Louis Fabian Bachrach, Jr.

Louis Fabian Bachrach, Jr. (April 9, 1917 – February 26, 2010) was an American photographer, known for portraits of celebrities, politicians, presidents and other prominent individuals. He was professionally known as Fabian. Bachrach was best known for a portrait of Senator John F. Kennedy, which was later used as Kennedy's official photograph after he was elected President in 1960. There was time for only six photographs. One, in black and white, depicts Kennedy from the chest up, looking directly into the camera. This became the presidential portrait, reproduced by the thousands. Another, in color, showing Kennedy seated in a leather armchair with an American flag behind him, was also widely disseminated. From start to finish, the session lasted about 10 minutes, as Mr. Bachrach later recalled. “I had to work fast,” he told The New York Times in 1961. “He doesn’t sit still very long.”