A Moment With...Mario Testino

2012 October 3

Mario Testino
Billy Farrell Agency View Gallery

Mario Testino might be the busiest guy in the industry, but he took a break from his weekly schedule of shooting Kate Moss for the cover of something to sit front row at Valentino at Espace Ephémère Tuileries this afternoon in Paris. Jennifer Lopez (avec Casper Smart) was also in the (boiling) house, and sat next to Valentino. We asked Testino for a few thoughts on Saint Laurent, Valentino and Ms. Lopez...

What's your favorite J. Lo song?
I never know the names, but I love lots of them. Every time I work with her we listen to them all day long.

What's been your most memorable shoot with her?
I've done so many with her. Vanity Fair was amazing when she was naked in the white fur coat sitting on a table. I like them all! I did a shoot with her in Miami, and we were hounded by the paparazzi; I was afraid that their pictures were going to appear before my pictures. I was a little bit worried!

What did you think of Saint Laurent?
It was a beautiful show, and I'm sure a lot of people would wear the clothes, but I would have loved to have seen some of the designs and cuts that [Hedi Slimane] did for the men's collection so brilliantly. Is he doing the men as well? I hope so! I wore a lot of his things when he did.

The show got mixed reviews...
It's so hard to judge people on their first show. It's a bit unfair. They have to find their ground. I wouldn't be so quick to judge. I would have loved to have seen more of Hedi Slimane in the collection.

What's it like photographing Valentino?
Amazing! He's somebody that knows that when you do what you do, you do it to the maximum level. He's in a few of my books. I'm always shooting him. He's so iconic.

Daily Front Row