David LaChapelle is an American photographer and director known for his surreal, controversial photos of celebrities. He studied at art schools in North Carolina and New York. LaChapelle began his career working for Andy Warhol and Interview Magazine as a photographer. His celebrity portraits portray his subjects as icons and try to capture their persona. While pushing creative boundaries, LaChapelle's work is also described as pop art. More recently, he has emphasized sociocritical subjects in his photography and video directing.