of the late 20th and early 21st century. Best known for his cinematic, black-and-white imagery, Lindbergh transformed the way fashion was represented, shifting it from glossy perfection toward something more raw, authentic, and timeless.  His work helped define the era of the supermodel in the 1990s, and his photographs are celebrated for their emotional depth and narrative power. Camera Gear Lindbergh worked with a variety of film and digital systems, always prioritizing tools that helped him achieve depth, texture, and timelessness in his imagery: Nikon F Series – 35mm SLRs he often used for versatility and reliability. Leica Rangefinders – prized for precision and character in intimate portraiture. Mamiya RZ67 – medium format workhorse for fashion shoots, offering rich tonal depth. Mamiya RZ67 Pentax 67 – another medium form...

Nick Knight: Avant-Garde Glamour, Tech Pioneer, and the Gear Behind the Image Nick Knight (b. 1958, London) is a celebrated fashion photographer, filmmaker, and founder of SHOWstudio.com , known for redefining fashion imagery across decades—whether directing music videos for Björk and Kanye West or crafting conceptual portraiture exhibited worldwide. The Gear Story—Evolving with Vision 10×8 Polaroid & Large-Format Film (1980s–2000s) Knight began with 10×8 large-format Polaroid and sheet film —allowing him to create monumental test images. Though the film is now obsolete, he continues to maintain large-format workflows when needed . He used a custom ring-like rig of Broncolor strobes —a pentagonal array of light heads—for campaign shoots, creating expansive highlight reflections and precise controlled shadows . Medium Format & Transition to Digital As film availability declined, Knight embraced digital capture—using Medium-Format digital backs and high-resolution sca...

  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. Contax T3 Transition to High-End Digital Systems As editorial demands grew, Testino adopted sta...

  Juergen Teller (b. 1964, Erlangen, Germany) is a celebrated fashion and fine-art photographer renowned for his intimate, arresting, and often ironic images. His work—whether self-portraits, celebrity campaigns, or everyday moments—is known for a raw emotional immediacy and a refusal to glamorize subjects or settings. Camera Gear & Setup Contax G2 with TLA‑200 Flash For the majority of his early career, Teller shot analog exclusively using Contax G2 35mm rangefinder cameras , often carrying two at once for constant firing. He typically paired these with the on-camera Contax TLA‑200 flash , which produced the high-contrast, shadow-modeling light that became his visual signature . I used the hell out of the silver Contax G2. The flash on it was fantastic Contax G2 Multiple Bodies in Dual-Hand Stance Teller famously held one Contax in each hand, firing in rapid alternating bursts to disarm and engage subjects. This method created an intense rhythm that helped freeze candid emot...

  Helmut Newton (1920–2004) was a German-Australian photographer whose provocative, cinematic imagery—often erotic, stylized, and framed in urban or hotel settings—became iconic in fashion and portrait photography. His work appeared extensively in Vogue and Elle , and he was celebrated for images that blended scripted glamour with moments of candid surprise. Camera Gear & Toolkit An Equipped Minimalist Newton famously kept his kit small yet versatile: Four camera bodies , five lenses , a strobe, and a Polaroid camera—all fitting in one bag under 40 lbs . This minimalist setup enabled him to work anywhere with ease . Over his career, he experimented with a variety of systems including a 4×5 Graflex Super D , Rolleiflex TLR , Nikon , Canon , Pentax , Olympus , Instamatic , and even point‑and‑shoot compacts like the Stylus Epic —often choosing whichever tools suited the situation best . Graflex Super D Helmut Newton and camera He is seen on a number of pictures using a ...

David Bailey’s camera gear has evolved from modest beginnings through to top-tier film and digital setups.  Here's an enhanced breakdown: Early Career & Film Era Rolleiflex TLR (2.8F / 3.5F) His first camera came via Singapore during his National Service—a cheap Rolleiflex copy that kickstarted his iconic portrait style .  He continued using higher-end versions (Zeiss Planar, Schneider Xenotar) for medium-format studio work . Rolleiflex 2.8F Pentax Spotmatic S3 (35 mm SLR) Switched for portability and reliability, especially favored for street and candid shoots. He admired its durability and Takumar lens lineup—particularly the 15 mm f/3.5 . Pentax Spotmatic S3 Nikon & Nikkormat SLRs Also used these earlier, learning what he liked and eventually returning to Pentax for quality consistency. Studio & Magazine Work Large-format cameras (5×4 / 10×8 inch) Preferred for high-end studio and editorial projects. Bailey noted each sheet cost ~£50, but valued ...

  Bill Cunningham, the legendary New York Times street style photographer, was known for using very simple and modest camera gear , especially considering his fame and influence.  Here's what he typically used: 35mm Film Cameras (early years) In his early street photography days, Cunningham used 35mm film cameras , often Nikon SLRs , such as the Nikon FM2 or similar models. Nikon FM2 Nikon DSLR (later years) As technology progressed, he transitioned to digital cameras , specifically Nikon DSLRs . He was most frequently seen with a Nikon D40 or D3000 series — consumer-level DSLRs, not high-end professional models. Nikon D40 Nikon D3000 Lens He often used a single zoom lens , like an 18-55mm kit lens , which gave him enough versatility for street portraits and candid fashion shots. Notable About His Approach: No flashy gear : He believed in unobtrusiveness , blending in and letting his subjects shine. That’s why he dressed simply, rode a bicycle, and used mode...