Photographer Alexi Lubomirski, who took Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s engagement photos, has come a long way since studying at the University of Brighton – and he remembers his time here fondly.
From his studio in New York, Alexi said: “The course at Brighton was fantastic at offering me an opportunity to explore idea-based photography and really delve into the conceptual side of subject analysis.”
Awarded a photography degree from the University in 1999, Alexi said of his Royal assignment: “It was an incredible honour to be asked to document this wonderful event, but also a great privilege to be invited to share and be a witness to this young couple’s love for one another. I cannot help but smile when I look at the photos that we took of them, such was their happariness together.”
Alexi was born in England to a Peruvian/English mother and a Polish/French father. At the age of eight, he moved to Botswana with his mother and English stepfather. It was his stepfather who gave him his first camera at 11, the same age when he learned he was a Prince who could trace his royal lineage through the Polish House of Lubomirski which stretches back 500 years.
Alexi’s serious interest in photography developed whilst travelling in Peru during a gap year at college and his focus later shifted from social commentary to narrative-based fashion photography whilst studying at the University of Brighton.
Alexi Lubomirski
Alexi was making his rounds in London with his university portfolio when he was introduced to Mario Testino, who took Prince William and Kate Middleton’s engagement photographs. Alexi joined Mario in Paris as his assistant and towards the end of his four years with Mario, Alexi was chosen to shoot for FACE magazine and Harpers Bazaar US.
Alexi has since become an established name within the fashion industry and a favourite with celebrities including Beyoncé, Charlize Theron, Gwyneth Paltrow, Natalie Portman, Jennifer Lopez, Salma Hayek, Katy Perry, Sarah Jessica Parker, Jennifer Aniston, Julia Roberts, Nicole Kidman and Scarlett Johansson. He has held exhibitions and published books including one for his two sons on the “virtues of behaving in a manner befitting a prince in the 21st Century”.
Living with his wife Giada and children in New York, Alexi donates proceeds from his books to the charity Concern Worldwide.
Alexi is an ambassador for Concern Worldwide which describes itself as a global community of humanitarians, partners, community members, supporters, donors, and volunteers “who share a common vision of a world where no one lives in poverty, fear, or oppression, and all can exercise their rights to a decent standard of living, can have access to the opportunities and choices essential to a long, healthy, and creative life, and can be treated with dignity and respect”.
His book ‘Diversity’ focuses on inclusion and takes an enlightened approach to beauty. He said: “I really wanted to do a project where there are no boundaries set – nobody can say we can’t use her because she is too freckly or her hair is too crazy or she is too tall or she’s too big.
“I wanted to do a book that celebrated each of those ‘toos’ – so if she had freckles I want to celebrate those freckles or if she was plus size I want to celebrate her body.
“This book is about inclusion and celebrating everybody’s beauty.”
For more on Alexi, click on the video at: http://www.alexilubomirski.com/diverse-beauty
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