Avedon's fashion photographs are characterized by a strong black-and-white contrast that creates an effect of austere sophistication. In his portraits of celebrities and other sitters, he created a sense of drama by often using a stark, white background and eliciting a frontal, confrontational pose.

One of Avedon's most well-known photographs is not of a famous public figure, but a beekeeper. Avedon sought out beekeeper Ronald Fischer to create this jarring photograph. The photo was achieved by spreading queen bee pheromone onto Fischer's skin, attracting a swarm of bees to descend upon his body.

American fashion and portrait photographer, Richard Avedon, was known for breaking the photography boundaries in the fashion and political world.

His brand-defining work and long associations with Calvin Klein, Revlon, Versace, and dozens of other companies resulted in some of the best-known advertising campaigns in American history.