The Bettie Page look ... ?

[Keith]

A good friend of mine will be turning fifty in a few months and she's expressed an interest in celebrating the event with a Bettie Page photo shoot. She'll organise the appropriate hair style and also intends accumulating a variety of clothing appropriate for the mood and look of a fifties pinup queen. The aim being to give her a couple of framable images she can hang on her wall to shock her conservative relatives with when they visit. 🙂

I guess for me it's a chance to use the Rolleiflex that lurks in the cupboard and do something totally different.

Looking through the vast array of images of Bettie on the web I'm struck by the fact that there was more of 'her' style in the photographs than anything specific in the way they were shot. Lighting appears to range from fairly structured studio pics to the more natural looking outdoor images.

How do you define the Bettie Page 'look' and how would you approach something like this ... I'm curious?

 

[FrankS]

She's got self confidence. Chutzpah.

I'd show your friend lots of examples and point out the attitude.

 

[Ranchu]

I would NOT copy the existent style of photos of Bettie Page, as they are lit with small hard light sources (at least the ones I remember). I would use modern beauty lighting, Big Soft Lights to flatter her, and let the clothes and styling and mostly probably the poses carry the Bettie Page-ness.

 

[Keith]

She's got self confidence. Chutzpah.

I'd show your friend lots of examples and point out the attitude.

She's already a fan Frank and has been for some time apparently! 😛

And yes ... she definitely has 'chutzpah!" I've known her since she was fourteen.

 

[FrankS]

An easy way to get started, to get over the possible initial uncomfortableness, is to mimic poses in existing favourite chosen pics, then go from there wherever it goes.

 

[daveleo]

Keith

I think you and your friend to need clear up exactly what she means by "the Betty Page Look". Is it what Betty herself looks like, or, as suggested above, is it the "look" of the pictures, the lighting? the contrast?

I can imagine that she means Betty outfits, makeup, hairstyles, poses . . . I can easily imagine that she would like much better lighting than I have seen in those old classic pictures, but I am guessing. You two I think need to define that.

and . . . have much fun at this !!!

 

[Frank Petronio]

No matter how hard you work, it is impossible to please a woman, especially an older one who has never modeled but wants to look like one of the greatest models ever, in her prime.

Some things are better left as fantasies, they are better that way.

 

[Ranchu]

Nonsense. People do it all the time.

 

[Keith]

No matter how hard you work, it is impossible to please a woman, especially an older one who has never modeled but wants to look like one of the greatest models ever, in her prime.

Some things are better left as fantasies, they are better that way.

Point taken and I respect your opinion Frank but this gal is kind of unusual. In the thirty five years I've known her she's always been the same down to earth individual she still is currently ... a little crazy too but aren't we all? 😀

 

[xayraa33]

I would listen to the Mystery Gang before the shoot Keith.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1x7QTzR3V5M

 

[Keith]

I would listen to the Mystery Gang before the shoot Keith.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1x7QTzR3V5M

I just forwarded that to her! 😀

 

[Keith]

To confirm that this girl is a little different ... she bought this original '64 Ford about a year ago and drives it regularly. 🙂

 

[35mmdelux]

No matter how hard you work, it is impossible to please a woman, especially an older one who has never modeled but wants to look like one of the greatest models ever, in her prime.

Some things are better left as fantasies, they are better that way.

Major words by the master. Not much I can say after that. I will move along...

 

[Photo_Smith]

I've done quite a few of these with some success in the past, what you need is a harder light source to create the Hollywood look we used studio lighting with fresnel lenses over them to create the right mood.
The secret is to soften the image at the taking lens, you could use a Softar no2, we also over exposed to cause some halation in the highlights although this will take practice to get the right soft effect (Chinese Lucky film)?

What I suggest is a trial run, keep it fun and light you'll be able to evaluate the first contacts together then then try a second shoot–make sure you know what she wants before hand.
Look at the work of George Hurrell for the Hollywood look a lot of Betty Page shots (at least the studio B&W) have this look.

Have fun!!

 

[MikeAUS]

A good friend of mine will be turning fifty in a few months and she's expressed an interest in celebrating the event with a Bettie Page photo shoot. S

Betty was 32 at her peak ...

 

[maddoc]

Graflex and that ultra-cheap 4x5 BW film from China ... 🙂

 

[Keith]

Betty was 32 at her peak ...

Your point ... ? 😛

 

[35mmdelux]

Betty was 32 at her peak ...

LOL. Sweet Jesus have mercy..

 

[Doug]

32 is a fine age to be, yet 50 is great too especially these days. 🙂
Said from the perspective of more advanced age... Good luck with the shoot, Keith, sounds like fun!

 

[Keith]

32 is a fine age to be, yet 50 is great too especially these days. 🙂
Said from the perspective of more advanced age... Good luck with the shoot, Keith, sounds like fun!

Thanks Doug.

Yes, age has bugger all to do with this IMO. It's about fun and realising an ambition.