MARK SHAW

Mark Shaw, born Mark Schlossman in New York, was one of the most influential fashion and celebrity photographers of the 1950s and 1960s. A protégé of Alexey Brodovitch, he worked for leading magazines such as Harper’s Bazaar, Mademoiselle, McCall’s, Ladies Home Journal, Vanity Fair, and LIFE.

Shaw gained renown for his innovative fashion photography, capturing Chanel models on the streets of Paris or candidly backstage at Balmain shows. He also photographed celebrities including Cary Grant, Grace Kelly, Pablo Picasso, Yves Saint Laurent, and Elizabeth Taylor.

His career reached its height in 1959 when LIFE commissioned him to photograph Jacqueline and John F. Kennedy during the presidential campaign. He soon became the family’s unofficial photographer, crafting the enduring visual narrative of “Camelot” with intimate images of the Kennedy White House.

In addition to fashion and editorial work, Shaw created award-winning images for Vanity Fair’s lingerie campaigns and later turned to directing commercials and consulting for film productions.