Annie Leibovitz (b. 1949, Waterbury, Connecticut) is a renowned American portrait photographer celebrated for her compelling, intimate images of celebrities, cultural icons, and historical figures. Her work bridges fine art and photojournalism, capturing both the public personas and private moments of her subjects with a distinctive visual sensitivity.

Leibovitz first studied painting at the San Francisco Art Institute before turning to photography, inspired by the work of Robert Frank and Henri Cartier-Bresson. In 1970, she joined Rolling Stone magazine and quickly rose to become its chief photographer by 1973, helping to shape its visual identity. Among her most iconic images is the poignant 1980 photograph of John Lennon and Yoko Ono, taken just hours before Lennon’s death.

In 1983, she transitioned to Vanity Fair, where she became known for her elaborate and theatrical portraits, including the groundbreaking 1991 cover of a pregnant Demi Moore. Her portraits have been featured on countless magazine covers and in numerous advertising campaigns, always marked by a strong narrative quality and emotional depth.

Leibovitz has exhibited widely, including a major solo exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C., and her work is held in many major museum collections. Her published books include Photographs 1970–1990, Women (with Susan Sontag), and Annie Leibovitz: Portraits 2005–2016.

She has received numerous honors, including the Centenary Medal from the Royal Photographic Society and the French Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. Leibovitz shared a long personal and creative relationship with writer Susan Sontag, and is a mother of three.

A defining figure in contemporary photography, Leibovitz continues to shape how we see fame, identity, and human connection through the lens of her camera.

“ I kind of know what people kind of want to look like. I can’t always achieve it. It’s like I’m a pushover. I really like to please. This is their life and I like to let them get to wherever the next step is they want to get to. I have no reason not to. „

—Annie Leibovitz