A new report by PetaPixel in collaboration with Kapwing has unveiled the 200 most requested photographers on Midjourney, the popular AI image generation platform. The research found that world-renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz takes the top spot — with more than 46,000 prompts invoking her name and style.
How the Data Was Collected?
Kapwing conducted the analysis by examining the Midlibrary database, which compiles trending styles and prompt patterns on Midjourney. Researchers counted how many AI prompts contained specific photographers’ names (e.g., “Ansel Adams landscape photography” or “Helmut Newton-style portrait”).
The findings, verified as of October 19, provide a fascinating glimpse into how AI users borrow from the world’s greatest visual artists.
Midjourney allows users to generate images using text prompts. For instance, someone can type “portrait in the style of Annie Leibovitz” or “fashion photo inspired by Helmut Newton.” However, this practice has stirred significant controversy in creative circles.
“The debate over invoking real artists’ styles in AI image generation remains emotionally charged and legally unresolved,”
— Kapwing Research Team
Top 10 Most Referenced Photographers on Midjourney
1. Annie Leibovitz – 46,791 Prompts
Unsurprisingly, Annie Leibovitz takes the crown as the most imitated photographer on Midjourney. Her legacy began in the 1970s at Rolling Stone, where she captured iconic portraits like John Lennon and Yoko Ono — just hours before Lennon’s tragic death.
Leibovitz’s distinctive style — cinematic lighting, emotional intimacy, and narrative depth — has defined portrait photography for decades. Her work with Vanity Fair and Vogue has immortalized nearly every major celebrity of the modern era.
AI recreation example: “Portrait of an aging actress, by Annie Leibovitz” – Midjourney-generated image.
2. Helmut Newton – 30,520 Prompts
Known for his provocative, high-fashion, black-and-white imagery, Helmut Newton was once described by The New York Times as “widely imitated.” That legacy continues in the AI age, where his sensual, stylized compositions are still a major influence.
Newton’s fashion and nude photography — edgy, bold, and often controversial — helped define the visual language of Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. Today, AI tools frequently replicate his signature noir aesthetic.
3. Sandy Skoglund – 29,908 Prompts
Sandy Skoglund, an American conceptual photographer, is famous for her surreal, color-saturated installations featuring elaborate sets and recurring motifs — often animals or fantastical environments. Her whimsical, dreamlike scenes translate perfectly into AI-driven creativity.
AI recreation example: “Conceptual animal photo by Sandy Skoglund” – Midjourney-generated.
4. Nan Goldin – 25,486 Prompts
Nan Goldin is celebrated for her raw, intimate portraits exploring identity, sexuality, and community — particularly her documentation of LGBTQ+ life in 1980s New York. Her emotional storytelling style has made her one of the most influential voices in contemporary photography.
5. Gregory Crewdson – 24,943 Prompts
Gregory Crewdson blurs the line between cinema and still photography. His haunting, cinematic depictions of American suburbia recall the visual tension of a David Lynch film — but told through still images. His work continues to inspire AI creators seeking mood and narrative depth.
6. Petra Collins – 18,681 Prompts
Petra Collins became the face of the modern “female gaze” movement in the 2010s. Her nostalgic, pastel-toned, film-style imagery is now synonymous with dreamy emotional storytelling — so much so that Selena Gomez requested her style for her wedding photos.
Collins’ influence dominates AI-generated art that aims to capture femininity, vulnerability, and emotion.
7. Elsa Bleda – 16,997 Prompts
Elsa Bleda is known for her cinematic, neon-lit cityscapes that blend surrealism with mystery. Her nighttime photography, characterized by muted colors and glowing urban lights, resonates deeply with AI creators who emulate her futuristic and ethereal tone.
8. Ansel Adams – 16,600 Prompts
No list of iconic photographers is complete without Ansel Adams, the legendary American landscape master. His crisp, high-contrast black-and-white photographs of the American West have defined environmental photography for nearly a century.
AI artists frequently channel his sense of grandeur and precision when generating landscape scenes.
9. Man Ray – 14,792 Prompts
As a leading figure of the Surrealist and Dada movements, Man Ray pushed photography beyond its traditional boundaries. He viewed himself as both photographer and painter, experimenting with abstraction, distortion, and symbolism — all elements that AI users continue to explore.
10. Richard Avedon – 14,681 Prompts
Known for his clean, minimalist style and powerful black-and-white portraits, Richard Avedon revolutionized fashion photography. His subjects — from celebrities to activists — were captured with precision and emotional intensity.
His AI reinterpretations often emphasize his distinctive use of contrast, line, and emotion.
Full List: Top 200 Prompted Photographers on Midjourney
The extended list includes some of history’s greatest image-makers, from Henri Cartier-Bresson and Vivian Maier to Robert Capa and Lee Miller. It also features modern digital and conceptual photographers who have made waves on social media, like Alex Strohl, Zhang Jingna, and Bella Kotak.
Here are the Top 20 from the list:
| Rank | Photographer | Prompts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Annie Leibovitz | 46,791 |
| 2 | Helmut Newton | 30,520 |
| 3 | Sandy Skoglund | 29,908 |
| 4 | Nan Goldin | 25,486 |
| 5 | Gregory Crewdson | 24,943 |
| 6 | Petra Collins | 18,681 |
| 7 | Elsa Bleda | 16,997 |
| 8 | Ansel Adams | 16,600 |
| 9 | Man Ray | 14,792 |
| 10 | Richard Avedon | 14,681 |
| 11 | Nick Knight | 11,361 |
| 12 | Alex Strohl | 10,739 |
| 13 | Steven Klein | 9,898 |
| 14 | Marta Bevacqua | 8,668 |
| 15 | Hans Bellmer | 8,628 |
| 16 | Brandon Woelfel | 8,443 |
| 17 | Diane Arbus | 7,445 |
| 18 | William Eggleston | 7,239 |
| 19 | Peter Lindbergh | 6,292 |
| 20 | Paolo Roversi | 6,149 |
(Full 200-name list available on PetaPixel)
PetaPixel’s Perspective
Jeremy Gray’s View: A Question of Authenticity
“There’s nothing wrong with photographers learning from their heroes. But when AI replaces the camera entirely, it feels hollow,” says Jeremy Gray of PetaPixel.
“Creating ‘photos’ from text prompts mimicking another artist’s vision is a symptom of creative laziness. Real photography is about storytelling — capturing moments grounded in reality. AI-generated imitations can’t replicate that.”
Gray also points out the ethical gray area of replicating an artist’s visual signature. “Separating an artist’s style from their work is not straightforward — and AI may soon find itself on the wrong side of copyright history.”
Matt Growcoot’s View: Reflecting the Zeitgeist
Matt Growcoot, another PetaPixel writer, takes a more neutral stance.
“Regardless of where you stand on AI mimicry, this list shows which photographers are shaping visual culture today,” Growcoot writes.
He highlights the inclusion of Petra Collins and Elsa Bleda, both contemporary creators whose names have risen rapidly.
“I hadn’t even heard of Bleda before this — but after seeing her cinematic photos, I get it. They’re vibey, moody, and cinematic — everything that resonates online right now.”
Growcoot also notes that some photographers on the list — like Zhang Jingna, who’s actively suing AI companies over copyright issues — would likely not be thrilled to see their styles copied by machines.
Final Thoughts
The Midjourney Top 200 Photographers list reveals both the admiration and the controversy surrounding AI-generated art. It blurs the boundary between inspiration and imitation, sparking important debates about authorship, creativity, and ethics in the digital era.
Whether seen as flattery or theft, one thing is clear — the artistic influence of photographers like Annie Leibovitz, Helmut Newton, and Ansel Adams continues to shape visual storytelling, even in the age of artificial intelligence.
