Mario Testino Love, Love, Loves ‘Catherine’ Middleton

by Justin Fenner | 2:19 pm, January 21st, 2011

Mario Testino‘s engagement portraits of Prince William and Kate Middleton are lovely (even if they were retouched), and the photographer tells the lovely story of their lovely creation in the current issue of Vogue. Testino, no stranger to capturing royalty on film, gushes prolifically about the queen-to-be, adding another few hundred words of evidence to the library of information indicating that no one dislikes Kate Middleton.

Testino told Vogue‘s European editor-at-large Hamish Bowles that he didn’t want the picture to be about what they were wearing. He also calls Kate Catherine, which we think is just precious. Below, our favorite parts of Testino’s story.

On picking that white dress:

From the looks Catherine brought, we thought a favorite simple white dress would be best for the more formal picture. Two people in love have a glow and a presence more powerful than anything else, and I wanted that to be the subject of the picture, not what they were wearing.

On the modern monarchy:

There is something about Prince William and Prince Harry that brings real modernity to the British royal family. They are also very open, human, and kind, and this is what I have tried to capture in the pictures I have taken of them as well as in my pictures of Prince William and Catherine.

On Kate and Will’s relationship:

In my modest opinion, Prince William could not have found someone more suitable than Catherine, not just because of the energy they share with each other, and the clear sense that you get when you are with them that they are going to work as a united team, but because while she has already developed a perfect sense of royal responsibility, she brings life, a delightful sense of humor, and joy into the room when she walks in.

Read the rest of Testino’s story here.

Picture of Happiness: Mario Testino On Photographing the Royal Wedding Portrait [Vogue]

Catherine Middleton Kate Middleton kate middleton engagement Mario Testino Mario Testino Royal Engagement Prince William