DOUGLAS KIRKLAND

Douglas Kirkland: Iconic Photographer of Hollywood Celebrities

Douglas Kirkland was born in 1934 in Toronto. From a young age, he was captivated by photography, using his friends and family as his first models. Little did he know, Hollywood’s most prominent celebrities would soon be posing in front of his camera.

Early in his career, Kirkland worked in a small photo studio in Richmond, Virginia. Through various encounters, he discovered the work of Irving Penn, which profoundly influenced him. Kirkland sent several letters to Penn and eventually became his assistant. Although he quickly learned the craft, the low salary prompted him to venture out on his own. In 1957, he set a goal to establish himself as a photographer within a year. His journey took longer, gradually building his portfolio through collaborations with smaller publications. Kirkland’s breakthrough came when he joined LOOK magazine. In the same year, he learned French from Coco Chanel and, in June 1961, was assigned to photograph Elizabeth Taylor.

Taylor initially agreed to an interview with LOOK but not a photo shoot. Kirkland persuaded her, explaining how significant the opportunity would be for him. She consented, thus launching his career. Later that year, Kirkland photographed Marilyn Monroe in a memorable session involving a king-size bed, champagne, and Frank Sinatra’s music. The resulting images, with their beautiful pastel tones, captured the rapport between Monroe and Kirkland. “She was not like the Marilyn I expected; she was easy, light, almost playful, and very disarming for me,” Kirkland recounted in an interview with CBS.

The Celebrity Photographer

Douglas Kirkland went on to photograph numerous celebrities, including Charlie Chaplin, Audrey Hepburn, Jack Nicholson, John Travolta, Michael Jackson, Brigitte Bardot, Andy Warhol, and Marilyn Monroe. In addition to studio portraits, Kirkland also worked as a film set photographer on iconic movies such as 2001: A Space Odyssey, Sophie’s Choice, Out of Africa, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Romancing the Stone, Titanic, The Great Gatsby, and Moulin Rouge. His extensive photo archives offer a comprehensive reflection of the cinematic world.

While portraits hold a special place in Kirkland’s portfolio, he has also explored various other subjects, including astronomy in Chile, the Trans-Siberian Railroad, and fashion in Bali. Kirkland has taught at institutions such as the Smithsonian Institution, the AFI Conservatory in Hawaii and Los Angeles, the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, and the Kodak Centers in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Taiwan. His career has earned him wide recognition. He continues to photograph the film industry and works on personal projects, including a new book on his black-and-white photos, titled When We Were Young.

Explore the legendary works of Douglas Kirkland and learn more about his contributions to photography on IGWT.

6 Questions to Douglas Kirkland – Exhibition at IGWT: Icons (May 24 – July 3, 2018)

Photographer Douglas KIRKLAND Interviewed About Photographing Marilyn Monroe in 1961:

Douglas Kirkland: Exhibitions, Collections, and Awards

Exhibitions:

Douglas Kirkland, IGWT, Paris, May 2018 – July 2018 Icons, Press Release
Douglas Kirkland, Lumiere Brothers Center for Photography, Moscow, January 2018
Douglas Kirkland – Fermo Immagine, Maxxi, Italy, October 2017 – November 2017
Retrospective, Triennale Museum, Milan, Italy, September 2008

Museums and Collections:

Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA
National Portrait Gallery, Canberra, Australia
National Portrait Gallery, London, England
George Eastman Museum, Rochester, New York, USA
Houston Center for Photography, Houston, Texas, USA
Annenberg Space for Photography, Los Angeles, California, USA
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Collection, Beverly Hills, California, USA

Awards:

2003: Lucie Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Entertainment Photography, IPA Photography
2006: The Golden Eye of Russia
2006: Lifetime Achievement Award, CAPIC (Toronto)
2007: Honorary Master of Arts Degree, Brooks Institute

Selection of Books: