RANKIN: Inside the incredible life of one of the world's most successful photographers
Rankin's portfolio is one of the most impressive you'll ever see. He can count Queen Elizabeth II, Adele, David Bowie, and Madonna among his subjects, as well as supermodel Heidi Klum who he also counts as a close friend.
He's best-known for his striking portraiture, and when asked who his favourite person to photograph is, he says he still enjoys photographing his wife, model Tuuli Shipster (pictured), more than anyone.
The fashion industry is notoriously competitive and getting to the top is no easy feat. Rankin's work ethic is unparalleled?. He didn't start photographing until he was 21 years old. "The minute I picked up a camera I was hooked, almost like a drug," he says. Since then, he has worked tirelessly, telling Business Insider that every day starts at 5 a.m. and doesn't finish till 8.30 p.m. — sometimes even later.
Kate Moss is his favourite celebrity to photograph, but, despite a portfolio packed with big names, he insists that there was no "big break moment." He writes on his website: "I worked hard consistently and knocked on doors until they all seemed to open at once."
His intense daily routine starts at 5am. The first three hours consist of emailing colleagues, pre-production and post-production of shoots, and assisting in the day-to-day running of the company and its magazines. He spends the rest of his day shooting until 7.30 p.m., and then another two hours on conference calls, often wrapping up at 9.30 p.m.
Rankin has a remarkable business acumen. The 50-year-old maintains that aside from his family, his biggest achievement is employing over 130 people in the creative industry and "creating a set of platforms for people to express themselves that's viewed by more than 4 million people per month."
On any given day, Rankin counts roughly 60 employees working full time for his company. That includes 20 people in his London studio, including six assistants, one Digitech, the "glam team," the styling team, the creative team, and the chef. There are an additional 40 people in the Rankin office.
In January, he was drafted? in to photograph Sir Ranulph Fiennes for Belstaff, one of the world's leading luxury fashion brands. This is just one of a vast collection of high-profile campaigns he has worked on.
He also shot the visual art for "Spectre," the latest James Bond movie, and photographed covers for Elle, Esquire, Vogue, Harpers Bazaar, GQ, Rolling Stone and Wonderland.
His work on Dove's "Real Women" campaign was also huge hit. It gave an unprecedented platform to women with body types? rarely seen in advertising and showcased Rankin's raw passion for photography, no matter the subject.
Juggling his career as one of the most in-demand photographers with his family life isn't easy. In the past, Rankin has said he sacrificed his personal life for success, but he's finding ways of making it work. "I have an amazing wife, who is very understanding," he explained. "I make sure I take most weekends off, though it took me a long time to realise how important that was."
Rankin lives in a penthouse above his studio in the Kentish Town area of London for most of the time. Although he has a place away from the city, where he can go to relax.
He understands all too well the importance of ambition. When asked what his best advice would be, he said: "Make honest work, find your style and realise early on that it’s a business as well as an art. Enthusiasm, energy and creativity are all essential qualities but remember to also put your work out there and to have opinions."
People won’t come to you," he says. "You need to reach them, and you’re competing with other ambitious individuals who also want what you want. Find your edge and run with it.
With his fourth publication well on its way, and a two-decade long career to his name, one wouldn't be blamed for thinking inspiration may be difficult to come by at this stage, but Rankin is consistently creating fresh ideas.
He told Business Insider: "People inspire me the most. I love meeting new people, hearing stories, getting excited by their work. The art of fashion is incredible and it took me a long time to understand it."
Rankin shows no sign of slowing down, and still has huge goals. Photographing Barack Obama and Sean Penn is on his bucket-list. Pictured below is Gisele Bundchen, the highest-paid supermodel in the world.
Despite being a fashion photographer, he doesn't consider his work "fashionable." In an interview with The Guardian, he said: "I think the most important thing in photography is that your work survives the test of time."
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