Neal Barr opened his photo studio in New York City in 1962, specializing in fashion and beauty assignments for magazines and advertising agencies. Between 1963-1965, he shot eight covers for Sports Illustrated, including boxer Cassius Clay’s first SI cover. From 1966-1974, he was a contributing photographer to Harper’s Bazaar, frequently photographing the French couture collections.
Fashion photography in the 1960s by Neal Barr
In 1968, Barr’s photograph of Naomi Sims for the cover of Ladies’ Home Journal broke the color barrier for mainstream women’s magazines. His commercial clients have included Revlon, Cover Girl, Estée Lauder, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman, Christian Dior, Halston and Fabergé.
After 43 years in New York City, Barr relocated his studio to Ventura, California where he concentrates on photographing a book project of his own collection of 1920s vintage fashion. His images have been exhibited at the Staley-Wise Gallery in New York and the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of New York, and have been purchased by collectors worldwide.
These stunning photos are part of his work that Barr took fashion portraits of classic beauties in the 1960s.
Tilly Tizzani in bright pink coat of crisp, diagonal-weave wool at Bergdorf Goodman, photo by Neal Barr, Vogue, October 1, 1964
Tilly Tizzani in creamy white and gray striped French wool flannel suit by Ben Zuckerman for Bergdorf Goosman, photo by Neal Barr, Vogue, February 1, 1964
Agneta Frieberg in Empress Chinchilla coat by Emeric partos of Bergdorf Goodman, photo by Neal Barr, Harper’s Bazaar, December 1965
Wilhelmina in pale oyster-bisque suit of wool crêpe by Ben Zuckerman for Bergdorf Goodman, photo by Neal Barr, Vogue, February 1, 1965
Deanna Lambert in pink tree-bark crêpe column topped with a little white wool jacket, threaded with silver and studded with twinkling beads and stones of silver and pink by Leslie Morris, photo by Neal Barr, Harper’s Bazaar, 1966
Leave a Reply