By: Micheal Nelson
Behind every iconic celebrity photograph is a photographer’s vision, and no vision is trusted more than that of award winning duo, Markus Klinko and Indrani Pal-Chaudhuri. Markus + Indrani, as they are professionally known, have spent nearly two decades producing iconic images of the most provocative celebrities of our day, with their work appearing on album covers and ad campaigns across the world.
Markus, a former major harp soloist, and Indrani, a model and Princeton University grad, began collaborating after a serendipitous meeting, shortly following Markus’ decision to peruse photography. Their work was soon discovered by fashion icon Isabella Blow, who gave them their first magazine cover, followed by David Bowie and Iman who commissioned their first album art and book cover. Since then, the duo has created numerous critically acclaimed and award-winning editorials, album covers, and ad-campaigns with celebrities including Kate Winslet, Katie Holmes, Eva Mendes, Anne Hathaway, Will Smith, Elijah Wood, Alicia Keys, Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez, Christina Aguilera, Keanu Reeves, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Val Kilmer, Serena Williams, Jay-Z, and Kanye West. They have also worked with advertising clients Elizabeth Arden, Hugo Boss, Anna Sui, Shiseido, L’Oreal Paris, Pepsi, Nike, Puma, Pantene, Baume-et-Mercier, De Beers; and their photography is seen in numerous publications including Flaunt, Rolling Stone, Interview, V Magazine, Vanity Fair and Vogue.
Recently, their exploits were covered in the popular Bravo reality series “Double Exposure,” which documented their photo shoots and artistic adventures with celebrities Lady Gaga, Dita Von Teese, Lindsay Lohan, Kim Kardashian, and Naomi Campbell, among others.
Now, for the first time, Markus + Indrani are celebrating years of success with their new book, “ICONS.” This glossy 9″ x 12″ book features over 200 pages of fascinating artists, stars of music, fashion and the Hollywood A-list, including some of their most recognized images and never-before-seen shots of celebrities. As an added bonus, each shot is accompanied by commentary by the duo, discussing the inspiration and story behind each image. The text not only provides the reader with a glimpse into a celebrity photo shoot but also exposes a fascinating, and often humorous, story about how partners collaborate and create art.
With 18 years worth of dazzling, images, the unique esthetic captured in these unforgettable portraits makes “ICONS” appealing to both the celebrity enthusiast and the fashion aficionado. It’s an enthralling book that cements Markus and Indrani themselves as fashion icons.