Gilles Bensimon

Gilles Bensimon is a French fashion photographer and former creative director of Elle magazine. He has been credited with helping to launch the careers of many supermodels, including Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, and Linda Evangelista.

Born in Paris in 1941, Bensimon began his career as a photographer in the 1960s. He quickly gained recognition for his work and was hired by Elle magazine in 1974. During his time at Elle, he helped to create the magazine's signature look and style. He also worked with some of the most famous models of the time, including Brooke Shields and Jerry Hall.

In addition to his work at Elle, Bensimon has also shot for numerous other magazines such as Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, GQ, and Marie Claire. His photographs have been featured in advertising campaigns for brands such as Chanel, Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, and Calvin Klein. He has also directed music videos for artists such as Madonna and The Rolling Stones.

Bensimon has won numerous awards throughout his career including the Grand Prix National de la Photographie in France (1985) and the Lucie Award for Outstanding Achievement in Fashion Photography (2006). In 2009 he was inducted into the International Photography Hall of Fame.

Bensimon continues to work as a fashion photographer today and is based out of New York City.