Steven Meisel Shoots Nearly Identical Portfolio for W, Italian Vogue

**MissMagAddict** · 06-09-2011

source | wwd.com

Quote:

September 6, 2011
Steven Meisel Shoots Nearly Identical Portfolio for W, Italian Vogue
MEISEL’S MIRROR IMAGES: The staff of W landed a long-awaited coup for its September issue: Photographer Steven Meisel shot a 22-page black-and-white portfolio for the magazine. W staffers were pleased to have Meisel in their magazine and the portfolio was a hit in their Sixth Avenue offices. Meisel took 10 models and shot them in “before” and “after” shots — what they look like all dolled up alongside a more natural look. It appeared to be the beginning of a glorious relationship between Meisel and the new team at W.

The good feelings didn’t last long. In the last week, W staffers discovered that Meisel shot a nearly identical concept for the August Italian Vogue. Meisel did not inform them of this.

In the Italian Vogue portfolio, there are black-and-white photos of model Raquel Zimmermann dressed naturally juxtaposed with photos of her all dolled up. In some cases, she is in nearly identical poses to some of the models in W. In fact, Meisel used Zimmermann in two of his photos for the W portfolio. To make matters worse, this wasn’t something that could be swept under the carpet: Meisel’s portfolio was Italian Vogue’s cover story. One source said that some W insiders believe Meisel may have financed the Italian Vogue photo on their dime.

There are differences between the shoots: They were styled by different people (Karl Templer for Italian Vogue and Edward Enninful for W); W showcases different models (Linda Evangelista, Carolyn Murphy, Karen Elson and Jessica Stam, among others), while Italian Vogue uses only Zimmermann.

Meisel’s agent did not respond to an e-mail seeking comment. Stefano Tonchi, W’s editor in chief, declined to comment.

The fallout will be worth watching. If it damages W’s relationship with Meisel, Tonchi will lose out on a big-name photographer he’s craved for the magazine. If Tonchi doesn’t act, it will demonstrate the lengths a fashion magazine editor will go to appease a photographer who holds considerable influence in the industry.

Vogue Italia August 2011
Giorno e Notte
Photographer: Steven Meisel
Styling: Karl Templer
Model: Raquel Zimmermann

vogue.it via gilsa0870

**MissMagAddict** · 06-09-2011

W September 2011
Transformers
Models: Linda Evangelista, Karen Elson, Guinevere van Seenus,
Jamie Bochert, Raquel Zimmermann, Jessica Stam, Candice Huffine,
Aymeline Valade, Carolyn Murphy & Sun Fei Fei
Photographer: Steven Meisel
Stylist: Edward Enninful

source | models wmagazine via tarsha

**MissMagAddict** · 06-09-2011

...

source | models wmagazine via tarsha

Style Savvy · 06-09-2011

I knew those photos of Raquel looked familiar! But Meisel did a great job of camouflaging them with the other photos.

L.A.Woman85 · 06-09-2011

well this just proves that Meisel is running out of ideas.... kinda sad actually...

LagerfeldBoy · 06-09-2011

It is kinda sad.
I'm actually loving the W spread more.

GivenchyHomme · 06-09-2011

It's about time for Meisel to be called out for his Repetitious B/W Studio Shoots. They've all been similar but these two could be for the same shoot. I wouldn't doubt it if Raquel's Photos for both Magazines were shot in the same day.

ALAUU · 06-09-2011

So what? Every damn photographer can be accused of the same exact thing.

vogue28 · 06-09-2011

^Exactly. I'm not at all bothered that the stories are identical.

**iluvjeisa** · 06-09-2011

I don't see a problem. Especially not for Raquel...she is shown to be as versatile as a whole cavalcade of models and celebrities. Kudos and congratulations to her

Plus, don't people do this with eds and campaigns all the time. This could have ended up as a Gap campaign (you know, some mammary glands excluded and whatnot).

KissMiss · 06-09-2011

which one is Linda's natural shot? lol...

Melancholybaby · 06-09-2011

I don't really see how this deserved an enitre WWD article. I mean is it the first time a photographer recycles an idea? Raquel's editorial by I&V in this month's Vogue China is identical to Lara's ed also by I&V in January's W. And not to mention M&M who used the exact same concept for the new Tod's campaign with Anne Hathaway as the one they had used for the Louis Vuitton Spring 2008 campaign. I can't see what the big fuss is all about as this certainly isn't a new phenomenon and Meisel isn't the first one to do that.

tentalicious · 06-09-2011

Quote:

In the last week, W staffers discovered that Meisel shot a nearly identical concept for the August Italian Vogue. Meisel did not inform them of this.

Where do people at W live? Vogue Italia August is on newsstand for over a month now and the inside content appeared a little before thanks to storemags.com.

mackos · 06-09-2011

Nice to know, I didn't notice that natural/sophisticated motif in Vogue Italia story until now. I just looked at them as a set of randomly put images, just like few other of their main editorials by Meisel.

tarsha · 06-09-2011

I immediately thought of VI August, when I've seen that W editorial.
Maybe they're uncomfortable at W because both stories were published almost same time and it was too easy for everyone to find the similarity. I don't like mostly any of the eds, some shots are ok.

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06-09-2011	12
Melancholybaby V.I.P. Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Greece Gender: homme Posts: 5,563	I don't really see how this deserved an enitre WWD article. I mean is it the first time a photographer recycles an idea? Raquel's editorial by I&V in this month's Vogue China is identical to Lara's ed also by I&V in January's W. And not to mention M&M who used the exact same concept for the new Tod's campaign with Anne Hathaway as the one they had used for the Louis Vuitton Spring 2008 campaign. I can't see what the big fuss is all about as this certainly isn't a new phenomenon and Meisel isn't the first one to do that. __________________ An oasis of horror in a desert of boredom

06-09-2011	14
mackos Alluring Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Suburbs Gender: homme Posts: 13,647	Nice to know, I didn't notice that natural/sophisticated motif in Vogue Italia story until now. I just looked at them as a set of randomly put images, just like few other of their main editorials by Meisel. __________________ dreams, jazz and minimalism Querelle les images

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06-09-2011	2
MissMagAddict The future is stupid Mod Squad Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Gender: femme Posts: 25,200	W September 2011 Transformers Models: Linda Evangelista, Karen Elson, Guinevere van Seenus, Jamie Bochert, Raquel Zimmermann, Jessica Stam, Candice Huffine, Aymeline Valade, Carolyn Murphy & Sun Fei Fei Photographer: Steven Meisel Stylist: Edward Enninful source \| models wmagazine via tarsha __________________ Love is what you want. Last edited by MissMagAddict; 06-09-2011 at 12:47 AM.

06-09-2011	3
MissMagAddict The future is stupid Mod Squad Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Gender: femme Posts: 25,200	... source \| models wmagazine via tarsha __________________ Love is what you want.

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Style Savvy V.I.P. Join Date: Oct 2009 Gender: homme Posts: 5,555	I knew those photos of Raquel looked familiar! But Meisel did a great job of camouflaging them with the other photos. __________________ kate moss • lara stone • saskia de brauw arthur gosse • benjamin eidem • clément chabernaud • simone nobili

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L.A.Woman85 backstage pass Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Adelaide Gender: femme Posts: 577	well this just proves that Meisel is running out of ideas.... kinda sad actually... __________________ WARD...MCNEIL...ERICHSEN...KERSHAW...STONE...WERBO WY...DONALDSON 'Deliver me from reasons why, you'd rather cry...I'd rather fly'

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LagerfeldBoy V.I.P. Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Hollywood Gender: homme Posts: 3,867	It is kinda sad. I'm actually loving the W spread more. __________________ Forever and Ever: Snejana/Anabela/Natasha/Anja/Britt/Kasia/Sasha/Magdalena/Raquel/Hanne G./Freja/Mariacarla/Anna S./Tatiana/Katie F./Shu Pei/Erin W./Karlie/Bette/Constance/Elsa S.TUMBLR BLOG

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GivenchyHomme trendsetter Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Via Fogazzaro 36 Gender: homme Posts: 1,387	It's about time for Meisel to be called out for his Repetitious B/W Studio Shoots. They've all been similar but these two could be for the same shoot. I wouldn't doubt it if Raquel's Photos for both Magazines were shot in the same day.

06-09-2011	8
ALAUU fashion icon Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: New York Gender: femme Posts: 3,186	So what? Every damn photographer can be accused of the same exact thing.

06-09-2011	9
vogue28 V.I.P. Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: England Gender: homme Posts: 15,767	^Exactly. I'm not at all bothered that the stories are identical. __________________ .

06-09-2011	10
iluvjeisa clever ain't wise Mod Squad Leader Join Date: Jan 2004 Gender: femme Posts: 13,608	I don't see a problem. Especially not for Raquel...she is shown to be as versatile as a whole cavalcade of models and celebrities. Kudos and congratulations to her Plus, don't people do this with eds and campaigns all the time. This could have ended up as a Gap campaign (you know, some mammary glands excluded and whatnot). __________________ Beauty is a warm gun Her Famed Warm Gun Last edited by iluvjeisa; 06-09-2011 at 03:03 AM.

06-09-2011	11
KissMiss V.I.P. Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: London Gender: homme Posts: 6,225	which one is Linda's natural shot? lol...

06-09-2011	15
tarsha V.I.P. Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Tbilisi Gender: homme Posts: 17,866	I immediately thought of VI August, when I've seen that W editorial. Maybe they're uncomfortable at W because both stories were published almost same time and it was too easy for everyone to find the similarity. I don't like mostly any of the eds, some shots are ok.