David LaChapelle

David LaChapelle (born March 11, 1963 Fairfield, Connecticut, United States) is a photographer and director who works in the fields of fashion, advertising, and fine art photography, and is noted for his surreal, unique and often humorous style.
LaChapelle attended the North Carolina School of the Arts and the School of Visual Arts in New York City. His first photograph was of his single mother, Helga LaChapelle, on a family vacation in Puerto Rico.She wore a bikini and held a martini glass on a balcony.From then on he was obsessed with photography.His first professional job as a photographer was offered by Andy Warhol for Interview magazine.LaChapelle has four published books of his photographs, including LaChapelle Land and Hotel LaChapelle, both containing vivid and bizarre portraits of celebrities such as Marilyn Manson, Drew Barrymore and Uma Thurman.LaChapelle directed singer Elton John’s show, The Red Piano at Las Vegas’ Caesars Palace, which premiered in 2004. The show features extensive use of video technology on an LED screen backing the show that, when built, was promoted as the largest and brightest of all time. Several of John’s songs during the performance are accompanied by short films by LaChapelle.

LaChapelle’s film Rize, a documentary on the krumping style of dance that invaded South Central Los Angeles, premiered at Sundance in 2005 and was released theatrically that summer.He was the original director of Madonna’s video for the 2005 hit Hung Up but fell apart due to creative differences with Madonna.He has directed advertisements for major stores. In 2006 he directed “Romeo and Juliet,” a 5-minute commercial for H&M’s new denim brand and “Tis the Season to be Gorgeous,” a humorous Christmas commercial for UK retailer Boots Group showing very glamorous, self-indulgent women doing relatively mundane Christmas tasks. Also in the UK, he directed the surreal Lost trailers for Channel 4, show the cast dancing in 1920s costume among the burning wreckage on the beach. In addition to this, he directed Channel 4′s promotion of Desperate Housewives season one.

It is also known that David LaChapelle is slated to do the cover artwork for Courtney Love’s new album, according to Love’s posts on her website MoonWashedRose.com.

Currently signed to HSI London (UK) and HSI Production (USA), previously worked with Venus Entertainment (USA). His directing work includes music videos for artists including:

1994

Penny Ford – “I’ll Be There”

1997

The Dandy Warhols – “Not If You Were The Last Junkie On Earth”
Space Monkeys – Sugar Cane

2000

Kelis – “Good Stuff”
Moby – “Natural Blues”
Enrique Iglesias – “Sad Eyes” (Unreleased)

2001

Elton John – “This Train Don’t Stop There Anymore”
Mariah Carey feat. Da Brat & Ludacris – “Loverboy”

2002

Elton John – “Original Sin”
The Vines – “Outtathaway!”
Christina Aguilera feat. Redman – “Dirrty”
Avril Lavigne – “I’m With You”

2003

Jennifer Lopez – “I’m Glad”
Whitney Houston – “Try It on My Own”
Christina Aguilera feat. Lil’ Kim – “Can’t Hold Us Down”
Macy Gray – “She Ain’t Right for You”
Christina Aguilera – “The Voice Within”
Blink-182 – “Feeling This”
No Doubt – “It’s My Life”

2004

The Three Bad Girls – “Like You”
Britney Spears – “Everytime”
Joss Stone – “Super Duper Love”
Norah Jones – “Those Sweet Words”
Elton John – “Answer In The Sky”
Elton John – “All That I’m Allowed”
Gwen Stefani feat. Eve – “Rich Girl”

2005

Robbie Williams – “Advertising Space”

2006

Hilary Duff – “Supergirl” (cancelled)
Elton John – “Someone Saved My Life Tonight”

2007

Amy Winehouse – “Tears Dry On Their Own”
Jennifer Lopez – “Do It Well”

2008

Hilary Duff – “Reach Out”

LaChapelle also directed episodes of MTV’s Making The Video for “Dirrty”, “I’m Glad”, “Feeling This”.

BOOKS:

LaChapelle Land (1996)
Hotel LaChapelle (1999)
Artists and Prostitutes (2006)
Heaven to Hell (2006)

Awards

1995

“Best New Photographer of the Year” by both French Photo and American Photo magazines

1996

“Photographer of the Year Award” at the VH-1 Fashion Awards

1997

“Art Directors Club Award” for Best Book Design for LaChapelle Land

1998

Best “Cutting Edge Essay” and “Style Photography” at Life magazine’s Alfred Eisenstadt Awards for Magazine Photography (the Eisies)

1999

Honored in the “Cover of the Year” category at the Eisies

2000

Won “Best Video” for Moby’s “Natural Blues” at the MTV Europe Music Awards

2003

12th Annual MVPA (Music Video Production Association) Awards – Adult Contemporary Video of the year – Elton John “This Train Don’t Stop There Anymore”

2004

13th Annual MVPA Awards – Winner “Director of the Year” – “Best Rock Video of the Year” for No Doubt “It’s My Life”
Special Juried Prize Mountainfilm in Telluride
Special Juried Recognition in Sundance Film Festival
Winner of “Best documentary” in Aspen Film Festival

2006