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Glamour photography is a genre of photography in which the subjects are portrayed in attractive poses ranging from fully clothed to nude, and often erotic. Photographers use a combination of cosmetics, lighting and airbrushing techniques to produce an appealing image of the subject.[1][2] The focus lies in the beauty of the subject's body or portrait;[3] as such, beauty standards are often a key determinant of glamour model trends.[4] A popular subset of this type of photography is "pin-up", for women, and "beefcake", for men.[5][6]
Since glamour photography can include nudity, in such cases the distinction from softcore pornography is largely a matter of taste, although depictions of sexual contact are not considered within this genre and are considered pornographic. Glamour photography is generally a composed image of a subject in a still position. The subjects of glamour photography for professional use are often professional models, and the photographs are normally intended for commercial use, including mass-produced calendars, pinups and men's magazines such as Maxim; but amateur subjects are also sometimes used, and sometimes the photographs are intended for private and personal use only.
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 | This section needs additional citations for verification. (January 2010) |
Until the latter half of the 20th century glamour photography was usually referred to as erotic photography.[citation needed] Early erotic photography was often associated with "French postcards", small postcard sized images, that were sold by street vendors in France. In the early 1900s the pinup became popular and depicted scantily dressed women, often in a playful pose, seemingly surprised or startled by the viewer. The subject would usually have an expression of delight which seemed to invite the viewer to come and play.[citation needed] During World War II, pin-up pictures of scantily clad movie stars were extremely popular among American servicemen. Betty Grable was one of the most famous pin-up models of all time; her pinup in a bathing suit was extremely popular with World War II soldiers.[citation needed]
In December 1953, Marilyn Monroe was featured in the first issue of Playboy magazine. Bettie Page was the Playboy Playmate of the Month in January 1955. Playboy was the first magazine featuring nude erotic photography to receive mainstream attention. Penthouse was the second such magazine to achieve this.
Glamour models popular in the early 1990s included Hope Talmons and Dita Von Teese and the modern era is represented in the U.S. by models like Heidi Van Horne and Bernie Dexter, while leading representatives of the genre in the UK include Katie Price and Lucy Pinder.[citation needed]
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Standards and styles of glamour photography change over time, reflecting for example changes in social acceptance and taste. In the early 1920s, United States photographers like Ruth Harriet Louise and George Hurrell photographed celebrities to glamorize their stature by utilizing lighting techniques to develop dramatic effects.[7][8]
Until the 1950s, glamour photography in advertising and in men's magazines was highly controversial or even illegal.[citation needed] In some countries, if not illegal, such magazines could not be on public display, and some had to be displayed in a plastic cover. Magazines featuring glamour photography were sometimes marketed as "art magazines" or "health magazines".
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 | This section possibly contains original research. (April 2022) |
Since the 1990s and especially in the 2010s, glamour photography has increased in popularity among the public. In more formal settings, glamour portrait studios have opened, offering professional hair and makeup artists and professional retouching to allow the general public to have the "model" experience. These sometimes include boudoir portraits but are more commonly used by professionals and high school seniors who want to look their best for their portraits.
As photography has become widely adopted through the use of smartphones, glamour photography has become a popular type of content featured on social media, particularly on Instagram. Instagram models and influencers posting glamour photography-type content have attracted heavy scrutiny from the general public, and are blamed for contributing to rising rates of depression and anxiety in the West.[9]
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Nude male model using the masculine equivalent of the handbra, 2009
Carlson Twins at a photoshoot, 2006
Models posing for a magazine cover, 2008
Woman posing with a red veil, 2014
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- Simpson, Mark (23 March 2015). "How men became the new glamour models". The Daily Telegraph. London.
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