Meghan Markle insists on one thing for Vogue photoshoot ‘my instructions were clear’
MEGHAN Markle had a special request for the photographer portraying the 15 women on the September issue of British Vogue, the artist himself revealed.
Meghan Markle's Vogue issue SLAMMED as 'circle of privilege'
Meghan Markle co-edited the latest issue of British Vogue. The Duchess of Sussex, the first guest editor to ever been given the responsibility to produce the pages of a September issue of the world-famous fashion publication, was hands-on in the making of the magazine. Not only did Meghan conducted some interviews herself and commission others to journalists and even her husband Prince Harry, but she also decided who had to appear on the cover and who was the perfect person to take the snaps for it.
The choice taken by Meghan and Vogue’s editor Edward Enninful fell on Peter Lindbergh.
The photographer said to be honoured to take part in the issue, called Forces of Change and focused on women Meghan believes to be inspirational for their work and impact on the society.
And he particularly appreciated the special request Meghan had for him before he started taking the spectacular black and white snaps which are now scattered on the cover and across the Forces for Change issue.
In a behind-the-scenes feature in the magazine, Mr Lindbergh revealed what Meghan asked him ahead of the sessions.
He said: “My instructions from the Duchess were clear: ‘I want to see freckles!’”
The request was entirely up the photographer’s alley, as he loves make-up free shots and freckles.
He added: “Well that was like running through open doors for me. I love freckles.
JUST IN: Meghan and Harry’s expensive plan to ‘keep US tradition alive’
“I hate retouching, I hate make-up. I always say, ‘take the make-up off!’.
“The number of beautiful women who have asked me to lengthen their legs or move their eyes further apart, you would not believe.
“It’s a culture of madness.”
Meghan and Mr Enninful agreed with Mr Lindbergh to have the issue filled with pictures looking as natural as possible.
The Duchess, who has freckles herself, is also an endorser of body positivity.
In the issue of Vogue she co-edited, Meghan included a poem called A Note From The Beach by Matt Haig.
The Duchess described the piece saying: “A personal favourite and the best reminder during the summer season…or any season, as a matter of fact.”
One line of the poem says “I don’t care about your body”, suggesting people should shrug off worries concerning who their bodies look and whether or not are “beach-ready”.
Mr Enninful revealed the decision to call Mr Lindbergh for the job was agreed “at the same time” by he and Meghan.
He wrote: “It was one of those brilliantly spontaneous moments when HRH The Duchess of Sussex and I had exactly the same idea at exactly the same time.”
The September issue took months to be made, and the work on it started in January, when Mr Enninful and Meghan first met at Kensington Palace, where the Duchess and the editor tried to find a way to promote one of her charity, Smart Works.
But shortly after their first encounter, Meghan said she was bold enough to ask herself whether she could be involved in the very making of the magazine rather than simply appearing on the cover.
She wrote in her guest-editor letter: “I asked the question. Actually, I typed and deleted the question several times until I built up the courage to ask the question.
“’Edward...instead of doing the cover, would you be open to me guest-editing your September issue?’.”