George Pimentel

George Pimentel

Instagram: instagram.com/georgepimentel1 (external link, opens in new window) 

Program: Image Arts ’92

Website: georgepimentel.com (external link, opens in new window) 

George Pimentel is regarded as Canada’s most renowned celebrity photographer. From Toronto to Hollywood, he has photographed A-list stars such as Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Lady Gaga and Jennifer Lopez. He frequently covers major film festivals like Toronto, Cannes, Sundance and Venice, and has roamed prestigious red carpets, including the Academy Awards, Golden Globes and SAG Awards. From actors to royal weddings, Pimentel has enjoyed unprecedented access to major entertainment and influential figures of our time. His iconic photo of William and Kate’s royal kiss appeared in countless covers around the world. He was also on assignment in Windsor, England for the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

Starting at age 12 in his father’s Toronto studio, his breakthrough came in 1993, when he photographed Robert De Niro at the Toronto International Film Festival. Pimentel’s work is featured in publications such as People, Daily Mail, Vanity Fair, US Weekly and Hello!, and he is the official photographer for major clients including Netflix, Warner Bros. and Canadian Screen Awards. He has worked with Taylor Swift, the Jonas Brothers and Justin Bieber as their Canadian tour photographer. In 2020 he founded the Canada Covid Portrait Project to document the pandemic’s impacts across the country. Although his job may take him all over the world, Pimentel still works out of the studio where it all began: in Toronto’s Little Portugal neighbourhood.