The fashion world is amazing, and sometimes it reveals not only young talents, but also quite mature personalities. It also happened with Mario Testino. Today he is 58 years old, his name knows the whole world and everyone thinks that he has long been spinning in secular circles. But his fate was far from such as it seems.
He was born in Peru October 30, 1954. The year in a fairly secured family (father was engaged in oil business). At first, the boy wanted to become a priest, however, parents ordered otherwise. Father once took him to a business trip to America, where the son performed the role of the translator, as English knew well. After the expansion of his horizons, he already realized that his church was not very attractive, and, having listened to the Soviets of the Father, entered Universidad Del Pacifico to the Economics Faculty. But he did not graduate from him, but was transferred to the Catholic University for the legal. However, this institution did not become the last. Then there were three more higher educational institutionsNone of them did not give him a diploma for the completion of study.
It's hard to say what he received a specialty in the end, but he fascinated him again. At first it was just a passion, gradually turned into a permanent occupation. To gain normal knowledge about the selected direction, he went to the apprentices to John Vickers. As you know, at first everyone is difficult, it was also with TESTIN. Because of the lack of money, he had to get a waiter.
A few years later, in 70 For years, he took a bank loan and bought itself the first lighting devices. The first models were the same barmers as he.
TO 90 -Mo, he has already stood firmly on his feet as a professional photographer, his name began to acquire some popularity.
The most successful and important in his career became 1995 year. It happened that Madonna was already familiar with some of his works and invited him to shoot a photo session for Versace, in which she was the main face. So began his career in the Great Fashion World. The benefit of Versace appreciated the work as long as an unknown photographer, and called the series of photographs prepared by him "Madonna by Testino". They were printed in all popular publications. No need to say which advertising got.
Since then, his name began to appear on hearing among the highest persons in fashion. BUT 1997 The year brought him another 10 years of indisputable success. Mario Testino was famous for the fact that it was specially treated to the photo models. He tried to talk to talk, understand their character, and then take pictures. It also happened when he was offered to make a photo session for Princess Diana. He got very high quality work. However, they were noticed only after the death of the royal person. He was called one of the last people who worked with her.
By the way, it is necessary to say that such crowned personnel as, Prince Charles, Rania (Queen of Jordan) also got into his lens. And among the stars, Catherine Zeta Johns, Liz Herley, Cameron Diaz, Meg Ryan and many others appealed to Mario.
IN 2008 He even released a photo album called Let Me In, in which the pictures of all famous people worked with. And the distinctive feature of this album was the fact that there were not just photos of stars, and the pictures on which they appeared before the world completely in another image, in which no one had seen them earlier and did not even suspect that he could exist. Of course, Mario preliminarily agreed on his publication, with each whose photo he decided to use, and I must say that everyone surprised quickly agreed, knowing his excellent qualities of the photographer. Nobody decided on this before.
Today it works with the most fashionable houses, creating a cult advertising campaigns. For example, he worked with such brands as Barberry, Yves Saint Laurent, Chanel, Livests and other. Also, he does not happen to perform other types of work, according to the type of reporting on certain celebrities. And novice models from Peru can easily get to him on a photo session, as he never forgets about his origin.
Cooperation with it can boast of magazines Vanity Fair, Arena, GQ, The Times, Vogue, Dazed & Confused, etc.
It is known that he has four personal photo studios in New York, London, Paris and Los Angeles. He also regularly suits the exhibitions of his works (by the way, the first was held back in the distant 1997 after the funeral of Lady Di) and had already managed to release several books.
The secret of his success lies in the peculiar perception of the world and attitude towards the fashion model. Brands love to work with him, as he managed to create such shots that really sell clothes. Not every photographer succeeds.
So, in old age, this man is known all over the world. He never sits on the spot and he still has a lot of ideas that he will definitely embody.
I am often asked, if I have become a photographer long ago. And the answer to this question is not so simple for me. I will try to answer it in this post. The text will be long, but I will be glad if you read to the end.
My first camera appeared for the year of EDAC in 2005. It was a wonderful Canon soap. Then I began to make the first pictures and, of course, seem to myself a genius. Did everything the same as others creative peopleFor the first time, the camera falls into the hands - took off the sun, photographed the shadows and glare on the water. Many praised me, and I was pleased with it. Therefore, instead of start learning to take pictures, just began to shoot more.
Removed on travels, on the losses mostly for yourself. Many photos from that period still lie dead cargo in the depths of one of the hard drives. 
In 2010, I was presented with the first mirror. By the time the camera was often heard at work. I worked on the TV channel "Russia" and periodically traveled to shoot different shows, serials and films. There I shot a bacstage for social networks. Plus, I love to go to concerts, so I also shot them. 
But the idea that I was a genius, by the time I had already passed, even though I was periodically and praised. I saw people around, and understood that I did not pull. Like many, I started thinking that my technique is too weak for good photos. The idea that it would be nice to start learning photographing and processing began to visit me, but the complexes and laziness said that anyway would not work. I grabbed some scraps of information, received valuable advice, but, as I learned later, it was only a drop in the sea.
Then I have stolen the camera, the day before the premiere of the "cat in boots", where I had to remove Antonio Bandera and Salm Hayek for one filmmate. I urgently bought a camera better and shooting took place. And here it would seem, we must begin to study. But I again broke this opportunity. I absolutely did not perceive myself a photographer, although many of my friends have already begun to consider me as such. 
In 2015, I felt the whole severity of the crisis of 30 years. The idea that I do not do my work took me from the inside, like a worm of an apple. I quit the VGTRK and went to the Crimea to sow. In front of me there was a question - what do I want to do next? I could not answer this question for several months. And here very important role In my fate played Alyona, which I am very grateful for it.
She is a born model and loves to remove. At the same time, she always has a lot of ideas and images for shooting. She began to organize a photo shoot and I quickly entered the taste. With her, we spent my first studio photo session in my life. She brought me the first commercial orders for shooting in the Crimea. Sometimes she even made a makeup artist on my filming! Immended thanks! 
There was nowhere to go here - I began to learn and very intense. And at the same time sprinkle the head ashes - why I did not start doing this before. Now I'm learning every day and every photo.
In Crimea, I bought myself professional cameraAfter which I was stolen from my previous chamber directly from the house with two lenses. The shooting of everything - from food to reports - with one lens 50 mm, which I stayed, finally convinced me that the technique is not the most important thing in the photo. It imposes certain restrictions or, on the contrary, it gives the opportunity, but it is possible to make a brilliant frame to absolutely any chamber. 
Since then, I try to raise my level constantly. Each shooting opens something new for me. Each photo is full of interesting opportunities for development. And I get tremendous pleasure from this!
So I moved to the mill of professional photographers, where I will grow and develop, I hope for a long time!
And this is what I want to say to the topification. Learn to be a genius, probably impossible. But everyone can become a professional if it is enough for enough effort into training and craft exhaustion. This applies to any case. So if you are afraid or doubt your passion, stop doing it and start learning and developing that you really wonder. You will all get sooner or later - do not doubt!
All the best and best and success in everything! 
If you liked my story, I will be glad to the repost
We all heard someone said: "If I were a photographer, an artist, director (or a representative of any other creative profession), And earned enough money, I would be happier. The problem is that I have a family about which you have to take care of, and I can not afford to quit everything for my passion. " At the very least, I adhered to this opinion for several years.
This article - short story About how I retrained from the seller in the photographer and earned a living, making what I loved. It happened when I was 40 years old, and I would not say that it was the crisis of middle age (or at least I hope that he was not).
Since childhood, I wanted to become a director, or a photographer. I missed this chance in youth. I was not bold enough and continued to work on a computer that was not boring for me, but I never felt it completely suitable for me. Then at the age of 25, I was engaged in sales for different companies, as I was tired of sitting in front of the computer all day, and I wanted to communicate with people.
When I turned 30, my brother created a web agency and hired me the seller, first I enjoyed, as the company went to the expansion. My dream to become an artist went to the background, but things went well. Meanwhile, I married and started four children, one of the first marriage, and three with the second wife, whom we were brought up. I bought a big house, a car and two motorbikes, and climbed into debts on the ears.
At the age of 35, I went on vacation with friends to Seychelles. One of them was engaged in professional retouching in Photoshop, and he began to show me photoshop and responded to a snapshot that I just did. I was amazed. Seeing it, re-inspired dreams to work as creative work. For some reason, that day I decided that I would find a way to join the cinema, but I didn't even have ideas like.
Decision
I had more debts than ever, and I would be much harder than in my youth. Creating a film as a director, it teamwork. I did not have a team. For a start, I decided to become a photographer. The advantage is that I just needed a camera, and I could start creating, for this I didn't need a team, and it was a step towards my dream.
I went to the first book ShopWho caught on the way, and bought several books about photography and photoshop. Most of them seemed too complicated to understand them, except for one, the author of which is Scott Celby. If I do not change my memory, it was called "Adobe Photoshop CS Down Dirty Tricks". Then I explored all the books and courses of this author who could only find. Later I discovered Napp and The Photoshop Guys.
I started making a series of photographs in Paris called "Paris Cinema". The idea was to take a picture of Paris in the dramatic light, which is only possible in which we see it in such films, like "worn by the wind", Spilberg films. I thought, it will be just a good practice in order to become a good director.
Training
Little note about how I studied. I had a certain method to learn photos, which perfectly worked for me, in three steps:
- Find a photographer who inspires me.
- Read all his books, see his courses and try it to copy.
- Find your own style using its technique.
Here are a few samples of what I mean.
HDR: RC Conception from Trei Ratcliffe. I bought RC books and studied HDR with the study of the tray courses.
Below is interpreted my understanding of the HDR photo.
Below is my personal style.
Another photographer I learned about was Michael Berts. The French photographer, whose style I loved, it works with a film and produces shots of applied arts.
One of his photos of New York.
I try to repose his work.
My own style.
Joel Grims, drive me crazy his composite work, when I see him, I get a bunch of emotions. What I like about a mixture of his portraits and landscapes, two types of art in one photo.
My attempt to reproduce Joel Grims.
How I changed it under my own style.
Let's go back to my story
For several years and thousands of photos ago, I met a scriptwriter who worked on TV show for some time and created three scenarios for feature films. I read his scripts, and I liked them. Especially the comedy scenario, which I would like to put. The screenwriter shared with me that he was tired of working on other companies and that he would want to put these three films. He needed a partner who had experience in sales and experience in sales to be producer and help negotiate with TV channels and studios. It was great that I was passionate about the films, and that I had experience worked as a seller for a while.
We agreed to work together, and I would have introduced a chance to produce one of the films. The only problem was that the creation of a film company would mean the lack of income for several years, spent time on the selection of actors, finding sponsors and film crews. We would also have to remove several trial short films to show what we are capable of.
But as I mentioned earlier, I had accounts for which I had to pay, and I defined could not afford to quit all my work for several years and leave the family to starve.
I developed a rather intriguing plan how to implement with my brother and his business partner. But after the year of work, the plan failed. It is unnecessary and talking about that I was empty. Again the dream disappeared. But with another good side, I spent every possible minute, photographing and retouching pictures, thereby improving his skills.
I again met with the director, to tell him that I could not create a film company, and that I had no way out. He looked at me and said an incendiary speech. He said that I created such a huge collection of pictures, which I could sell.
So, we found a way to sell printing owners of hotels as a decor under the hotel. To my surprise, one of the hotels with whom I contacted, wanted to buy a series of pictures for myself, as I suggested it. But wait ... He wanted pictures for two hotels! I did not even believe it while I listened to his voice message.
In general, I sold snapshots worth about $ 180,000, being sponsored by my friends and updated the hotel's 150 rooms by photos.
Below are samples.
I was happy not only because I had enough money to invest them in the cinema, but also because I did it with art.
I would never think that my hobby would be what I could make money.
With the director, we were already ready to create a film company, which we called "Alandra Films".
Today
Odin from my last pictures
For two years, we shot eight short films, and three artistic films that were reconciled. We have entered into basic partnership agreements, and should replace the first film in the summer. The first is called the "House of Time", a science fiction thriller about a man who has begologically, participating in role-playing gameswho invited friends on the weekend to play on a time trip.
It took a little longer than I expected to finance the first film; I had to learn a lot about film production, (I knew nothing about it), since I did not earn money in a film company. I became a photographer on Polish to make money on life, learning and working on film projects.
Today my income as a photographer comes from architectural photos, brands, people buying some of my photos in Paris, and textbooks. About a year ago, I concluded a deal with the French editor to sell some lessons about my methods of photography. He was successful. In fact, in recent months, my benefits have become textbooks Photoshop # 1 on this site. I added English textbooks on various platforms.
Today I earn almost twice as more than when there was a seller, but now I earn them, making what I love, photography and video products.
Now you can think this article about me and the boasting about yourself. In fact, on the contrary, it is rather a story about how long I was waiting to do what I had to do for a long time.
If I had to summarize all this in one word, then they were the word "accomplishment". While everything was just an idea or desire, it remained in my head, but that day, when I decided to embody the dream and overcome everything that would be needed, I began to get started.
I believe that the solution, a strong solution, the solution without "may be" will create the necessary actions. In addition, you need to find a good mentor. Scott Kelby is my mentor, as well as Matt Kloskovski (Matt Kloskowski), RC Concepcion, and all the guys who speak photoshop. Many years ago, I decided to perform most of the classes on Kelbytraining.com and learned a lot from there.
They are in my heart, as I have never been happier before, doing what I love. They contributed to this to a great extent.
I recently had the opportunity to spend a week with Scott in Paris. I have never met him personally, and it was above my expectations. A few minutes after meeting with him, I had the feeling that we were friends for many years.
Steve Jobs once said: "Continue to search, do not calm down, find what you love, and you will succeed!" And the Confucius said: "Choose the work you love, and you will never have to work in the day of your life." For me, this is true.
I still have, what to learn and share, and I know that the film business will be long and adventurous, but I like it.
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Translated from Scottkelby.com, the translation author is specified at the beginning of the publication.
Asked in a hundred times as I became a photographer :)
I decided that it was time to write a post and send all the questions in it, so that everything was easier :)
So, in 2006, our first digital was broken in our family. There are 2 film mints left, which for cameras we have not considered. And because we traveled actively, often met with friends and in general there was a lot of things that need to be removed, then Dad bought our first mirror - Canon 350D who lives with us now, although it will be tupit when shooting :)
I did not want to be a photographer, I did not attract me the idea of \u200b\u200bshooting, I wanted to just click on my memory. But everything turned out otherwise :)
There was winter, there was a lot of beauty around and wanted to photograph all this. And together with the camera, I had the Internet, so all this winter beauty wanted to share on Dmitrovskaya photos :)
I shared there shared there, then I found me the same people who just started to keep the camera in their hands, and offered somehow cooperate, create a photo club, learn, discuss ...
We met, among us there were newcomers, and those who have already shot not only in the "Green Rectangle" mode :)
Communication went actively and productively, but I still did not feel that the photo would become my business.
Closer to the summer, 2007 I was playing photographing more and more :) I even had 2 lens, an outbreak and a backpack :)
In August 2007 I flew to America for a year, I got acquainted with three photographers-portraitists and realized that I also want to shoot people and only people :)
I spent 2 filming for girls exchange girls, 2 family shoots (my first earned $ 50) and charity photo shoots, on which we raised almost 400 dollars and transferred them to the Fund for AIDS patients.
Returning in June 2008, I created a group of VKontakte and began to shoot girlfriends, read books and communicate tightly with Vadim, Dmitrov photographer, with whom we communicate and now, and which I consider my teacher.
The process went :) Actually, since that time I and the photographer. The shooting was always quite a lot, the group was spinning, I learned about me.
in 2009, I had my favorite lens Canon 50 1.4, and for 19 years I and Pope jointly presented me with Canon 5D Mark 2.
Since 2011, I do not do anything, except for photos, now it is my creativity, my life, my work.
What about my feeling of my own development: when I just started shooting, I did not have enough time on either theory, nor into practice, so the progress went jerks and is not very clear where it was walking, because it was difficult to find yourself.
The last year is already much simpler, I begin to feel when I rest in a certain ceiling and you need to change something.
Several times they helped me new types of shooting, once the master class Dasha Bulavina, and just watching the works of your favorite authors sometimes makes something in my head to shake :)
That's probably all on the topic :) if there are more questions, I will be happy to continue.
Somehow I was attended by the idea that it was worth printing an article about how I became a photographer so that people who enter my site in search of a photographer, looking at my work, reading articles holding back at him for a long time, could understand what I breathe And that I love so much, maybe someone will help in absentia to get acquainted with me and find common features of character and looks for life :)
If you stayed on my site for more than 3 minutes, then we will also be very interested in reading :)
Often, at a meeting, I ask me the question: "Why did you become a photographer?"
And so, the love of the photo was probably manifested about 13-15 years old, I removed the usual soapmaker everything that I saw and what caused the tide of the senses in me, I tried to capture. This is of course childish, then I didn't even think about shooting people and especially wedding :) I was limited to bugs, spiders, leaves and flowers, as well as all the profanes. Very loved photoshop! I read the articles, I watched a lot of photos and information on the Internet, somewhere in the first year of the institute, I realized that I want more, I fucked money and for the birthday of joint efforts with my friends and parents I bought my first mirror, amateur level with Kit -On lens (there is no nightmare lens in the world), but at that time it was "Vaauuuu" - my emotions were shrouded, I was already overwhelmed in the absurd terms, but honestly the use of my knowledge took place by trial and mistakes, now of course I am with a laugh I look at the fact that I was removed in those years, but at that time I had pictured all my acquaintances. It was at that moment that I realized that it was not just a hobby, it's not even a hobby, it's love with all my heart!
I actively photographed everyone, and completely free, I just delivered this pleasure and I did not think about money, I am such a person that money in my life is not the main aspect of happiness, it is more means of doing my desires and dreams :)
With each new scene I understood that it is necessary to better, more, cooler! I changed this terrible kit - the lens, on the net, and began to storm portraits, then the arsenal appeared external flashwhich opened a new level of shooting, my first light fix, which changed my views on the lenses completely.
I was lucky to meet a man who shares completely my views on the photo, travel and in general to the world! Who eventually became my husband :) By the way, now he often helps me when shooting a wedding, but now we are not about it :-)
And so, one day, I was called to leave the wedding, I agreed to do it completely free, but people were satisfied and paid me a symbolic amount for my work :) I came home after this wedding, in such pleasant feelings, I liked this so much The indescribable atmosphere, thanks to the guys that I realized that I want to be part of this as much as possible, I got into the Internet for information about wedding photographers, here I understood what I want to do!I started hard to storm the Internet in search useful information, I realized that with that soap-mirror, the wedding is not on withdrawing, I am responsible for money and drive a complete nonsense for money for money, I would simply be ashamed to take money, for the fact that you can hurry on the soap-mirrum - this is not professional .... Now often meet such "photographers", which do not particularly bother, like me, considering yourself with photographers because they have a mirror for 25 thousand rubles.
Let's go back to my photo path :) I bought a new camera (even I would say specifically wrote), professional level, acquired new lenses) Now my arsenal of lenses and other nonsense (as my husband is expressed) pulls the fuck on Halmillion (what kind of denzyiai you tell you ).I have been engaged in professionally for almost 5 years, has already filmed more than 80 weddings.Even now, I still strive for more, I often feel a creative crisis :) I understand that I want to shoot better, more and a lot! I go to the master classes to professional photographers, To different photo courses, experimenting, sometimes remove TFP!The camera became part of me, he is always with me if I am without a camera, then my husband was offended at me, that the fotik is always with me, in order to unload the setting I left my friend at home :)In Travel, of course, without discussions, we take it with you :)
