« More than photos, it’s a story ... »
In 1999, Michael Jackson is in his hotel room in London while he falls in love for a series of fashion
pictures in Sunday Times magazine.
He asks to meet the creator of these pictures, a 23 years old French fashion photographer, called
Arno BANI. Arno BANI travels to New York to meet the pop star. Michael Jackson asks Arno
something more than taking his picture, he wants him to think of his total look for ten upcoming
years and to show him his suggestions later. After that, they had several creative appointments
going in New York during three months.
Arno prepares his team, composed by stylists: Maida Grégrory Boina, Jérôme Dreyfuss, make up
artist Topolino and hairdressers Seb Bascle, Frédérique Lorca, Daniel Adric, Gilles Quemoun.
An appointment got fixed for a three days photo shooting in Malakoff, suburb of Paris. Huge cinema
saloons got privatized and equipped for shootings.
These photos that were supposed to make the album cover of INVINCIBLE got blocked by Michael
Jackson’s publishing house (record Co) because of some conflicts with him.
During 10 years and because of the contract, neither M.J nor Arno BANI weren’t authorized to show
their work, as the pictures belonged to the record company (producer of the photo shootings).
10 years later, the same time that Michael Jackson passed away, the photographer was finally
allowed to present their joint work with Michael Jackson.
The whole story can be read in the book.
