Photographer Astrid Kirchherr, whose images of The Beatles helped to create their legend, has died aged 81.

The Hamburg-born photographer saw The Beatles playing in a local club along with then-boyfriend Klaus Voormann, and quickly became part of their circle. She took the band’s first proper photos (as a five-piece) in 1960 and helped to style them, encouraging them to adopt their distinctive moptop haircuts.

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She became engaged to original Beatles bassist Stuart Sutcliffe and was with him when he died of a brain haemorrhage in 1962. Kirchherr remained close to the band, and took behind-the-scenes photos on A Hard Day’s Night, as well as the cover image for George Harrison’s first solo album, 1968’s Wonderwall Music.