Herb Ritts

Herb Ritts (1952–2002) was an American photographer whose luminous, elegantly composed images helped define 1980s fashion and portrait photography. Born in Los Angeles, he brought a fresh outdoor aesthetic to the medium, staging many of his shoots under California’s “golden hour” light—those brief moments just before dawn or dusk—where strong shadows and pure highlights emphasize the sculptural qualities of his subjects. Ritts celebrated the human form with a classical sensibility, favoring clean lines, balanced compositions, and a reverence for shape and texture that set him apart from peers still working predominantly in studio settings.

Ritts’s intimate sense of portraiture and his innovative approach to fashion won him international acclaim. He photographed actors, musicians, and cultural icons—most notably Madonna, with whom he collaborated repeatedly—capturing them in spontaneous, playful moments that reveal both strength and vulnerability. Beyond still photography, Ritts directed thirteen music videos and over fifty commercials, often exploring the idealized figure through motion and narrative.

Throughout his career, Ritts’s work resonated across multiple genres, blurring the boundaries between art, fashion, and popular culture. His images have been exhibited in museums worldwide, and his catalog of work remains a touchstone for photographers and collectors alike. A retrospective at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, in 2025 reaffirmed his enduring influence, reminding a new generation of viewers why Herb Ritts’s vision continues to inspire.