Claxton

William (1927). American photographer, born in Pasadena. He started photography as a hobby at the age of 7 when he received a camera for his birthday. As a teenager, he took photography lessons from a neighbor. His fiancée, a model in New York, introduced him to Richard Avedon, who gave him his old Rolleiflex. That gift and his love for music became the premises of his career. In the mid 1950s he helped in the founding of the Pacific Jazz record label, and he made all the covers for the albums. He brought sex appeal to the portraits of jazz greats. In 1958 Claxton began to work with Rudi Gernreich and Peggy Moffitt, who would become his wife and introduce him to the world of fashion. He worked with Vogue, Life, Time, Paris Match, and Interview.