Annie Leibovitz is one of the most influential contemporary American photographers. Born in Connecticut, Leibovitz moved frequently in her childhood due to father’s position in the US Air Force. She took her first photos in the Philippines during the Vietnam War. After studying painting at the San Francisco Art Institute, Leibovitz began working at Rolling Stone magazine, and after three years was named their Chief Photographer. She photographed every major band of the era, and famously took photos of John Lennon and Yoko Ono, hours before Lennon was murdered. In the 1980s Leibovitz moved to Vanity Fair, and has since had a hugely successful career in fashion and celebrity photography and portraiture, photographing influential figures including Queen Elizabeth II, Demi Moore, Kate Moss, Barack Obama and George Clooney.

She has exhibited in major galleries and museums, including MoMA and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and has published several monographs of her work, including WOMEN, a 2025 re-edition of the original 1999 book alongside a new volume, published by Phaidon. She was designated a Living Legend by the Library of Congress, and in March 2024 Leibovitz was inducted into the Académie des Beaux-Arts.

In this episode of Fashion Neurosis, Bella Freud and Annie Leibovitz discuss Susan Sontag, the magic of dance, and the Rolling Stones.

Part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.

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