Blog — Alter Ego Portraits

Film Noir Experiences at Alter Ego Portraits

September 3, 2015 by martin

As big fans of Film Noir we love offering the style to couples coming to the studio for a vintage couples session.

Film Noir describes a genre of mainly crime and suspense thrillers that originated in the 1940s and 50s. Stylish,moody and beautifully photographed in low-key black and white, it’s no surprise that they’re still popular today.

Original poster for The Big Sleep.

To recreate the Film Noir feel in the Alter Ego studio we studied stills from the classic movies, like The Big Sleep, from 1946 and The Maltese Falcon from 1941. We use special lights that recreate the cinematic look from the 1940s and we photograph mostly in black and white. Period style props and costumes complete the look. Guys love playing with the prop guns!

Film noir is our most popular style of vintage photo experience for couples. Some couples love to combine it with our pin up style too!. Please visit our couples page to see examples of both styles.

Would you like to live out a classic film noir fantasy and create some timeless images of your own? Or do you know someone who would love this experience? Then here’s an amazing offer for you: buy a voucher for a couples session online here, use the discount code NOIR50 and get your session for just £49.50, half the normal price. The offer code expires at the end of September (but you can have your session any time in the next six months).

Some more film noir images for you to enjoy – click the small image to see it larger.

Fifty Shades of Black and White

February 12, 2015 by martin

So the Fifty Shades of Grey movie launches this week. The critics are saying the movie is better than the book. Karen’s read the book, I only managed an online synopsis which apparently makes Mr Grey seem more unpleasant than the book.

All this got me thinking about 50 shades of grey in an abstract way. I wondered if I could find fifty black and white images to make a gallery. This is the result. Some of these images are old favourites, others are brand new and haven’t been published before. All were taken in the Alter Ego Studio. We’d like to thank all our wonderful subjects for allowing us to share their images here.

If you’re inspired by any of these images and you’d like a session of your own click here to buy a voucher for a session at half our normal price. This offer runs until 21st February (but vouchers are valid until the end of the year).

Click on an image to see it bigger. Some images are not safe for work.

A tribute to Marilyn – 60 years on

July 4, 2014 by martin

Sixty years ago this year Marilyn Monroe was at the height of her fame and at her most beautiful. She had formed a creative (and later business) partnership with Milton Greene who was a New York based photographer and director. Greene created many of the most iconic images of Marilyn.

In September of 1954 Marilyn was in New York for location filming for “The Seven Year Itch”. Greene invited her to his studio for what turned out to be one of her most famous photo sessions. The images they created were a happy accident. Greene had bought a ballerina-style tulle dress, but it was too small for her. Rather than give up, she held it together while she sat on a chair.

The result, known as the “ballerina series” is a fabulous set of images full of life, character and vitality. You can really see Marilyn’s personality shine through the images.

One of the images from the set was voted by Time Life magazine as one of the three most popular images of the 20th Century.

We often include images inspired by Marilyn in our vintage style makeover photo shoots. When Vicky came with her mum and sister we recreated the ballerina series for them. This is Vicky’s set which we are grateful to her for letting us share with you. We are showing it here as a tribute to Marilyn, sixty years on.

Nat and Jimmy’s Vintage Couples shoot

January 30, 2014 by annalie

Nat and Jimmy came to the studio last year to spend special time together recreating some amazing vintage couples’ shots.

When you’re at an Alter Ego luxury make-over shoot you’re the stars. The team are completely focused on making you and your partner look and feel amazing.

The red halter neck dress that Nat is modelling is available to dress up in. Or if you have something similar, you’re most welcome to bring your own.

Stylist spraying hairspray on a lady about to be photographed.

Your stylist is on hand throughout the shoot for regular touch-ups to make sure you look stunning.

Wearing the beautiful vintage style tea dresses or this smouldering scarlet halter-neck helps put you in a great mood for your pictures to be taken. Feeling the part is the first step towards getting great pictures. I can think of a few dresses that have helped their owners feel the part and have ultimately gone down in history.

Marilyn Monroe’s white halter-neck dress from The Seven Year Itch, Elizabeth Hurley’s black Versace safety pin dress, Geri Halliwell’s union jack dress, Gwyneth Paltrow’s Oscar acceptance gown, Lady Gaga’s meat dress… how funny! I am sure there are lots more.

Women have always loved copying star style and back in the 1930’s and 40’s it was no different. You could buy sewing patterns for dresses and outfits worn by the stars of the big screen. Paramount Studio’s costume designer Edith Head produced a collection of “Hollywood Patterns” featuring the exact dresses worn by Betty Grable, Francis Gifford, and Lucile Ball to name but a few. We’d like to get hold of the patterns and it would be fabulous if someone could make a few dresses up for our vintage shoots.

Black and white image of two people about to kiss.

A beautiful romantic shot of Nat and Jimmy.

The Alter Ego couples’sessions have a number of different scene and lighting changes where you can get dressed up and down. The boudoir part of the shoot is optional and for that section you’d need bring your own lingerie and stockings. Most of the couples who come to the studio do opt for beautiful, boudoir images taken in an atmospheric Film Noir style.

Some couples choose to have images as a keepsake in a bound leather or canvas photo album, others have framed prints for the wall and some choose to have a CD of images instead.

1950's poster style picture of man in a suit like james bond and lady wearing a mac

This styled pic is reminiscent of the poster campaigns from the Film Noir era where films had names such as Kiss Me Deadly, The Killing and Touch of Evil.

A plan comes together!

December 18, 2013 by annalie

Lady dressed in 50's style sat down holding an LP and album cover

Biba poses with the vintage red record player.

We love it when a plan comes together. Biba came to the studio with her mum Annie to share a fun filled Mother and Daughter shoot. When it was time to photograph the “record player set” Biba announced that she had always been a fan of Neil Young and had brought one of his albums along, to which Martin’s wife Karen replied, “so was I!”

Karen whizzed home to pick up some more album and Biba was delighted to be able to feature them in her gorgeous photo.

For those of you who don’t know about Neil Young, he was a 70’s pop star, not actually one from the 50’s. (Shhh!) Harvest, the album featured in the shot was his fourth LP in 1972 and he’s still recording music today with at least 37 albums to his name!

What’s fabulous about an Alter Ego Portraits shoot is that you can make the shoot personal to you, just like Biba did. If you’ve got gorgeous silk stockings you’d like to wear, wear them. If you have your own 50’s dress, wear it!

The time in the studio is yours to enjoy and if you can bring props or items of jewellery to make the pictures special and more personal to you, the results will be even more spectacular.

Here’s what Biba had to say: Can’t recommend @alteregophotos enough! Thanks guys!

Thank you SO much for the photos, they’ve arrived! Couldn’t wait to get home to see them again love love love the records shot! Taking my laptop to work tomorrow to show them off to anyone who will look! x

Take a look at a selection of pictures we adore from their time in the studio.

Yound lady and her mother dressed in vintage style shot against a blue background

Biba and mum Annie share time together in the studio.

black and white picture of lady with cat flicks and vintage rolls wearing a white shirt.

Biba looks simply stunning in her black and white white shirt shot.

Two ladies posing in a picnic scene wearing vintage style 50's dresses

Tea for two.