“Glamour”: Is It The Most Misunderstood Concept In Portraiture?
Like so many people who were around in the 80's, before I became a photographer, I associated "glamour" with Page 3 girls.
Boobs. Smiles. Provocative Poses.
That feature seemingly turned the word "glamour" into something a bit seedy, trivial, which became the subject of giggles, or horror, depending on your disposition.
💡So what a surprise and delight it was to find out in college that "Glamour Photography", was not about Page 3!
💡Instead they were were classy, striking, GORGEOUS, B&W portraits of Hollywood stars from the heydays of cinema!
The song "Vogue", by Madonna, and its beautiful video shot in B&W, in an old Hollywood style, names some of the most well-known glamorous stars:
"Greta Garbo and Monroe
Dietrich and DiMaggio
Marlon Brando, Jimmy Dean...
Grace Kelly, Harlow, Jean
Picture of a beauty queen
Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire
Ginger Rogers...
...Rita Hayworth gave good face
Lauren, Katherine, Lana too
Bette Davis, we love you"
I feel very proud of using Glamour Lighting and Posing in my portraits, and of defining much of my work with women as "Glamour/Glamorous" - this applies to beauty makeover as much as to boudoir.
My passion has become largely about reclaiming those words for what they really mean:
💡Glamour - "an attractive or exciting quality that makes certain people or things seem appealing."
💡Glamour Photography - Photography that highlights beauty, sexiness, allure, dazzle, fine lines and even romance. In other words, glamour photography emphasizes drama.
The images you see below show parallels between the old school Hollywood Glamour and my own lighting and posing - as demonstrated on the star portraits and the subsequent client portraits.
HOLLYWOOD STAR'S GLAMOUR IMAGES BY FRANK POWOLNY, RICHARD AVEDON, & MAX FACTOR
Though none of these similarities were deliberate, as I never set out to copy anyone's work, it is clear that low-key lighting and good, feminine, posing, are at the very heart of this style of portraiture, and I will continue to create these for my beautiful clients!
So… My questions to you, are:
Does the word Glamour still make you think of Page 3?
Is the true style of this genre, something you'd like to try?
If you'd like to find out more about having your own, fabulous, Portrait Photo Session, send me a DM and let's schedule an informal chat!
