Irving Penn was an American photographer, known globally for his simple, yet elegant fashion portraits. Born in 1917, Penn grew up to attend the Philadelphia Museum School of Industrial Arts from 1934 to 1938. He gained heavy experience as an artist working with Alexey Bradcovich in his design laboratory, as well as several other jobs as an art director. Working in studios for so many years helped him discover his true passion for indoor fashion photography. He worked towards mastering the skill of light and shadows, something that was very prevalent with his style of photography. With exposure to magazines, exhibits, and galleries, he learned the principles of modern art and design. 

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In 1943, Vogue Magazine hired Penn and featured several of his photos. Soon, he was being sent around the world to work with famous models and celebrities, such as Pablo Picasso and Charlie Chaplin. Penn created an unprecedented 165 covers—more than any other single photographer and spent 66 of his 92 years working with Vogue. The publication heavily influenced his style of work and allowed Penn to make a name for himself. 

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Penn has a very distinct style: a simple white back drop, bold eyes, no smile, and high contrast. His photos share a dramatic mood that is further emphasized by the model's stiff body language and lack of complex patterns in the image. His photos naturally draw the viewer's eyes to the model's outfit by avoiding a distracting environment or several props. Therefore, his photos have the amazing ability of capturing a beautiful design with the use of nothing but a simple and elegant technique.