THE HOME SITTING/5

Photographer and celebrity alike were under pressure to produce an interesting layout, one that would hold the attention of the reader, so the rapport between them was of the utmost importance.

The photographer was invading the inner sanctum of the home and, given the performer’s natural distrust of the still camera, they had to learn to do what they could to curb anxieties.

They made the subject comfortable.

They gained his condidence by arranging each setup with the consideration that goes into preparing a movie scene and by keeping the poses within the star’s own sense of image.

Contrary to belief, performers like to be told what to do and the most successful sittings were the ones in which the photographer rather than the subject was the director.

But if all else failed, they weren’t above making a bit of a fuss over the subject.