1952-2002- Born in 1952 in Los Angeles, he graduated with a major in economics from Bard College in 1974. Around that time, he began to take photographic portraits of friends.
Ritts has published six books: Herb Ritts: Pictures, Men/Women, Duo: Herb Ritts Photographs Bob Paris & Rod Jackson, Notorious, Africa, and Work.
He died in 2002 from complications caused by pneumonia.