Royal's favourite photographer accused of sexual assault

Testino attends the press view for 'Diana, Princess Of Wales By Mario Testino' at Kensington Palace in November 2005 in London, England. Photo / Getty

Warning: Sexually explicit and distressing content

Famed photographers Mario Testino and Bruce Weber have been accused of sexual misconduct by male models and former assistants.

In an expose published by The New York Times on Saturday, fifteen current and former male models accused Weber of often 'unnecessary nudity and coercive sexual behavior', during photo shoots.

And in the case of Testino - who has often photographed for Vogue and the British royal family - 13 male assistants and models said he 'subjected them to sexual advances that in some cases included groping and masturbation'.

Both of the photographers had vehemently denied the allegations against them, reports Daily Mail.

"I'm completely shocked and saddened by the outrageous claims being made against me, which I absolutely deny," Weber said in a statement from his attorney.

Lavely & Singer, the law firm that represents Testino, said in a letter in response to these accounts that the individuals who spoke with The Times "cannot be considered reliable sources".

Testino, 63, is one of the most revered names in the photography industry. He shot Prince William and Kate Middleton's engagement photos, photographed Madonna with her first daughter as a baby for Vanity Fair and arranged Princess Diana's 1997 cover shoot.

13 male assistants and models said Mario Testino (pictured) 'subjected them to sexual advances that in some cases included groping and masturbation'. Photo / Getty

He recently photographed the February cover of Vogue, featuring Serena Williams and her daughter and received an Order of the British Empire in 2014. But allegations against him date back to the 1990s while photographing Gucci campaigns.

"If you wanted to work with Mario, you needed to do a nude shoot at the Chateau Marmont," said Jason Fedele, a model in those campaigns. "All the agents knew that this was the thing to excel or advance your career."

Fedele said the nudity was not what bothered him but rather certain moves such as "reaching" for towels.

"He was a sexual predator," said Ryan Locke, who succeeded Fedele with Gucci.

Locke recalled being hired by Gucci and Testino's "aggressive" behavior. On the last day of the shoot, Locke was being photographed on a bed when Testino ordered everyone out of the studio.

"He shuts the door and locks it. Then he crawls on the bed, climbs on top of me and says: 'I'm the girl, you're the boy'. I went at him, like 'You better get away'. I threw the towel on him, put my clothes on and walked out," Locke said.

Several assistants said Testino's behavior towards them was similar.

Hugo Tillman, who worked as an assistant in the 90s, said that Testino grabbed him on the street one night and tried to kiss him.

A few weeks later, while on a business trip, Tillman met Testino in his hotel room where Testino thew him on the bed and pinned him down. Tillman said Testino's brother came into the room and made the photographer get off Mr. Tillman.

Fifteen current and former male models accused Weber (pictured) of often 'unnecessary nudity and coercive sexual behavior', often during photo shoots. Photo / Getty Images

One assistant said he had his pants pulled down and buttocks fondled while on the job. Another claimed Testino masturbated on him during a business trip.

The latter two gave accounts to the Times under the condition of anonymity because they feared career repercussions.

Since the 1970s, Weber, 71, has been one of the most important commercial and fine art photographers.

Models told the Times that Weber would have young, male models visit him in his hotel room where they would perform "breathing exercises" where he places his hands all over their body.

"I remember him putting his fingers in my mouth, and him grabbing my privates," said the model Robyn Sinclair.

"We never had sex or anything, but a lot of things happened. A lot of touching. A lot of molestation."

Terron Wood, a model who shot several ad campaigns with Weber between 2007 and 2010, said: "The first thing I was told about Bruce was that he puts people in really precarious situations."

Alone with Weber in his hotel room, the photographer began taking pictures where he ask Wood to grab his shirt, which he was to pull up or down, and the same with the shorts until his genitals were on display.

Diana, Princess of Wales photographed by Mario Testino for Vogue, Vanity Fair in 1997. Photo / Getty Images

Wood said he felt guilty because he knew he agreed to the impromptu session because "he was the photographer for Ralph Lauren". Weber would go on to book Wood for a Ralph Lauren campaign.

Model Monty Hooper said Weber told him he had 'to learn to be more vulnerable' at a test shoot at the photographer's TriBeCa studio in 2014.

He stopped undressing before revealing his genitals at which point, Weber led him through a breathing exercise.

Hooper said he was told: "If I'm more vulnerable, I'll go a lot farther in my career modeling."

In light of The New York Times' investigation into Testino and Weber, Vogue's Editor-in-Chief and Condé Nast Artistic Director Anna Wintour announced neither photographer will be commissioned "for the foreseeable future".

Wintour published an op-ed in Vogue.com in which she announced that Condé Nast would be establishing a new Code of Conduct.

"Alegations have been made against Bruce Weber and Mario Testino, stories that have been hard to hear and heartbreaking to confront," she wrote.

"Both are personal friends of mine who have made extraordinary contributions to Vogue and many other titles at Condé Nast over the years, and both have issued objections or denials to what has emerged."

The new Code of Conduct includes only hiring models above the age of 18 and alcohol is no longer allowed on Condé Nast sets.

Photographers will now be required to only use Condé Nast if it's commissioned or approved by the company and 'any shoot involving nudity, sheer clothing, lingerie, swimwear, simulated drug or alcohol use, or sexually suggestive poses' has to be approved by the model.