Portrait Photography
Women In Photography
The female form has been represented in works of art for centuries. Trends in fashion have been traced through many ages of these representations, and some of the first popular methods of capturing women on film were fashion photography, “glamour” photography and wedding photography. Today these are still some of the most common ways that images of women are captured in photographs. The composition of these types of photography are recognizable to many, photographers or not, and the methods to achieve these images remain somewhat the same.
The first fashion photography began around 1913, and from that point on the female form, dressed in the mode of the day, became a common sight in commercial art and in the media. Fashion photography to this day focuses on women in exotic locations, dressed in the most popular fashions and accessories. There are no set styles or methods to fashion photography, and there have been several artists who built their reputations and careers around this particularly creative variety of photography. There is however a requirement for knowledgeable use of colour and lighting and excellent composition.
Glamour photographs were first seen in the World War II era “pin up” girls and in the gorgeous photographs of Hollywood stars. Today many individuals arrange to have a photograph, or a series of photographs, taken of them in this classic and elegant style.
Currently
the trend calls for black and white imagery, with soft lighting and filters
applied to give the photographs a tone and feel similar to those of the
original era of glamour photography. The images today are taken for
professional as well as personal reasons, and a good glamour photograph will
always present a woman in an elegant and dignified light. There should never
be a crudely sexual tone or image in a glamour photograph, as this style of
photography calls for suggestion and allure, not blatant or graphic
depictions of the female form. There is a large commercial popularity around
variations of classic glamour imagery employing new styles with names like
“rockabilly” and “pin up” appearing in art and fashion, as well as in
personal and professional photography.
Finally,
wedding photography is the ultimate in capturing women at their most
romantic and fancifully dressed moments. Wedding photography is a critical
component to most formal wedding ceremonies and receptions. Wedding
photographers can be well-equipped individuals or whole crews of lighting,
sound and film professionals.
Article by...
Amy Renfrey
Digital Photographer, Digital Photography Teacher & Author
