London-based Dave Benett has been photographing celebrities and royalty since the eighties. While he initially stuck to news and sports when he started his career in the 1970s, Benett moved on to the highly entertaining world of the London party scene.
Benett told HELLO! that reps laid out the ground rules before giving him the go-head to snap their clients. “They said, ‘You have eight seconds to photograph them’, and that’s what we did. And they’re giggling and laughing and having a great time.”
His secret?
“Always be friendly,” Benett said. “Most of them you get to know over the years, and a relationship builds from that.”
Now, with a little help from his daughter, Benett’s work is showcased on his Instagram account.
“Camille – she’s my creative director – said, ‘Dad we should do some stuff’, and she started putting it up only a few months ago,” Benett told the magazine.
“Camille said, ‘Dad, people have forgotten what you shot… and look at the access we were getting!”
Benett says this one of Princess Diana (in Catherine Walker) and Liza Minelli at the 1991 premiere of Stepping Out is his favorite:
The patron saints of comedy:
The Princess of Wales at the Royal Gala performance of Swan Lake at London’s Royal Albert Hall on June 3rd, 1997 wearing Jacques Azagury and jewelry on loan from Garrard.
Pats, is that you?
Bless This:
“One is out of one’s element.”
Ok I love this guy #LacroixDahling
A throwback for the ages.
A tip of the hat to you, Mr. Benett. Give this man something shiny from the British Empire.
Leave a Reply