Mario Testino is a Peruvian fashion photographer who initially wanted to become a priest. In school, he was very good at math so he studied economics in college where he stood out for his flamboyant appearance wearing pink flares and platform heels with pink hair.
Moving permanently to London to pursue photography, he began shooting fashion stories for Vogue, V, and Vanity Fair. Mario has also help contributed to the imagery of leading fashion houses such as Gucci, Versace, Burberry, Dolce & Gabbana, Calvin Klein, Salvatore Ferragamo, Hugo Boss, Miu Miu, Michael Kors, Shiseido, Estee Lauder, and more. Besides shooting famous figures and celebrities, his most famous celebrity subjects are Princess Diana, the British Royal Family, even landed the honor of photographing the engagement pics of Prince William and Kate Middleton.
Besides fashion, Mario is an ambassador for the Save the Children foundation. He helped raise money to build a playground in a Moscow's children hospital specializing in cancer, a disease his brother died from when he was 10 years old. Also in Lima, he opened a children's clinic to help victims from the 2007 earthquake. Testino has been honored by many charities and organizations including the Elton John Aids Foundation. He sees his work as not something to be bragged about..."But doing these charitable things has made me feel that I have got some of the priestly instinct back. I know people who have everything and all they do is complain and bicker. Give off negative energy. When you try and do something positive it helps others but also makes you feel better about yourself."
You Just Do You, Imma Do Me
Camille
