100 Most Influential People in Fashion

Fashion Influential #84: David LaChapelle

David LaChapelle in World Premiere Of Focus Features'

Photographer David LaChapelle (L) and Drew Kuhse arrive at Focus Features' world premiere of "Milk" held at The Castro Theatre on October 28, 2008 in San Francisco, California. (Getty Images)more pics » DAVID LACHAPELLE
Born:
March 11, 1963 in Fairfield, Connecticut
Fan of:
Adina Paley, Andy Warhol
Shot for:
Rolling Stone, Vogue, GQ, Vanity Fair
Celebrities photographed:
Marilyn Manson, Naomi Campbell, David Beckham, Drew Barrymore, Shirley Manson, Courtney Love, Lance Armstrong, Pamela Anderson, Britney Spears, Cameron Diaz, Uma Thurman and Christina Aguilera. Beginnings.
Warhol gave David LaChapelle his first photography job at Interview. The two met at Studio 54, where LaChapelle worked as a sassy bus boy in the early '80s. But LaChapelle says his first photograph was of his mother holding a drink while posing on a balcony in a Fredrick’s of Hollywood bra with gold buckles.

Career Highs.
LaChapelle has photographed Hollywood’s A-list for years, but his career hit a new zenith in 2004, when he was tapped to direct Elton John’s Las Vegas show, The Red Piano. It was a behemoth of a show, promoted as the largest and brightest in Vegas history. During the performance, several of LaChapelle’s short movies were played in the background. Calls were not immediately returned, but apparently Mr. John doesn’t just let anyone direct his shows.
Q: Who would you like to photograph?
LaChappelle: Michael Jackson.

Art, ya'll.
Career Lows.
In 2006, he directed a commercial for H&M that was little more than 5 minutes of Tamyra Grey over-belting an R&B song beside model Gus Carr playing dead.

Legacy.
LaChapelle is somewhat of an anomaly. While he’s a great photographer, artist, and sometimes director, LaChapelle is almost more iconic for solidifying the careers of celebrities. It’s widely considered a right-of-passage (if you’re an aspiring A-lister) to be photographed by LaChapelle in this surreal, sometimes futuristic, often compromising style.

Last Suppaz
Get the look.
Depends which look you’re talking about. LaChapelle has a hip-hop thing going that’s not unlike what you might see on Melrose Avenue. He's also been known to rock the pimp look. But a poster boy for the “me” generation, LaChapelle’s surreal sensibility can be recreated simply enough. Just get a horse hair vest, some biker shorts, a welder’s mask and some pin-stripe tuxedo pants. Voila! - John