The New Lens of Fashion: Top Photographers Defining 2026

Fashion photography in 2026 is a kaleidoscope of voices, each bending light and narrative to redefine how we see style. From surreal dreamscapes to cultural juxtapositions, these photographers are not only documenting fashion but actively shaping its meaning.

The Surrealists

This group thrives on dreamlike atmospheres, painterly compositions, and surreal juxtapositions.

Daniel Archer crafts cinematic dreamscapes that blur reality and imagination, using light and shadow to sculpt intimate atmospheres that transform garments into emotional symbols. His editorials are praised for merging technical mastery with emotional depth, making him one of the most compelling storytellers in fashion today.

Elizaveta Porodina brings a painterly, surreal approach, with bold colors and symbolic narratives that elevate fashion into fine art. Collaborations with Dior and Jean Paul Gaultier have cemented her reputation as a visionary who challenges conventional beauty standards.

Mous Lamrabat fuses Moroccan heritage with Western pop culture, creating surreal juxtapositions that challenge identity and globalization. His playful yet profound imagery has made him a standout voice in both fashion and fine art circles.

Bohdan Bohdanov experiments with “freezlight” techniques, producing ethereal, avant-garde imagery that pushes fashion into dreamlike territory. His bold, unconventional work is unapologetically experimental.

Marcin Kempski crafts magical realist campaigns for Dior and Louis Vuitton, transporting viewers into alternate realities. His cinematic set designs make him a sought-after name in luxury fashion.

Paul Kooiker explores fetishism and subconscious desires through surreal, conceptual imagery. His campaigns for Givenchy, Valentino, and Rick Owens, alongside editorial work for Vogue Italia, position him as one of the most enigmatic voices in contemporary fashion.

The Global Storytellers

These photographers bring cultural heritage and identity into fashion, using their lens to tell stories that resonate worldwide.

Jinging Yulin (Jingyu Lin) explores identity and nostalgia through minimalist yet textured imagery, collaborating with Dior and Vogue China. Her Asian-American heritage informs her fresh perspective on representation.

Han Yang creates surreal, symbolic images that explore vulnerability and cultural narratives. Exhibited at Christie’s and featured in Vogue Italia, her work amplifies underrepresented voices in the industry.

Giovanni Corabi bridges fine art and fashion, with poetic campaigns for Gucci and Versace alongside exhibitions at FOAM and Fondazione Prada. His intimate yet powerful imagery captures fleeting moments that feel timeless.

Gianluca Caruso brings Sicilian warmth into cinematic editorials, shooting Dolce & Gabbana and Ferragamo for Schön! and Spaghettimag. His storytelling approach uses natural light and emotional resonance.

The Cinematic Voices

These photographers blur the line between fashion and film, creating immersive worlds and narrative-driven imagery.

Alexis Belhumeur injects cinematic cool into fashion, merging editorial with music and sports culture in projects for OVO x WNBA and Vitaly. His raw, stylish imagery makes him a cross-disciplinary voice in contemporary photography.

Gabriel Moses redefines fashion with baroque-inspired, cinematic visuals for Dior, Burberry, and Adidas. His intimate yet grand imagery has made him one of the most talked-about young photographers today.

Marili Andre blends fashion and cinema in enigmatic editorials, creating suspenseful, atmospheric worlds for Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. Her narrative-driven style positions her as a storyteller who blurs boundaries between photography and film.

The Emerging Vanguard

This group represents the playful, experimental, and digital-savvy generation pushing fashion photography into new spaces.

Kraaps uses reflections and editing as artistic tools, proving that self-taught innovation can rival tradition. His bold, emotionally charged style is redefining editorial photography.

Mariette Garault blends vintage fashion with bold colors, appealing to both editorial and digital audiences. Her playful, whimsical imagery highlights how digital culture is reshaping fashion photography.

Leslie Zhang is a Shanghai-based photographer working across portraits, documentary, and fashion, with a distinctive style built around bold primary colors and strong composition. What really drives his work is this deep connection to Chinese nostalgia - specifically the feelings and aesthetics from his own memories of growing up in China.

That focus on nostalgia and memory, combined with his use of vivid colors (especially red) and traditional Chinese cultural elements, gives his fashion and portrait work a painterly, almost dreamlike quality. It's fashion photography, but filtered through a very personal lens of cultural memory and sentimen

Together, these photographers and designers form a constellation of voices shaping fashion in 2026. From Archer’s dreamscapes to Lamrabat’s cultural juxtapositions, from Porodina’s painterly surrealism to Belhumeur’s cinematic cool, they prove that fashion photography is no longer just about clothes — it’s about world-building, identity, and cultural commentary.