Cindy Crawford Honors Fashion Photographer Herb Ritts on His Birthday 17 Years after His Death

Cindy Crawford paid tribute to the legendary photographer Herb Ritts who "saw the best in everyone," and is still celebrated even though he died almost two decades ago.

During the 1980s and 1990s, Herb Ritts became a sought after photographer among the supermodels of the time. He often photographed in black and white, and usually outside, and his rise to fame came just as Cindy Crawford's modelling career took off.

Remembering her late friend on a special day, Crawford, who exited the modelling world four years ago, paid tribute to Ritts on what would have been his 68th birthday.

CRAWFORD'S RISE

Crawford snagged her first paying modelling job for a bra commercial while still in high school, and she later dropped out of her first term in college to pursue a career in front of the cameras.

Within Crawford's first three years in New York, she appeared in over 200 magazine covers, and she worked with Herb Ritts among other photographers. By the time she turned 18, Crawford's modelling career had taken off with all cylinders on fire, as she said during an interview:

"I was always working so hard, and I started so young. When I started modelling, I treated it like a job, not a lifestyle."

HOW RITTS ENTERED THE INDUSTRY

Ritts had no formal training, and he caught his big break in 1979 when a picture he took of Richard Gere at a gas station became the hottest thing in town and on three international publications.

With love for sensual outside photography, Ritts went on to capture stunning pictures of various models that also included Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer, and Christy Turlington.

CINDY'S DESCRIPTION OF RITTS' TALENTS

Crawford is one of the models Ritts formed a lasting friendship with, and as Hamiltons in London got ready to open an exhibition called Herb Ritts: Super, back in 2016, Crawford elaborated on his unmistakable style and said:

“Herb saw the best in everyone, so that’s how he photographed you.”

CINDY'S TRIBUTE

Sadly, Ritts spent just over a decade building a revered name for himself in the fashion world before his death in 2002. His photographs made such an impact that they are still celebrated to this day.

Remembering the friend she lost, Crawford recently took to social media to pay tribute to him on his birthday. Without making a big fuss, Crawford posted a sweet throwback picture of them together and added that she still misses him after all these years.

CELEBRATION OF A UNION

Just two months ago, Cindy Crawford had another special but personal relationship to celebrate with her husband Rande Gerber.

The couple's union already surpassed the two-decade mark, and the supermodel took to social media on the tail-end of May to celebrate 22 years of married life with Gerber with a few sweet words and a throwback image taken on their wedding day.