Craig McDean

Craig McDean is a British fashion photographer and filmmaker originally from Middlewich, near Manchester. He is renowned for his striking fashion imagery and portraiture.

McDean originally trained and worked as a car mechanic before he iscovered his passion for photography by taking pictures of his rocker friends in the North of Englandl McDean moved to London, where he studied photography at Mid Cheshire College (OND) and Blackpool & Fylde College of Further & Higher Education (PQE).

McDean began his photographic career as a photographer's assistant to photographer Nick Knight. His early editorial work was featured in magazines such as i-D and The Face. McDean has shot a massive 23 covers for i-D, as well as being a regular contributor to Vogue Italia, British Vogue, W, Another Magazine and Harper’s Bazaar.

In 1999, McDean made his highly anticipated publishing debut with I Love Fast Cars, his homage to the world of drag racing and the community who love it. In 2004, his second book, Lifescapes, was published by Steidl/Dangin.

McDean’s advertising campaigns include Gucci, Giorgio Armani, Emporio Armani, Yves Saint Laurent, Calvin Klein and Jil Sander and his inspirations are “everyone and everything”.

Although primarily a fashion photographer, McDean has photographed portraits of celebrities including Björk, Madonna, Natalie Portman, Justin Timberlake, Jennifer Aniston, Joaquin Phoenix, Hilary Swank, Uma Thurman, Gael García Bernal and Nicole Kidman.

McDean is currently based in New York.

He is a 2008 recipient of the ICP Infinity Award.