Who is Petra Collins? What we know about the artist behind Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco’s wedding photographs

Petra Collins is a Canadian artist, photographer, and director born on December 21, 1992. She began taking photographs as a teenager in Toronto and gradually established herself in the art and fashion world. Driven by "self-discovery and a contemporary femininity", Collins' work aims to "explore the complex intersection of life as a young woman online and off," as per her website.

Over the years, Collins has worked with numerous art collectives, directed music videos, curated, and authored books on art. She gained more recognition through her photography work with Rookie Magazine and has also served as a casting director for Richard Kern. Collins also has a history in modelling and was the face of Gucci in 2016.

In 2025, Collins was the official photographer for the wedding of Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco. Her images from the ceremony were widely shared and credited for their unique style. This brought her work to an even wider audience.

Petra Collins’ career and artistic work

According to The New Yorker, the photography of Petra Collins is characterised by a soft, often dream-like quality. Referred to as the "it-girl" by Vanity Fair, New York Magazine, as well as her mentor Ryan McGinley, the approach and hyper-femininity within her work are often discussed under the umbrella of "the female gaze."

Petra Collins has exhibited her work in numerous festivals, solo and collective art exhibitions, and museums. In addition to being an author and curator, her work has also been published in several books and magazines.

Collins has also directed music videos for famous musicians such as Selena Gomez, Cardi B, and Olivia Rodrigo. Her unique approach within the creative space, be it in art, photography, writing, or modelling, has established her as an influential youth icon. Petra Collins was named one of "Vogue's 40 Creatives To Watch," as well as one of "Dazed & Calvin Klein's 100 Creatives Shaping Youth Culture" in 2016.

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Connection with Selena Gomez

Petra Collins and Selena Gomez initially met in September 2015 during a shoot for Wonderland. Since then, the two have been spotted together in multiple events, and Gomez has expressed her appreciation for their friendship in interviews as well. Collins and Gomez have worked together on several occasions, and Collins directed Gomez's music video for Sunset Blvd in 2024 and Fetish in 2017.

Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco got married in California on 27th September 2025. Through their marriage announcement post on social media, it was revealed that their special day was documented by none other than Selena Gomez's close friend and long-time collaborator, Petra Collins. The deamy photographs highlighted Collins' eye and skill for transforming personal moments into intimate ones without making them feel artificial.

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From photography, direction, writing, fashion or modelling, Collins' work encompasses a range within the creative space. With a focus on youth and female identity, she has collaborated with major artists and has an international clientele.

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