Barry Lategan was born in South Africa in 1935 and came to England to study at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. During his studies he was called away to National Service in Germany. It was during this time that he developed an interest in photography. After the war he returned to South Africa where he trained with photographer Ginger Odes in Cape Town. In the early 1960's Lategan retuned to London and opened his first photographic studio in 1965. In 1977 Lategan moved to New York where he continued to work as a photographer before returning to live and work in London some years later.

Over the past forty years Barry Lategan has become one of the country’s most renowned and influential photographers. In this time Lategan has photographed some of the most notable celebrities and faces of history including; HRH Princess Anne, Paul and Linda McCartney, Calvin Klein and Margaret Thatcher. He is probably best known for his early discovery and iconic portraits of Twiggy, which have been exhibited widely. His career as a fashion photographer has seen his work make the front covers of Vogue, Harpers Bazaar and various lifestyle magazines.

Lategan received the Halina Award for the 1988 Pirelli calendar and a Clio Award for a Giorgio Armani television commercial. In 2007 he was awarded an Honorary Fellowship by The Royal Photographic Society (RPS).