It seems even the most reputable photographers in the industry aren’t immune from criticism. During a photo session with the Queen herself, Annie Leibovitz was “scolded” for asking her to remove her crown for a few shots.
Revealed as part of BBC One’s documentary “A Year with the Queen,” the exchange happened during a 2007 shoot which was taking place in the US. Leibovitz is quoted as asking:
Could we try without the crown? It would look better, less dressy. The garter robe is so...
It was here that the Queen cut in, remarking: "Less dressy? What do you think this is?" She claimed removing her crown would involve having to revert back to the dressing room in order to tidy up her hair again. It was here one of the Queen’s assistants explained that once the crown was off, it couldn’t be put back on.
Interestingly, when the clip was first used in a trailer for the documentary, the BBC were forced to issue an apology after they falsely made it seem the Queen had left the set as a result of the conversation, which in actual fact was not true. Their statement read:
In this trailer, there is a sequence that implies that the Queen left a sitting prematurely. This was not the case, and the actual sequence of events was misrepresented. The BBC would like to apologise to both the Queen and Annie Leibovitz for any upset this may have caused.
Check out the clip to see the pair exchange words and how the rest of the shoot went.
She should have known...it's not some cheesy fashion shoot for Instagram. It was the queen of the world's most significant superpower...hundreds of years old.
And yet if you watch through to the next frame, she isn't wearing it anymore.
Meaning what?
That she isn't savvy enough to realize these are different times and she needs to play along?
Well apparently her request wasn't as ridiculous as you would suggest, given that she took it off.
It was a ridiculous request.
The subject was probably talked to in private. "This is the world we live in now...play along"
We all do things that are ridiculous to survive.
you have too much free time if this is the kind of thing you like to complain about........
Actually I have lot's of free time at this point in the year...but who's complaining?
Let me get this straight....
“It was the queen of the world's most significant superpower...hundreds of years old”
“The subject was probably talked to in private.”
That’s literally the definition of trying to have it both ways.
You are slow on the uptake huh...ok.
I am already regretting having chimed in here - Leigh Miller : are you STONED ?! Have you ever seen A L do a cheesy Fashion Shoot for Instagram ? lol ... " different times and she needs to play along " - A L needs to play along - that is the funniest thing I ever heard ! I just looked at your work - and now I get it : you life breath the concept of ' having to play along ' ! Next time you comment on a legendary - Game Changing Photographer - be so kind and do a little research - analyze their careers - figure out why they became who they are today - and why they're so successful and influential ! A L became A L because she did NOT play along - she asked her models to do the most outrageous things - if it is a day-laborer or the f__ queen of Brexit ....
Does anyone speak Dutch? I’m interested in what Erwin Olaf has to say about that short clip.
Since he wasn't mentioned in the article, I wasn't sure if anyone else realized that was him! Another great photographer in his own right.
He was very amused by Annie Leibovitz saying 'less dressy' and asking the Queen to take of her crown.
He also said that he wouldn't dare to ask this but that Ms. Leibovitz had to because it was her vision for some of the pictures.. I also think the Queen reacted with humor and wasn't very upset by her question..
By the way.. wonderful portfolio Mr. Wilson
Thanks for the translation and the kind words my friend.
I have no dog in this hunt. But I believe it's easy to say she should have known better. In the end Annie would be judged only on the final images. That's all. Everything in that final image, every detail is the artist's responsibility. So she should at least ask. I have no need to argue this with anyone so if you disagree with me your take is just as valid as mine.
Well stated, Jim. Love or hate Liebowitz... at least she has the guts to ask. :)
I think that I saw this video a decade ago, it’s old news. Let the Queen wear whatever she likes.
Hmmm... read the whole article. The truth comes out. The BBC sensationalized the moment by implying things that weren't so.
Of course her crown comes off. However, like any lady of such quality... her hair needed to be reset. Bad form, BBC... making the Queen look like a primadonna for a viewing grab.
I don't know what the fuss is about. I believe that Leibovitz has the right to ask the queen to remove her crown, and of course, the "Q" could refuse. However, does she not put her knickers on the same way everyone else does?
Huzzah! :)
Slow news day?
All those assistants to set the lights, set the camera and just her to click the button before giving it to her retoucher to finish the image, hard work. I watched her tutorials on masterclass and the whole time I was thinking I should be watching one from the people that do the work for her.
I think at a point it's because of your name that you get hired. Like with everything else in life. You become 'big' and everyone wants a piece, which in turn makes you bigger. Could they hire someone without the name and get exactly the same, equivalent or better shots? Probably. Would they? Nah, they want YOU!
I used to gripe and complain and feel the same.. but to put it another way.. you hire somebody for their vision and proven ability to deliver, not their technical expertise. AT&T bet on Steve Jobs for his vision, not because he could assemble iphones off the assembly line or write code for apps.
Anyone can shoot the queen with the crown.
This is a hilarious situation. I wish she took a picture of the Queen's facial expression when she asked her to take off the crown. Reminds me of Yousuf Karsh taking away Churchill's cigar.
Funny thing is that in this clip Erwin Olaf and the interviewer go on about the Dutch Royals. Erwin suggests that they should get Mario Testino to do a shoot. Now, years later, Erwin Olaf himself is pretty much the household photographer for all official portraits of the dutch royals! His work is exquisite!
Annie wasn't scolded. The Queen was using classic semi-sarcastic British humor.
At 2:15 in the video, the Queen is clearly smiling, because it was indeed a funny situation -- Annie saying the outfit would be less dressy without the crown.
Yeah, the Queen has the most English of English humour, I don't think anyone who's not English would even recognise it as humour.
Annie has been around a very long time and has been at the top most of the time. People can say what they want. She should or shouldn't of told the queen to take her crown off. Telling the queen to take off her crown for the photos was Annie's Vision. Many people here say they wouldn't, but Annie shoots in her vision. People, Vanity Fairs Issue "THE QUEEN" chose to show the Queen's Photograph without the Crown. I guess Annie's Vision was right. By the way the Queen like that photograph so much, she had Annie Photograph her & her family on other occasions.
That's not a British person scolding someone.
That's a British person taking the piss out of themselves.
Sorry, but Annie should've known better. You don't just tell her majesty "Could we try without the crown?". Instead, you walk up to her, and privately (and quietly) ask her without anyone else hearing you, whether she'd feel comfortable taking a few portraits without the crown. And whatever answer you get, you smile and thank her, and proceed. That's just the right way to communicate with a subject of this stature. We photograph VIPs on a regular basis, including royal families. I would never yell across a room a request like that.
Nothing wrong with asking. Americans generally have a far different view of "royalty" than Europeans.
I'm still trying to wrap my head around all those assistants to take what is essentially a pretty simple portrait.
She had 11 assistants because she probably had 5 shooting areas set up and ready go when the queen was. That is how celebrity shoots go, I could tell when Annie was in town for a shoot when I showed up to work the overnight shift at PIX in LA. Most all of the profoto gear was gone, a lot of the grip gear was gone and many RZ67 bodies lenses and backs were gone. According to her assistant she likes to shoot different film stock so there may be 10 backs if one film and 10 back of an other at each shooting location. They need multiple lenses of each focal length in case something happens. Backups of backups.
Sadly I had check all that stuff in a few times, took half of the day...
In my professional opinion she shouldnt have asked the queen. She should have known better and had better awareness to do such a thing to royalty. Sometimes the best policy is asking for forgiveness instead of permission, as it would have been in this case. She should have simply taken the crown from the queen without asking and taken the photo. Maybe she could have let her daughter wear it and also get some photos of her with the crown on as well. Additionally she could have put the gifted flowers from her daughter, on the queens head in lieu of the crown for an interesting and more artistic look. I would also like to suggest that perhaps next time she have the crown placed on the floor so that the queen could sit on it, and then put the chair, on the queens head instead. I think we can all agree that this would be the look of the people and is one of uniqueness. My final thoughts on this debacle and something I think we can all agree on, is Annie should have thought to of sat on the chair her self, give the queen the camera, and let her take the photos. How dare Annie steal the power from the queen in such a way.
"Annie should have known better" ?
I think many photographer in here should know better.
She was standing in front of the Queen. If you can make the Queen sit and do what you want as a photographer and get an unconventional shot, you have to try it.
the take away here is: guts.
That's why Annie got the shoot, she was not afraid to ask the queen to do something. If you are afraid of your subject you may not get interesting photos, you will probably get a run of the mill portrait.
In honour of my school friend Derek Pugh, who had this on his book cover. Behold, the Queen's nose.
What you may not know, people of the world, is that our Queen is renowned for her sense of humour and dry wit. Something you have just witnessed first hand. Believe me, if you were British, you'd be rolling around on the floor by now. Honest!
I'm Canadian and I thought it was hella funny.
Wish she was my grandma.
That's why we like you Blah, you're a man after our own colonial hearts!
the guy in the blue shirt is Erwin Olaf, international artist. google him he does amazing work.