Mario Sorrenti says Kate Moss wasn’t his muse when he snapped photos of her during their relationship in the early 90s.
The 46-year-old photographer recently released ‘Kate’, a new book of previously unpublished images of the iconic model which were shot whilst the pair were dating, and although many people regard Kate as Mario’s muse, he says they were simply “boyfriend and girlfriend taking pictures”.
In an interview with Vogue magazine, he said: “You know, it’s funny – a lot of people talk about Kate as my muse, but really for us we were just boyfriend and girlfriend – and now friends – taking pictures.
“We were really young, like kids, I was 19 and she was 17. We would crash out on people’s couches so we could be together, and I’m taking pictures all the time.
“Kate, as a model, started to look at what she did differently because, I guess, she started to understand the passion behind photography. Slowly our knowledge of it grew together.”
The Italian photographer met the fashion icon, now 44, whilst shooting a commercial in London in 1991, and says his “heart stopped” when he saw her for the first time.
He added: “We were modelling together for the same commercial – I think it was something really cheesy like a hair product or Dentyne.
“My heart just, like, stopped and I kind of clammed up. I was shy and didn’t have a lot to say. But she was very sweet and talkative.”
The pair dated until 1994, and split after Kate claimed Mario’s “obsession” with his work spilled over into their relationship.
Despite the romance not working out, the former couple have remained good friends to this day.
Bang Showbiz
