When you think of fashion photographers, stylists, and magazines, there are usually a few names that come to mind. But how about photographers who work on location often, capturing events as they happen, and working long hours regardless of the weather?
That’s the life of a Robert Pattinson photographer. The English actor and model is known for his quick wit, saucy humor, cool-headedness, and unrivalled ability to work under pressure. He’s graced the covers of Vogue, GQ, and W, and his candid images have landed him on the cover of countless books and magazines.
What is perhaps most astonishing is that all of this happened before his 29th birthday.
From School To Stardom
Pattinson was born in London in 1986. He graduated from Oxford University in 2009, where he studied English literature and psychology. After Oxford, he moved to New York City to pursue acting. He had originally intended to go to drama school, and was accepted into several prestigious acting schools, including The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. In 2010, he made his professional acting debut as Harvey Dent in the Broadway production of Death of a Salesman. He subsequently landed several other high-profile roles, most notably as Galahad in the film adaptations of William Gibson’s Count of Monte Cristo and as the werewolf in the forthcoming Twilight Saga movie, New Moon.
On the modeling side, Pattinson walked for multiple high-profile brands, including Burberry, Louis Vuitton, and Dolce & Gabbana, and graced the covers of Italian, French, and English Vogue. He has also worked with high-profile stylists, and been seen on the catwalk for Miu Miu, Victoria Beckham, and Ralph Lauren.
Meanwhile, his music career saw him collaborate with famed English rock band, the Beatles, and perform at several of their tribute shows in London. It also saw him perform with high-profile bands, such as Foo Fighters and U2. In 2014, he released his debut album, entitled Real Life, which featured the hit duet with Taylor Swift, Bad Blood.
Working With A World-Class Creative Team
It’s fair to say that Pattinson is well-connected. He is probably best friends with film director, Tom Taylor, having met during a photo shoot in 2009. The pair have since collaborated on several projects, including the 2014 movie, The Lighthouse, Taylor’s 2017 adaptation of Frankenstein, and the 2019 film, The Kidnapping of Edmond Dreu.
Pattinson is also close to fashion photographer and stylist, Terry Richardson. They met during a photoshoot in 2008, and since then have collaborated on multiple projects, such as Lady Gaga’s 2011 album, ARTPOP and her 2017–2019 tour, AKA.
Perhaps the most interesting connection is that between Pattinson and stylist, Gabriela Hearst. The pair worked together on the 2015 movie, Mockingjay – Part 1, and subsequently became lifelong friends. Gabriela is the daughter of Hollywood actresses, Diane and Susan. They have since worked on several projects together, including the 2018 movie, The Lost City, and the 2019 horror mini-series, The Girl in the Green Dress.
While some celebrities enjoy a carefully curated private life, with only a few close friends and family members, Pattinson has always been open about the intimate details of his upbringing, his friendships, and his work. He never really fitted into the teen category (he legally changed his name to Robert Pattinson in 2012), and has spoken frankly about dealing with his fame. In 2012, he told Elle, “Being a celebrity is a total pain in the ass; it’s not as fun as it looks.”
The Fastest-Growing Sub-Category
In terms of the speed at which his career blossomed, there’s really only one word to use: DiCaprio. The Italian actor took on the role of Don Juan many years before it was originally planned, and went on to become one of the biggest movie stars of our time. In 2015, Pattinson appeared with DiCaprio in The Lobster, and the two have since worked together on several projects, including the upcoming Fahrenheit 11/9 and The Devil We Know. When asked about his friendship with the superstar, Pattinson told Vanity Fair, “I wouldn’t say we’re best friends, but I definitely consider him a friend. We’ve enjoyed working together.”
Pattinson’s rise to fame is also interesting in light of the “new media” revolution. Back in 2009, when he first hit the big time, everything was done manually. A lot of journalists, bloggers, and celebrities operated under the radar, with relatively small circles of friends and family. Now, of course, people are more digitally aware, and content is being consumed on social media platforms, such as Twitter and Instagram, at an alarming rate.
In the future, we will undoubtedly see more established stars operating in the public eye, with stylists, make-up artists, and photographers by their side, as they navigate this new world.
In 2012, Pattinson noted the change, saying, “The generation that’s growing up now doesn’t know what a secret is. They’ve never had to keep a lid on their true feelings about something or somebody. They’ve never seen a need to. For them, privacy doesn’t exist.” And perhaps it doesn’t. While we still value our right to privacy, we also value our celebrity. And with that, comes a certain set of responsibilities. The information we share and the people we choose to be around certainly influence how we are perceived, by others and ourselves. So while we might not always want people to know our business or our private feelings, we also don’t want to hide who we are, because perhaps our true friends and fans wouldn’t like it if we did. It’s a tricky line to walk, but one that more celebrities will face as they navigate the “new normal” of the future.