David LaChapelle is an American photographer who is frequently known for photos relaying social messages and art history. He began a professional career when he was just a teenager, working for Andy Warhol with Interview.

During his career, he has taken photos for multiple magazines, including New York Times Magazine, Rolling Stone, Vanity Fair, and countless others. Outside of contemporary artwork, he also embraces photography with twentieth century themes. LaChapelle has noted some of his influences to be Baroque and Caravaggio, while others have compared his work to artists like Salvador Dalí and Cindy Sherman.

In his personal life, the photographer has been open about some of his mental struggles with bipolar disorder. He has said he tries to keep his mental health monitored without the use of medication.