Image via Complex Original
Terry Richardson has photographed pretty much everybody worth photographing at this point in his career. President Obama, Coco Rocha, Tyler the Creator, and many others have stood in front of his lens, most even donning his signature aviator glasses and "thumbs up" pose. Everyone has heard the allegations that he is a complete pervert to the women he shoots, and we have seen some of the, shall we say, "unorthodox" photographs that he gets models to pose for.
While pictures often speak for themselves, they don't tell the whole story of the man that is Terrence "Terry" Richardson. So to give you a greater understanding of the highly controversial and in-demand photographer, here are 20 Things You Didn't Know About Terry Richardson.
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He likes to be called "Uncle Terry."
He likes to be called "Uncle Terry."
We've heard of being called "daddy," but "uncle" is Terry's thing.
He wanted to be a punk rock musician.
He wanted to be a punk rock musician.
Terry played in several bands as a teenager but found his calling in photography.
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French is his first language, not English.
French is his first language, not English.
When Terry was a baby, his father moved the family to Paris and worked as a photographer for French Vogue.
Terry claims to be a huge fan of Sketchers.
Terry claims to be a huge fan of Skechers.
That's not something you hear everyday. It very well could have been a joke, but then again...
Terry is an avid vintage t-shirt collector.
Terry is an avid vintage T-shirt collector.
Terry loves buying vintage rock tees on eBay. One of his prized possessions is a Charles Manson tee with human feces on it from a GG Allin punk rock concert.
He attended Hollywood High School with Laurence Fishburne.
He attended Hollywood High School with actor Laurence Fishburne.
Unfortunately, there is no evidence that the two ever interacted. Actually, maybe that was for the best.
He likes to wing it.
He likes to wing it.
Terry Richardson doesn't like to make shot lists and plan all that other stuff that most photographers do. His shoots are mostly improvised.
He almost overdosed on Christmas.
He almost overdosed on Christmas.
In 2001, Terry did $100 worth of smack, finished off a bottle of vodka, and popped some Valium. His friends found him barely responsive in his apartment on Christmas Day.
He tagged along with a street gang for a Vibe Magazine shoot.
He tagged along with a street gang for a VIBE Magazine shoot.
Talk about dedication to your craft!
To avoid getting his junk grabbed, he doesn't shower at the gym.
To avoid getting his junk grabbed, he doesn't shower at the gym.
Terry says he once witnessed a guy grab his male friend's junk at a gym. Yeah, we wouldn't hit those showers either.
His father said, 'You'll never do it on your own, you can't make it without me!'
His father said, "You'll never do it on your own, you can't make it without me!"
Terry's father was a photographer and taught him a lot about the art of photography. They worked together in New York, but when Terry wanted to do the shoot for VIBE alone, he was told that he would never get any respect. The shoot won him an award for Best New Fashion Story of the Year in the Festival de la Mode.
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He has requested handjobs from models.
He has requested handjobs from models.
Most are not surprised to hear that Terry Richardson engages in salacious activity with models, but handjobs?
Terry smoked weed with Robert Downey Jr. when they were 10.
Terry smoked weed with Robert Downey Jr. when they were 10.
Not that we condone 10-year-olds lighting up, but if they had to do it with someone, Robert Downey Jr. would be the perfect candidate.
He has a bit of a bromance with Harry from Requiem for a Dream.
He has a bit of a bromance with Harry from Requiem for a Dream.
Terry and actor Jared Leto have traveled the world together and are the best of friends.
His snapshots were rejected as "amateurish" and "not fashion."
His snapshots were rejected as "amateurish" and "not fashion."
Early in his career, magazines rejected the style of photography that Richardson is now famous for.
Terry Richardson likes used tampons.
Terry Richardson likes used tampons.
A woman named Jamie Peck said that when she was 19, she posed for Terry. He wanted her to take off her clothes, but she told Uncle Terry that "Aunt Flo" was in town, to which he allegedly requested her used tampon. No one could make that stuff up, right?
He gets naked while taking photographs.
He gets naked while taking photographs.
To make models more comfortable and relaxed, Terry sometimes takes his clothes off while shooting nudes.
He doesn't like adult films.
He doesn't like adult films.
Terry Richardson says pornography bums him out because there is so much "sadness and pain in that world."
Terry once took a self-portrait boning a sheep...allegedly.
Terry once took a self-portrait boning a sheep...allegedly.
If anyone can find that picture, please send it to us.
