Saint Laurent campaign shot by Hedi Slimane

Hedi Slimane is a one-man fashion machine. Why hire a big-name photographer to shoot campaign images for Saint Laurent, when you can just do it yourself?

The brand new campaign images starring Polish supermodel Anja Rubik in pensive mood and shot by Hedi himself appeared on the YSL website today. Rubik poses in highly polished versions of the classic Le Smoking jacket, as well as an extremely rock ‘n roll sequin bolero jacket, with a plenty of oversized pussy bows to finish the looks.

Slimane is qualified to step behind the camera: he spent his time away from fashion design [after leaving Dior Homme in 2006] working full-time as a photographer in LA. His subjects were more often from the world of music than of modelling – like the late singer Amy Winehouse or LA teen Frances Bean Cobain.

It doesn't look as though he plans to stop now he is back at work in a major design role. He wouldn’t be unique in this: Karl Lagerfeld is also an accomplished photographer and shoots some, though not all, of Chanel’s brand imagery.

Well, when you're the one with the vision, who better to realise it than… you?