Patrick Demarchelier  was born near Paris in 1943 to a modest family, he spent his childhood in Le Havre with his mother and four brothers. For his seventeenth birthday, his stepfather brought him his first Eastman Kodak camera. Demarchelier learned how to develop film, retouch negatives and began shooting friends and weddings.

In 1975, he left Paris for New York to follow his girlfriend. He discovered Fashion photography by working as a Free lance Photographer and learning and working with Photographers such as Henri Cartier-Bresson, Terry King, and Jacques Guilbert. His work drew the attention of Elle, Marie Claire and 20 Ans Magazine.

He later worked for Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar, first in September 1992 which resulted in a 12-year collaboration.

Demarchelier shot international advertising campaigns for Dior, Louis Vuitton, Celine, TAG Heuer, Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent, Lacoste, Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren.

Demarchelier has lived in New York City since 1975. He is married to Mia and they have three sons. Since the late 1970s he has shot the covers for nearly every major fashion magazine including American, British and Paris Vogue. He has also shot covers for Rolling Stone, Glamour, Life, Newsweek, Elle and Mademoiselle.

He has photographed many advertising campaigns, including Farrah Fawcett shampoo in 1978, the Brooke Shields doll in 1982, Lauren by Ralph Lauren, Cutty Sark, and a Calvin Klein ad with Talisa Soto and Giorgio Armani, Chanel, GAP, Gianni Versace, L’Oréal, Elizabeth Arden, Revlon, Lancôme, Gianfranco Ferré. He was also the primary photographer for the book On Your Own, a beauty/lifestyle guide written for young women by Brooke Shields.

Since 1992 he has worked with Harper’s Bazaar, becoming it’s premier photographer. Demarchelier was awarded the contract for the 2005 Pirelli Calendar. Over the years he has catapulted the careers of many make-up artists like Laura Mercier, Jason Marks and Pat Mcrath.

Demarchelier is referenced in the 2006 film The Devil Wears Prada, when the “dragon lady”, Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep), asks Andy (Anne Hathaway), on her very first day on the job, “Did Demarchelier confirm?”, leaving her utterly confused. The first assistant Emily calmly jumps into action and calls his office, replying, “I have Patrick!”

Demarchelier also made a cameo in the film version of Sex and the City; he can be seen taking pictures during Carrie Bradshaw’s fashion shoot for Vogue magazine. In 2007, Mrs. Christine Albanel, Minister of Culture, honored Patrick Demarchelier as an Officer dans l’ordre des Arts et des Lettres.

Photo of Alyssa Nicole Pallett taken by Patrick Demarchelier

Some of his most famous photographs : Christy Turlington New York 1992, Nadja Auermann Paris 1994, Nadja New York 1995.