Russ V Photography

The Hollywood Golden Era (AKA Old Hollywood) was from 1925-1950 when the movies dominated the entertainment media arena and along the advent of television and dwindled ones perspective of the aroma of an entertainment star. During the Hollywood Golden Era, movie stars were displayed and admired by fans in silver rectangles in darken theaters where they were adorned by fans that were in a dreamlike state. The stars were displayed with publicity stills; the calling cards of the stars. This was Hollywood's way of alerting the world of its latest creation. Studios produced thousands of stills of the stars in their films to draw fans to the theater with so and so is staring in their film. Studios hired photographers such as George Hurrell whose style became known as Hollywood Glamour Portraits (AKA Old Hollywood Glamour). He was responsible for creating a bold new idiom, one in which movie stars were idealized, glamorized, and ultimately turned into icons. Many people have seen his work but never knew who was behind the camera. One can see a very small set of his work at http://www.hurrellphotography.com/ and Google Gorge Hurrell photos and you will say to yourself, I know that photo. I am aspired by his works and looking to capture the same feeling the photo brings to the viewer by using modern camera and studio equipment but basically the same lighting.

In addition to the Old Hollywood Glamour photography, I am interested in the 1940-1950s pin-up photos. The pin up images could be cut out of magazines or newspapers, or be from postcard or chromo-lithographs, and so on. Such photos often appear on calendars, which are meant to be pinned up anyway. Later, posters of pin-up girls were mass-produced. 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. The genre gave rise to several well-known artists specializing in the field, including Alberto Vargas, Gil Elvgren, and George Petty, and numerous lesser artists, such as Art Frahm. Many vintage 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. Others 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, and numerous lesser artists such as Art Frahm. The term cheesecake is synonymous with pin-up photos. The earliest documented print usage of this sense of cheesecake is in 1934, predating pin-up, although anecdotes say the phrase was in spoken slang some 20 years earlier, originally in the phrase (said of a sexy/pretty woman) better than cheesecake. One of the most famous pin-ups girls is the great Bettie Page, who bought the pin-up photography world to an all new level. I enjoy trying to capture the same look and feel the pin-up photo brings to the viewer and add a sense or eroticism without being pornographic.

A typical shoot includes a cross section of color and B&W photos with a models wardrobe is similar to that era (1925-1950s) or with more current fashion trends or both. The wardrobe ranges from formal wear, robes, lingerie, and swimwear. In addition, if applicable to the model, the photos may include fetish wear (leather, thigh high boots, etc.), partial and fully nude. Each shoot is unique and details are discussed with the model prior to the shoot with the model having the final say either before or during a shoot. I shoot from my home studio in Haymarket, VA where I have a 13'x25' studio space and a full bathroom with a club foot tub, a full length mirror, makeup vanity table, garment rack, and room to change next to the studio space. I also have private space on my eleven acres where vehicles/bikes/etc. can be parked or if there is need for woods or water backdrop to conduct outdoor photo shoots. I provide the model a series of digital images from the shoot (after editing and proofing them) to the model to use on their website(s) regardless if it is a Time For Prints/DVD/CD or paid shoot usually within a week or two post shoot. Unobstructed escorts are always welcome. Please feel to contact any model I have worked with for references. Please feel to contact me if you are interested in doing a shoot or if you just have questions and want to know more about my photography.