Born 1907 in Edmonton, London, English fashion and portrait photographer John French originally trained and worked as a commercial artist, becoming a photographic director in an advertising studio just before World War II, during which he served as an officer in the Grenadier Guards.
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| Fashion photography by John French in the 1950s |
In 1948, French set up his own photographic studio. Working originally with the Daily Express, he pioneered a new form of fashion photography suited to reproduction in newsprint, involving where possible reflected natural light and low contrast.
French also undertook portrait photography. He himself devoted much attention to the set and posing of his models, but left the actual triggering of the shutter to assistants, amongst whom were Terence Donovan and David Bailey.
French died of lymphoma in 1966 at the age of 59.
These stunning black and white portrait photos of classic beauties are part of his work that French took in the 1950s.
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| Strapless evening gown, photo John French, London, 1950 |
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| Barbara Goalen in a Lily Schroter day-dress, photo by John French for Vogue, London, 1951 |
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| Barbara Goalen, photo by John French, 1951-52 |
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| Bettina in fur coat and hat by Jacques Fath, photo by John French, 1951 |
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| Fiona Campbell-Walter, photo by John French for an advert in The Tatler and Bystander, London, 1951 |
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| Fiona Campbell-Walter, photo by John French, 1951 |
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| Anne Gunning in Digby Morton’s Tudor- style coat in black and gold worn with Henry VIII beret by Rudolf, photo is by John French, London, 1952 |
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| Barbara Goalen in a Hardy Amies town dress, photo by John French for the Daily Express, London, 1952 |
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| Barbara Miura in a Christian Dior cotton pique jacket with grosgrain collar and cuffs, photo John French for Harper’s Bazaar, 1953 |
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| Fiona Campbell-Walter, photo by John French, 1953 |
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| Shirley Worthington in evening dress with matching stole trimmed in ostrich feathers, photo by John French for Vanity Fair, May 1953 |
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| Barbara Goalen in silk evening dress, photo by John French, Covent Garden station, London, 1954 |
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| Barbara Goalen in strapless evening dress by unidentified designer, photo by John French, Covent Garden Station, London, 1954 |
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| Susan Abraham in evening ensemble by John Cavanagh, photo by John French, 1954 |
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| Susan Abraham in John Cavanagh’s strapless evening gown, photo John French, London, 1954 |
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| Susan Abraham wearing ensemble by John Cavanagh, photo by John French, 1954 |
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| Susan Abraham, photo by John French, circa 1954 |
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| Lovely white summer dress, photo by John French for The Daily Mail, London, 1955 |
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| Jean Dawnay, photo by John French, 1956 |
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| Daphne Abrams, photo by John French, Vanity Fair, October 1957 |
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| Helen Bunney in black and white checked dress by Blanes, photo by John French, Women’s Sunday Mirror, 1957 |
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| Susan Abraham in John Cavanagh’s strapless evening gown, photo John French, London, 1957 |
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| Model in veiled hat with feather, photo by John French, London, 1958 |
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| Myrtle Crawford in white organdy wedding gown by unidentified designer, photo by John French, 1958 |
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| A Horrockses cotton poplin dress, photo John French, London, circa 1950s |
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| Anne Gunning, photo by John French, circa 1950s |
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| Anne Gunning, photo by John French, circa 1950s |
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| Anne Gunning, photo by John French, circa 1950s |
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| Barbara Goalen in a fashion shot by John French, circa 1950s |
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| Barbara Goalen in dress and coat by Digby Morton, photo by John French, circa 1950s |
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| Barbara Goalen, photo by John French, circa 1950s |
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| Fashion shot by John French, circa 1950s |
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| Fashion shot by John French, circa 1950s |
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| Fiona Campbell-Walter, photo by John French, circa 1950s |
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| Model is wearing elegant slim sheath draped artfully around the hip, photo by John French, circa 1950s |
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| Model wearing white wool/angora beret, photo by John French, circa 1950s |
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| Pat Goddard, photo by John French, circa 1950s |
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| Simone D’Allencourt, photo by John French, circa 1950s |
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| Simone D’Allencourt, photo by John French, circa 1950s |
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| Simone D’Allencourt, photo by John French, circa 1950s |
