Markus Klinko – The Daily Beast
Markus Klinko is an award-winning international fashion / celebrity photographer and director who has worked with many of the most iconic stars in film, music and fashion.
Klinko has photographed Beyonce, Lady Gaga, David Bowie, Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears, Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, Kanye West, Anne Hathaway, Kate Winslet, Will Smith, Eva Mendes, Kim Kardashian, Naomi Campbell and Iman. Its editorial clients include Vogue, GQ, Vanity Show, Harper’s Bazaar, and Maintenance magazine. Brands such as Lancôme, L’Oréal Paris, Nike, Hugo Boss, Anna Sui, Pepsi, Skyy Vodka and Remy Martin have hired Klinko to create advertising campaigns. Her campaign for Keep A Child Alive raised over $ 1 million for children with AIDS in just 3 days.
Born in Switzerland of French, Italian, Jewish and Hungarian descent, Klinko spent his early years training to become a classical harp soloist. He studied at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique in Paris. Klinko later signed an exclusive recording contract with EMI Classics, as well as a management contract with Columbia Artists Management. He received the Grand Prix de Disque for his recording of French music for harp, with members of the orchestra of the Opéra Bastille in Paris. Klinko has performed in recital and as a featured soloist with symphony orchestras around the world. It has also been regularly featured in publications such as Vogue Italy, Vanity Show, GQ, The New York Times, Madame Figaro, Stereo review, and Ongaku no Tomo.
After a hand injury, Klinko decided to become a fashion photographer and retired from his international concert and recording career. During this time, he met Indrani, who later became a regular collaborator in her role as a digital post-production artist and photo editor in his studio.
Isabella Blow found out about Klinko’s work while she London Sunday Times and commissioned cover articles from the emerging photographer. Around the same time, Ingrid Sischy, at Maintenance magazine hired Klinko for various shoots. Iman and David Bowie followed, giving the aspiring photographer a chance to photograph them for their respective book (i am Iman) and album covers (Pagan).
From there, he created some of the most iconic album covers of his time, including Beyonce’s. Dangerously in love, and that of Mariah Carey Mimi’s emancipation.
Many of Klinko’s famous celebrity photographs can be seen in his coffee table book ICONS (Perseus). Lincoln Center in New York held an art exhibit featuring many of the book’s prints and since then, art galleries and museums around the world have showcased his work.
Klinko has appeared on E! New, Access Hollywood, Fashion TV, CNN Showbiz tonight and Larry King Live and was the subject of the reality show Double exposure on the Bravo network.