As a photographer, a major source of inspiration for me is through the photography from old and new Hollywood. Beautiful photographs of interesting people from Bruce Weber, Patrick Demarchelier, Mario Testino, Herb Ritts and of course, Annie Liebovitz. When I shoot, it is from these images I find inspiration the most.
I have started collecting some coffee table books for inspiration from photographers like these. For me, rather than looking at solely at other wedding photography as inspiration, instead I find most inspiration for both weddings and portraits through fashion magazines and these sorts of coffee table books. These are just a few of my favourites I thought I would share.
I came across Milton’s Marilyn while on the internet late one night. I immediately purchased it and it has been close to my heart ever since, some 10 years later. This book compiled by Joshua Greene is a manifesto of his father, Milton Green and Marilyn Monroe’s business and personal relationship and the images Greene captured along the way – it was a match made in photographic heaven. It is some of my favourite imagery ever and I think some of my favourite images of all time are from the Black Sitting. Unfortunately Lulu didn’t realise how much I loved it before she used it as a teething toy.
Another Monroe book from a different perspective, Eve Arnold almost picked up where Milton Greene left off by capturing many images of Monroe in the final years of her life on set. Eve Arnold’s book of photographs and her time with Monroe on set is candid and endearing. Her black and white images in particular are captivating. So many images just make me pause and it seems as though the world stops revolving for just a moment when I look through this book.
Lastly, Annie Liebovitz At Work and Vanity Fair Portraits. Both are holding such amazing pieces of popular culture and the Vanity Fair Portraits in particular is such a great example of how photographs are these little time capsules to be pulled out for insight into the past and sometimes into the future.
Great, love it! I need to add to my collection of inspirational materials for sure. Currently their mostly electronic and very few in the form of books =) Movies are one of my biggest sources of inspiration, esp foreign film =)