Fashion Photographer Blair Caldwell Shares the Best Shots He Ever Took of Beyoncé

Blair Caldwell

Fashion photographer Blair Caldwell, who originally hails from Tyler, Texas, relocated to LA to start his career. Right now, he's focused on moving toward a more creative space and prioritizing album covers, fashion photos, magazines, and campaigns. Mostly, I know him as the extremely talented dude I DM every time I want to use a photo of Normani that he's taken — and that's like, every damn day.

"The women I have photographed are so inspiring to me, and they all glow in their own way."

You see, it's easy to distinguish a Blair Caldwell photo from all the rest. He captures the music, style, mood, and movement of his subjects all at once. He knows how to highlight the details of the clothing they wear — which is important, since his clientele has access to some of the most incredible couture pieces you can imagine — but that never takes away from the person in front of the camera. "Everyone is unique and beautiful in their own way, so while some people are photographed from lower and some are straight on, it will always depend on what I see through the lens. What got me into photography in the first place was being able to see people's unique features and being moved by that," Blair told me.

While sparse backgrounds and superior lighting is ideal, Caldwell allows his subjects to completely own their space, and you have to stop in your tracks Instagram scroll to admire it. In that way, his photographs command you to take a moment of silence, out of respect. He's not only a personal photographer for Normani, but has also photographed Beyoncé many times (see above, when he captured her at the Roc Nation Brunch in a Balmain dress he describes as "artistic origami paper"), along with more of the most talented, capable, and confident women musicians. "The women I have photographed are so inspiring to me, and they all glow in their own way. I'm just lucky to be able to photograph such beautiful subjects, and I hope to always do them justice and photograph them in the best light," he told me.

Blair shared some more of his personal favorite shots of SZA, Normani, Beyoncé, Saweetie, Ciara, and Cynthia Erivo, which you can see ahead, but not before you read the best compliment he's ever received as a fashion photographer, because every photo in this gallery validates it even more than the last. "One of my subjects once said, 'Wow, you truly make everyone look beautiful, and that's a gift, Blair. You are anointed when it comes to photography, and the way you make people feel is so safe and relaxed." Yep — that's pure talent for you.

SZA
Blair Caldwell

SZA

"I love this portrait of SZA I shot at her home," Blair tells me. SZA wore all of her own clothing for this Wonderland shoot from the summer 2020 issue.

Normani
Blair Caldwell

Normani

Blair captured Normani Kordei for the Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion's iconic "WAP" video, wearing this two-piece houndstooth Venus Prototype Latex set with a matching beret, gloves, and laced-up stilettos. The look was a modern take on Naomi Campbell's 1991 campaign for Azzedine Alaïa's Tati collection.

Beyoncé
Blair Caldwell

Beyoncé

Who could forget Beyoncé's epic Coachella performance in 2018? Blair took this shot during weekend one, when she wore her cropped Balmain hoodie, part of a collaboration with Olivier Rousteing's riffs on his signature varsity styles and legacy of more than 100 of America's historically black colleges and universities. She completed the look with cutoffs and fringed holographic Christian Louboutin boots.

Saweetie
Blair Caldwell

Saweetie

Saweetie wore a black cutout one-shoulder bikini during her "24 Hours With Saweetie" video for Vogue. Blair was on set to capture her in June 2020.

Ciara
Blair Caldwell

Ciara

At the 2020 American Music Awards, Ciara wore a Balmain dress with Stuart Weitzman boots and jewels by Jennifer Meyer and Vhernier. Blair captured this breathtaking moment, away from all the noise on the red carpet.

Cynthia Erivo
Blair Caldwell

Cynthia Erivo

Actress and singer Cynthia Erivo is certainly one to watch when it comes to her fashion sense. She wore this incredible Thom Browne gown, made to look like a structural tuxedo with sequins, beads, and pearls, to the 2020 Golden Globes. Blair caught her at the perfect angle for showing off her Bvlgari jewels.