Fashion Photography - the Dazzling World of Fashion, Models, and Glossy Magazines

Fashion Photography is a genre of photographic art that showcases clothing, accessories, hairstyles, and other aspects of the fashion industry. The main platforms for featuring fashion photography are magazines, with Vogue being the most well-known. The genre is closely related to advertising and glamour photography and is an important tool for the development of fashion. The best examples of such photos are exhibited in museums and galleries as independent works of art.

Fashion Photography. Lindsay Adler. No name

History of Fashion Photography

Fashion photography emerged almost simultaneously with the advent of photography. In 1856, a book by Adolphe Braun was published, featuring 288 photos of Virginia Oldoini in luxurious court dresses. This aristocrat is considered the first fashion model. In the early 20th century, the history of fashion photography received new development with the technology of halftone printing. Photos were published in magazines and gained wider circulation. Edward Steichen, who collaborated with Vanity Fair and Vogue from the 1920s, is considered the father of modern fashion photography.

Fashion Photography. Pierre-Louis Pierson. Countess of Castiglione, 1865

Fashion Photography. Edward Steichen. Paula Negri, 1925

Fashion photography saw rapid development in the 1930s, with outdoor photoshoots replacing studio settings, for example. The genre's development was temporarily halted during World War II. Many European magazines ceased publication, and American Vogue became the leader.

Fashion Photography. Horst P. Horst. Corset, Paris, 1939

After the war, there was a new surge, facilitated by the flourishing fashion and cinema industries. The stylistic approach to photographs changed: instead of static poses, movement became prevalent, and the popularity of lively street scenes grew. Studio photography experienced a revival only in the 1970s. During this period, photographers began to work more frequently with nudity, explore female sexuality, and create surrealistic works.

Fashion Photography. Toni Frissell. Paddington Station, 1951

Contemporary Fashion Photography

By the 21st century, fashion photography has become closely intertwined with advertising, contributing to the rapid rise in popularity of clothing manufacturers and designers. The following trends are characteristic of modern fashion photography:

• Photos are increasingly published not in glossy magazines but on social media and other internet resources, resulting in changes in their style and aesthetics.
• Fashion photography has become more mass-oriented, with many amateur bloggers engaging in it alongside professionals.
• Many photographers turn to the roots and create black and white images stylized to resemble vintage photography.
• Instead of professional models, ordinary people are often used, and the genre of street fashion photography is developing.

Fashion Photography. Chiron Duong. No name, 2020

The Most Famous Authors of Fashion Photography

Photographers working in this genre reveal to the viewer the world of luxury, beauty, and glamour. To succeed in this field, high professionalism, creativity, and good technical equipment are required. Among the most famous authors of fashion photography, the following can be named:

• Louise Dahl-Wolfe. A female photographer from the USA who worked at Harper's Bazaar for 22 years. During this time, she created almost 90 covers, about 600 color photos, and numerous black and white photos.
• Richard Avedon. An influential master and reformer of fashion photography. He gained fame even before the war and then worked at Vogue until 1990. Avedon's "Dovima with Elephants" photograph became the most expensive in its genre after a 2010 auction.
• Patrick Demarchelier. Created advertising photos for Chanel, Armani, Versace, Calvin Klein, and other world-famous brands. Demarchelier prefers a relaxed atmosphere during photoshoots and calls his method "the aesthetics of the candid shot."
• Annie Leibovitz. A photographer from the USA who has worked at Vanity Fair since 1983 and specializes in celebrity photography. She is considered one of the highest-paid photo masters in the world. She also became the first photographer whose works were exhibited in the National Gallery in London.
• Mario Testino. One of the most successful and famous fashion photographers in the industry. His Gucci ads in the 1990s helped revive the brand.

Fashion Photography. Louise Dahl-Wolfe. Red umbrella, 1963

Fashion Photography. Richard Avedon. Dovima and elephants, 1955

Fashion Photography. Patrick Demarchelier. Beyoncé in a photo shoot for Vogue US, 2013

Fashion Photography. Anna-Lou Leibovitz. Kirsten Dunst

Fashion Photography. Mario Testino. A photo for a Gucci advert, 1996

Fashion photography is more than just glamour and runway shots. This art form is better than any other at conveying the atmosphere, style, and ideals of the time. The images created by fashion photographers inspire and are memorable because they present a vivid and extraordinary world.

Fashion Photography. Walter Chin. No name