The word glamour began being used in the 1920’s along with the birth of French Art Deco. In many cultures when the word glamour was used to describe a woman, she was considered to be so powerful that she could cast a spell on another person. Glamorous women were considered to have magical powers with the ability to transcend and captivate. No one knew this better than the moguls of Hollywood who religiously and relentlessly employed the power of glamour to shape movie stars and build empires.
Glamour photography is about portraying women in a tantalizing way where the primary focus is on her sexual energy and visual appeal. Clothing and accessories are only meant to complement and should never compete. In 1953 Playboy debuted their magazine with a nude Marilyn Monroe, it was at that moment that glamour photography essentially went mainstream, which at that time caused a public outcry,. When the critics asked Marilyn what she had on during the photo-shoot, she replied “the radio”.
True glamour photography should celebrate the female form, showcasing it in an exciting, sometimes even provocative or erotic way, but should never exploit. The real art of glamour photography is to take the viewer to the edge and leave them wanting; however pushing them over the edge is an entirely different matter.
Christopher Francis
