Markus Klinko: Queen Bey
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In the world of photography, some artists possess the exceptional ability to capture the raw essence and inner beauty of their subjects. One such visionary is Markus Klinko, a renowned fashion and celebrity photographer who has left an indelible mark on the industry with his remarkable talent. Among his numerous extraordinary endeavours, one collaboration stands out as a milestone in his illustrious career — photographing none other than the iconic superstar Beyoncé.
Beyoncé, an unparalleled force in the world of music, is a name that resonates with millions of fans worldwide. Her voice, stage presence, and empowering message have solidified her status as a true pop culture phenomenon. When a talent of such magnitude meets a photographer of Markus Klinko’s calibre, it is an artistic collision that ignites sparks of magic.
Markus recalls, “I shot Beyoncé for the first time in 2000 for Vibe magazine when she was part of Destiny’s Child. I knew she was a superstar right away. She walked in, and I said to her mother, Tina, who was styling the shoot: “This one in the middle here, she’s going to be a huge star.” Tina looked at me like: ‘Yeah, we know.’ After that, things really started taking off with music shoots.”
📸 Lights, Camera, Action 🎬: Behind The Scenes Of “Dangerously In Love”
“In 2003, Beyoncé asked me to shoot the cover of her debut solo album, Dangerously in Love. She mentioned a campaign I’d done showing Laetitia Casta lying on a diamond-studded spider’s web. Beyoncé wanted something similar but smaller. When they arrived for the shoot — and again, her mother was styling her — I pointed at the diamond top as they brought out all the outfits and said: ‘That’s exactly what we discussed’.
“But Beyoncé was reluctant because her mother had only brought skirts to pair it with, and she felt it would make the look too red carpet. I suggested she pair it with jeans. She liked that idea, but they hadn’t brought any. So I gave her mine — on that famous, iconic cover, she is wearing my jeans!
