Mario Testino facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mario Testino OBE
Testino in 2014
Born	Mario Eduardo Testino Silva 30 October 1954 (1954-10-30) (age 70) Lima, Peru
Education	Universidad del Pacífico Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru University of San Diego (attended)
Known for	Photographer

Mario Eduardo Testino Silva (born October 30, 1954) is a very famous fashion and portrait photographer from Peru. He has been given an award called the OBE for his work.

His photos have been seen in top magazines all over the world. These include Vogue, V Magazine, Vanity Fair, and GQ. He has also taken pictures for big fashion brands. Some of these brands are Gucci, Burberry, Versace, Michael Kors, and Chanel. Besides photography, Testino also works as a creative director. He has also started a museum and collects art.

He is known as one of the busiest and most successful fashion photographers in the world.

Early Life and First Steps

Mario Testino was born in Lima, Peru. He grew up in a Roman Catholic family. He was the oldest of six children. His family had roots in Spain, Italy, and Ireland. He went to a Catholic school called Santa Maria Marianistas. When he was a child, he even thought about becoming a priest.

He first studied economics at two universities in Peru. These were La Universidad del Pacífico and the Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru. He also attended the University of San Diego for a short time.

In 1976, he decided to move to London. He wanted to study photography there. He had left his studies in economics and law behind. In London, he learned a lot by working with other photographers. He lived in a simple shared house and did not have much money. He worked as a waiter to pay for his studies. To get noticed, he even dyed his hair pink! He was inspired by the British photographer Cecil Beaton. London was a place where he felt free to express himself. He felt it was different from Peru, where he felt more restricted.

His photos first appeared in Vogue magazine in 1983. In the early 1990s, Testino found inspiration from his childhood in Peru. He also looked back at his teenage summers in Brazil. This helped him create his unique style of photography.

A Career in Photography

Mario Testino has become one of the most famous fashion photographers globally. He has photographed many well-known people. These include movie stars, musicians, supermodels, and artists. He also takes pictures of people he meets during his travels. His work has been shown in many popular magazines. Some of these are Vogue, V Magazine, Vanity Fair, and GQ.

He has had 18 exhibitions of his work. More than 16 books have been published about his photographs. Suzy Menkes, an editor for Vogue, says that Testino is great at capturing special moments. She also says he shows the real human side of the people he photographs.

Some of Testino's most famous pictures are his portraits of royal families. His photos of Diana, Princess of Wales in 1997 are especially well-known. These pictures were taken for Vanity Fair magazine. He said that photographing Diana opened doors for him. After that, he photographed many other royal families in Europe. He loved showing their traditions and family history.

Testino was also the official photographer for the engagement of Prince William and Catherine. This was in December 2010. In July 2015, he took the official photos of the British royal family. This was after Princess Charlotte of Cambridge's christening. He has photographed many other royal families in a similar way.

In the mid-1990s, Testino worked with Tom Ford and stylist Carine Roitfeld. They created exciting advertising campaigns for Gucci. Many people believe this work helped make Gucci a top fashion brand again.

Anna Wintour, the editor of American Vogue, once said something important. She explained that fashion photography mixes art and business. She believes Mario understands this mix better than anyone.

Testino is also known for helping supermodels like Gisele Bündchen and Kate Moss become even more famous. He kept photographing them, which helped their careers. In 2013, he started a fun project on Instagram called the 'Towel Series'. In these photos, famous people like musicians, actors, and models wear only towels. This series became very popular. Many of his followers copied it, and celebrities wanted to be part of it.

Terence Pepper, a photography expert, called Testino the "John Singer Sargent of our times." Sargent was a famous painter. In 2002, an exhibition of Testino's portraits was held in London. It attracted more visitors than any other show at that museum for many years. The exhibition then traveled around the world.

Testino has also explored fine art. He often visits art galleries and artist studios. He has worked with artists like Keith Haring and Julian Schnabel.

Helping Others (Philanthropy)

Mario Testino has been recognized for his help with many charities. In 2010, he received a high honor in Peru, his home country. It was called The Grand Cross Order of Merit. In 2014, he became the President of the Board for World Monuments Fund Peru. This group works to protect important historical sites.

As an ambassador for Save the Children, he helped raise money. This money was used to build a clinic in Peru. The clinic was for children with tuberculosis in an area hit by a big earthquake in 2007. The clinic was built entirely from the sale of one photo. This was a portrait of Princess Diana. It sold for £100,000.

He also helped raise money for Natalia Vodianova's Naked Heart Foundation. This money built a playground at a children's hospital in Moscow. This hospital specializes in treating cancer. This cause is very important to Mario.

In July 2013, Testino opened his own non-profit organization in Lima, Peru. It is called Museo Mario Testino (MATE). This museum helps to show and promote Peruvian art and culture. Testino restored an old mansion built in 1898 for the museum. It has a permanent display of his own work. It also has a space for temporary exhibitions by other artists.

Awards and Recognition

Mario Testino has received many awards for his work and his charity efforts.

See also

In Spanish: Mario Testino para niños