Vogue Australia photographer Richard Bailey lost his battle against cancer. He passed away yesterday at the age of 52.

"He had so much polish and was so professional," Vogue Australia editor-in-chief Kirstie Clements said of Bailey.

"It's like losing a member of the family."

Bailey joined the Vogue Australia team when he was 21 years old and was able to shoot iconic covers with Cate Blanchett, Catherine McNeil, Jess Hart and legendary shoots with Melissa George, Alyssa Sutherland and Miranda Kerr.

He stayed in New York for 10 years and did photo campaigns for L'Oreal, Gap and Neiman Marcus but later on came back to Australia and Vogue.

"Richard was a part of the DNA of Vogue Australia and he was incredibly loyal, we have lost a pre-eminent photographer and a dear friend," Clements said.

"Our thoughts are with his family."