David Hamilton (British, b.1933) is a celebrated photographer in both the United Kingdom and France, best-known for his provocative, sometimes controversial, photographs of young women. Hamilton grew up in London, but was forced to evacuate during World War II to the Dorset countryside, a region which later inspired some of his work. He first began his artistic pursuits at an architect’s office, and was then hired as a graphic designer in Paris by Peter Knapp of ELLE magazine. After a brief stint in London working for Queen Magazine, Hamilton soon returned to Paris, where he was offered the job of art director for Printemps, the city’s largest department store. His commercial photographs quickly gained attention from other magazines such as Réalités, Twen, and Photo.

He has published numerous photography books, directed five feature films, and has been showcased in magazine articles and art exhibitions, including his notable exhibition at Images Gallery in 1977 in New York City. He has been married twice, first to Mona Kristensen, one of his early models, and later to Gertrude Hamilton, the co-designer of his book The Age of Innocence. Currently, Hamilton splits his time between St. Tropez and Paris, and has recently experienced a renewed public interest in his work.