Glamour photography in its bare form (no pun intended) is product photography and what you are selling is the model. It is a planed out collaboration of the model, make-up, lighting, accessories and the photographer. Glamour photography can be broken into different styles based on its history, where all are still acceptable today and welcome in the glamour gallery.

Glamour photography got its start back in the 1920s with Hollywood. The studios product was the celebrity. That is what filled the theaters. The sex appeal was simply one way to sell it as it still is. With the times sex appeal was shown in different ways compared to today, mainly less skin, but still none the less sultry, sassy and sexy. Period photos were typically black and white and depended more on dramatic lighting to bring the point across. These images from George Hurrell, who is considered an icon of Hollywood Glamour, are great representations of the style.

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As time went on and acceptance grew glamour began to show more skin and become more directed as sex objects and took the form of ‘in ups’. From Wikipedia: “Many pin ups were photographs of celebrities who were considered sex symbols. One of the most popular early pin-up girls was Betty Grable. Her poster was ubiquitous in the lockers of G.I.s during World War II. Other pin-ups were artwork, often depicting idealized versions of what some thought a particularly beautiful or attractive woman should look like. An early example of the latter type was the Gibson girl, drawn by Charles Dana Gibson. The genre also gave rise to several well-known artists specializing in the field, including Alberto Vargas and George Petty". We look back on these as being cute and campy but be assured these were the FHM and Maxim of the time.

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As 60's and 70's came about glamour became more risque. With the help of a relativity new magazine (actually started in 1953) Playboy we started seeing and hearing the term ‘Glamour Model’ and again more skin was shown, at times all of it. Instead of showing the Hollywood starlet or other ‘famous’ women these models were more your girl next door and thus opened up the field.

80’s and 90’s showed glamour photography moving more out of the mens magazine and in to the advertising realm. We all know ‘sex sells’ and as times move forward this becomes more apparent. For the case of dA though we will keep any images that are selling a product in the commercial galleries, remembering to always ask your self “what is the purpose of the image”.

With the invention of the internet (thanks AL Gore!) Glamour has become widespread and more accessible to all. It has lead to the coined phrase ‘Garage Glamour’ for those, models and photographers alike, who have full time jobs but enjoy glamour photography as a hobby. The internet along with such magazines as FHM and Maxim defined modern glamour photography and have opened the doors to everyone to get involved.

Modern-day Glamour photography has taken a turn to show more skin, but this doesn’t mean “nude=glamour.” Quite the opposite: glamour often will reveal nothing - if you know what I mean. It’s all in the staging of the tease: hands, draped fabric, or other objects covering the unmentionables. Now, I’m not saying that you can’t reveal a breast or two, but the intent is to tease while still being sexy and focused on the beauty.



Here on dA glamour often overlaps many other galleries. As mentioned above pin-up and art nude are often culprits. So think hard before you place your image. Was it your intent on recreating a period pin up painting? Is your focus on the nude form of your subject? Or the focus on the beauty and sensual nature of your model?

More great glamour form around dA: