Sometimes when I photograph my seniors, I am actually thinking about artworks that I love when I create the shot. I don't usually say anything, and no one notices but me. But it makes me happy.
I have a minor in art history, and have loved art since I was a little girl. Back then there was no internet, so I would check out huge coffee table books from the library, and spend ours looking at the paintings and other works of art, dreaming of the people and worlds they showed me.
In this blog post, I share three art-inspired images I have done, and show you what influenced me.
1. Art Nouveau influences
Art Nouveau, with it's love for meshing the female form with natural elements, has long been a favorite art movement of mine. I have always especially loved Art Nouveau imagery that depicted women and stars and moons.
One evening I was out photographing Chloe under a spectacular Kansas sunset. I was directing her poses, when suddenly I thought of Art Nouveau lamps and paintings that depict a woman holding a moon, and it struck me that I could imitate that style of art in my own photography. That set off a string of portraits I did of girls interacting with the setting sun, and I love each one of them. They may appear gimmicky to some of you, but it's been really nice for me to be able to create something beautiful that reminds me of art that I have loved my entire life.
You can see examples of Art Nouveau/Art Deco "lady lamps" here.
I wish I could do these images with the moon but the sun is a good substitute and something I am able to photograph. Here's one beautiful example of, with a print for sale on Amazon.
2. Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood
As much as I love Art Nouveau, I have always loved the Pre-Raphaelites even more. The romantic style of painting from the mid-1800s through early 1900s England is just my cup of tea, featuring strong women, deep emotions, and a nod to idealized Medieval imagery.
I was photographing Anna during her senior session when the whole scene struck me as so very Pre-Raphaelite, so I leaned into the notion with how I placed her in the environment, and how I directed the pose and facial expression. I think it was a success, because when I asked ChatGPT to describe this picture, this is what the AI chatbot told me:
In her hand, she holds a single red rose, a classic symbol of romance, love, or even longing, which complements the deep red of her gown. Her expression is calm, introspective, and perhaps a little melancholic, as she gazes off to the side. The arched window behind her creates a Gothic or timeless aesthetic, reminiscent of Pre-Raphaelite paintings that often feature symbolic elements and strong feminine figures. The interplay of light and shadow, along with the architectural details, evokes a sense of history and romantic nostalgia.
Pictured here: "The Crystal Ball" by John William Waterhouse (1902)
2. Bernini and saint paintings
On cold December day, I asked Anna to photograph with me in the rainy woods in a fantastic black dress I had rented for a photoshoot. My favorite image turned out to not show the dress at all. Anna, with her head and eyes tilted slightly up, and with rays of light coming from above, looked like a Medieval or Renaissance painted saint; and Bernini's masterpiece statue, "The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa" crossed my mind.
All this goes to show that you just never know what your photographer is thinking, or from where they draw inspiration. If you knew, it might surprise you!