Martin Elliot Photographer

Martin Elliot
Sadly, Martin has died recently at 63 after a long battle with illness.
Martin Elliot is the photographer who created one of the most iconic images in 1976 of the 70’s Athena’s Poster of the “tennis girl”. This images shows his then girlfriend(18 year old Fiona Butler) with her tennis skirt hitched up to show the curve of her bottom. This image is still being bought today, which shows some images have universal appeal across the years. And even in recent years he was offering signed copies for £300 through his own website. He only took one roll of film, and stated that this was not enough for a professional photographer!
Elliot retained the copyright of the image and made a fortune. But Butler, who had to borrow a tennis skirt, racket and balls, did not make a penny; although she did go on to marry a millionaire.
For the photographer, the early breakthrough was as much a curse as a blessing. He always complained that he could not get commissions because his clients assumed that as the creator of one of the world’s most famous images, his services would be too expensive.
I have not thought about this sort of comment being made about a well known photographer, this aspect needs more research. Would you pay more to use an iconic photographer? How far is this true for all well known photographers?