29 Facts About Annie Leibovitz

Anna-Lou Leibovitz is an American portrait photographer best known for her portraits, particularly of celebrities, which often feature subjects in intimate settings and poses.

Annie Leibovitz's father was a lieutenant colonel in the US Air Force of Romanian-Jewish heritage and her mother was a modern dance instructor of Estonian-Jewish heritage.

Annie Leibovitz's passion for art was born out of her mother's engagement with dance, music, and painting.

Annie Leibovitz attended the San Francisco Art Institute, where she studied painting with the intention of becoming an art teacher.

Annie Leibovitz was inspired by the work of Robert Frank and Henri Cartier-Bresson.

For many years Annie Leibovitz's camera of choice was a Mamiya RZ67.

Annie Leibovitz worked for the magazine until 1983, and her intimate photographs of celebrities helped define the Rolling Stone look.

Annie Leibovitz photographed the Rolling Stones in San Francisco in 1971 and 1972, and served as the concert-tour photographer for the Rolling Stones' Tour of the Americas '75.

Annie Leibovitz's favorite photo from the tour was a photo of Mick Jagger in an elevator.

On December 8,1980, Annie Leibovitz had a photo shoot with John Lennon for Rolling Stone, and she promised him he would make the cover.

Annie Leibovitz initially tried to get a picture with just Lennon alone, as Rolling Stone wanted, but Lennon insisted that both he and Yoko Ono be on the cover.

Annie Leibovitz then tried to re-create something like the kissing scene from the couple's Double Fantasy album cover, a picture Annie Leibovitz loved.

Annie Leibovitz had John remove his clothes and curl up next to Yoko on the floor.

Annie Leibovitz photographed celebrities for an international advertising campaign for American Express charge cards, which won a Clio award in 1987.

In 1991, Annie Leibovitz mounted an exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery.

Annie Leibovitz was the second living portraitist and first woman to show there.

That same year, Annie Leibovitz was made by the French government.

Also in 1991, Annie Leibovitz emulated Margaret Bourke-White's feat by mounting one of the eagle gargoyles on the 61st floor of the Chrysler Building in Manhattan, where she photographed the dancer David Parsons cavorting on another eagle gargoyle.

In 1994, Annie Leibovitz photographed Carl Lewis for Pirelli's famous Power Is Nothing Without Control ad campaign.

In 2007, a major retrospective of Annie Leibovitz's work was held at the Brooklyn Museum.

In 2015, Annie Leibovitz was the principal photographer for the 2016 Pirelli calendar.

In 2007, the BBC misrepresented Annie Leibovitz's portrait shooting of Queen Elizabeth II to take the Queen's official picture for her state visit to Virginia.

In 2008, Annie Leibovitz choreographed a photoshoot featuring LeBron James and Gisele Bundchen that appeared on the cover of Vogue.

Annie Leibovitz gave birth to her first, Sarah Cameron Leibovitz, in October 2001 when Leibovitz was 52 years old.

Annie Leibovitz had a close relationship with writer and essayist Susan Sontag from 1989 until Sontag's death in 2004.

In February 2009, Annie Leibovitz borrowed million, after having experienced financial challenges, putting up several houses as well as the rights to all of her photographs as collateral.

Under the agreement, Annie Leibovitz retains control over her work and will be the "exclusive agent in the sale of her real property and copyrights".

In March 2010, Colony Capital concluded a new financing and marketing agreement with Annie Leibovitz, paying off Art Capital and removing or reducing the risks to Annie Leibovitz of losing her artistic works and real estate.

In December 2012, Annie Leibovitz listed her West Village townhouse for sale at $33 million, stating she wanted to move closer to her daughter.