“This seems to be my luxury week: first Rolex, Chanel and Lancôme; today Mercedes-Benz and tomorrow Vogue”, ponders Mario Testino just before picking up his camera for the shoot of the new Mercedes-Benz Fashion Key Visual Spring/Summer 2013.

Well, this should come as no big surprise. After all, luxury has long become his signature focus and style. Like no other, this master of glam manages to encompass fun and elegance in a range of exquisite images – including a huge array of well-known personalities who embody this style and attitude like Kate Moss, Gisele Bündchen, Gwyneth Paltrow or Angelina Jolie. Testino explains: “I’m always in search of the people I don’t know and discovering the new, so for me, finding someone I have not met or photographed is always interesting.”

On set to shoot the key visual and accompanying fashion film Testino sports a laid-back look with sneakers and enjoys a constant exchange with his international team. The mood is friendly and relaxed, yet also highly focused and professional as all of the material needs to be captured within a single day.

As part of the new Mercedes-Benz Fashion Key Visual Spring/Summer 2013 and fashion film, Puerto Rican top model Joan Smalls is transformed into an intergalactic beauty on a mission: In a daring heist, she captures and claims the most treasured object of the world – the Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake. Throughout the shoot Testino keeps returning to the model to discuss scenes, share a joke or view the rushes on his screen. “For me, my photos relate to a personal connection and this is a lot stronger when I connect to the models, even if I don’t know them yet. I have to build a very quick and immediate connection. If not, it just doesn’t work for my work”, adds the photographer.

Testino’s images depict untroubled dream worlds filled with perfection. When asked about the future of fashion photography, the artist replies: “I think that the future of fashion photography will be a combination of both film and photography. The media that exist today already allow us to incorporate moving images, so to limit yourself to static images is a mistake.”

However, no matter which medium Mario Testino will use in the future, we can be sure that he will continue to capture the most beautiful and iconic moments for our viewing pleasures.

For behind-the-scenes pictures and the interview with Mario Testino click on the image above.