Fashion Photographer: Pamela Hanson
Who Is Pamela Hanson?
Pamela Hanson is an American photographer and filmmaker who has over 30 years of experience. She has work published in well known publications such as Elle, Glamour, GQ, Harper's Bazaar, Vanity Fair, Vogue and countless more famous publications.
During Hanson's career, she has published 3 books, 'Girls' released in 2001 which was a photobook containing over 200 pages. It was said to have had "worldwide success" (Hanson, n.d). Later in 2006, she released her second book titled 'Boys'. In 2017 she released her most recent book named 'Private Room' which featured nude and semi-nude images taken between 2012 and 2014.
Hanson studied art history at a university in Colorado. She stated how she "did some photography classes there, although it felt really pretentious" (Into the Gloss, 2015). In a podcast part of Dior Talks, she states "I didn't become a photographer to go into fashion" Jansen (2016) and I found this very interesting as this was not her original intention, she "more fell into it than pursued it" (Anatomy Films, n.d). This was something I could relate to as when I first started my photography journey I wanted to create landscape images and focus on nature, and now I have completely shifted to having more love for fashion and beauty photography.
From there she moved to Boston and met a fashion photographer however, she wasn't aware of what a fashion photographer actually was, and she wanted to learn how she could become one. She started out with him and started to do her own model test shoots.
Later, she took a trip to Paris, to visit her friends however she ended up falling in love with Arthur Elgort's work, and she actually became his assistant. She started to do her own shoots with her friends, who were models and Elgort told her she should keep the images and that they were good.
She then went out to try and find a job and be hired as a fashion photographer, after contacting many magazines she eventually got her breakthrough when Marie Claire had a cancellation and was in need of a photographer. This is where her fashion photography career was born.
Hanson's style is very natural, easy going and relaxed, "she brought a relaxed brand of photography to editorials for Vogue, Elle, and many other publications, at a time it was very structured" (Anatomy Films, n.d). This cover of The Sunday Times Style magazine shown in figure 2 featuring a photo of Kirsten Dunst, is the perfect example of Hanson's relaxed style. The image portrays a feeling of comfort and familiarity almost as if Hanson and Dunst already knew each other and could be good friends. I think this aspect is something that really sets Hanson apart from other photographers, as it shows emotion and makes the viewer feel it too.
The image uses natural lighting which is a common technique of Hanson, which is something that does draw me towards her work. Many times I've heard other photographers or people in the industry say natural light is cheating and unprofessional. However, I personally think it just adds an element of naturality and simplicity, it doesn't make the image seem too overdone.
In conclusion, Hanson is someone I'll be looking to for inspiration for my final project, due to her use of natural light that mimics artificial light whilst still maintaining a professional quality within the images.
I feel that exploring and researching more into her work, will influence the way in which I work. When it comes to producing my own images, selecting my work and sequencing my magazine, I think her approach will really help me develop in this area.
References
Anatomy Films. (n.d). Pamela Hanson Natural Fashion. Anatomy Films. https://www.anatomyfilms.com/pamela-hanson-natural-fashion/
Hanson, P. (n.d). About. Pamela Hanson. https://pamelahanson.com/about/
Into the Gloss. (2015). Pamela Hanson, Photographer. Into the Gloss. https://intothegloss.com/2015/01/pamela-hanson-photographer/
Jansen, C. (Host). (2020, July 16). Pamela Hanson talks about her thirty-year career and the path she carved as a woman in a male-dominated industry. (The Female Gaze Episode 8) [Audio Podcast podcast]. Dior Talks. https://podcasts.dior.com/female-gaze-pamela-hanson
Bibliography
Figure 1 - Newton, T. (2015). Pamela Hanson photographed by Tom Newton [jpeg]. Into the Gloss. https://intothegloss.com/2015/01/pamela-hanson-photographer/
Figure 2 - Hanson, P. (2021). Kirsten Dunst [jpeg]. In Hodge, G. (2021). The Sunday Times Style (p.1). The Times. https://pamelahanson.com/photography/sunday-times-style/