By Eduardo Freccia. Photographs by Mikhael Grinblat.

We could rephrase a classical quote as ‘a fashion book about photography is worth a thousand words!’ Fashion photography books can inspire generations of people, express emotions and feelings, cultivate thousands of references in small frames, expand pop culture and transform icons.
There is always a cult person behind a photographer’s lens, from Annie Leibovitz’s famous photo of John Lennon and Yoko Ono for Rolling Stone taken in December 1980, hours before the singer was murdered, to Peter Lindbergh’s iconic photograph for British Vogue in 1990 with supermodels Naomi, Linda, Tatjana, Christy, and Cindy. From iconic fashion photography to the inspiring stories behind the most celebrated shots, there is always storytelling in the flashes.
Read on to discover our list of the 5 must-read fashion photography books that will fuel your inspiration.

Fashion photography books must have: Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty (Yale University Press, 2011)

In life, genius fashion designer Alexander McQueen commented in an interview: “I saw myself within the public eye as the gazelle. And the gazelle always got eaten.” 
Undoubtedly the most influential, imaginative, and provocative designer of his generation, Alexander McQueen was also remarkably prolific: he reached a point in his career where he was creating 18 collections per year. Unfortunately, combined with depression and after the death of his beloved mother, Joyce McQueen, he took his own life in 2010. But his work and the creative imagination of this revolutionary creative will be remembered forever.
Created by Andrew Bolton with contributions from Tim Blanks and Susannah Frankel, the book “Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty” features striking photographs of accurate mannequins that reach back to all aesthetic periods with Lee’s designs.

Helmut Newton. Legacy (Taschen, 2021) is one of the massive fashion photography books selection

His work transcends genres, infusing fashion photography and portraits with elegance, style, and voyeurism. Encompassing a span of over fifty years and traversing an unparalleled range of realms, the visionary photography of Helmut Newton (1920–2004) reached millions through publications in prestigious magazines such as Vogue and Elle.
This book delves into the unique style of Helmut Newton’s photography. It explores how he captured the personalities of his models and how he created his identity as a fashion photographer that continues to influence generations of photographers.
“Helmut Newton. Legacy” showcases his iconic projects spanning 50 years, featuring famous black and white photos of Elsa Peretti as Bunny or his muse Monica Bellucci in various character roles. This refined book is a must-have for all those who enjoy fashion photography.

Among the most imaginative fashion photography books: Nick Knight (Harper, 2009)

Nick Knight is an example of an image maker that combines illusions, juxtapositions, and surreal editions of images with models. He created a new aesthetic for fashion photography, with a milestone in 1995, to bring a new concept and move away from traditional photos from previous decades. With a portfolio that spans more than 30 years, featuring collaborations with artists like Björk, Gareth Pugh and Massive Attack, this book covers the British photographer’s work, his personal style and eye-catching taste. 
It is an elegant piece of work that every fashion professional should have on their shelf.

Annie Leibovitz: Portraits: 2005-2016 (Phaidon, 2017)

Annie Leibovitz’s photography has a quality that goes beyond the physical image. Her photographs capture emotions and portray people in unique ways, and use settings, colour, saturation and textures to create an unmistakable style. It’s easy to recognise her photographs even without being told that she took them, which is a particularly relevant element in the Fashion Industry.
In an interview, Anna Wintour once said that asking Nicole Kidman to travel overnight from Australia to the USA for a Vogue photo shoot might be difficult, but if Annie Leibovitz were the photographer, Kidman would take the first flight.

Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination (The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2018)

After the 2018 MET Gala, the iconic book curated by Andrew Bolton delves into the relationship between fashion and Catholicism, which is not just a historical and cultural element but brings notions that permeate religion and spirituality. Its undeniable references to the Catholic Church and its imagery have always influenced many fashion designers from the 20th century to the present day.
The book features an extensive archive of iconic pieces by renowned designers and a curated assortment of ecclesiastical vestments and accessories from the Vatican collection, several of which have never been unveiled to the public before. Artist Katerina Jebb worked alongside the team to make thousands of scans of the garments and create stunning collages and juxtapositions, ensuring that the photos showcased all the details and textures of the pieces.