The Elements of Glamour I

Photography comes in many genres, and like Hollywood producers, photographers cater to their different audiences in different forms. A good photograph, like a good picture show, will leave movies in the mind. Some genres of photography are sought more than others, some genres pay more than others, and some are easier to master than others; but one form of photography, glamour, is not as “publicly” accepted as the rest, though elements of glamour are more sought after in images today. The irony of glamour photography’s public acceptance is the elements of it are often found in most photography. You have wedding photographers shooting photojournalistic images, but at the same time, they add just a touch of glamour in most of their “bride” photographs. Other photographers add the element of glamour in their photojournalism, nature, portraits, and fashion images, sometimes knowingly, and sometimes unknowingly. The evidence of glamour in images is found through the smiles on model’s faces—and these rarely show teeth, only the harmony of the model’s eyes with the corner’s of her lips. Magazines like Maxim, FMH, Details, and photographers like David LaChapelle have imbedded this in our minds, as they are masters of blurring fashion with glamour in their photographs through the use of smiles on model’s faces.