I'm trying to do some fantasy style portraits that have an elegant and classy look to them. I want to keep the portrait the main focus and do not want to over embellish the photo. I'm needing a little inspiration for this as it is new to me. I have looked through some stuff here in Rosity, but most of it is overdone for what I am after. I would appreciate it if anyone could suggest other artists with similar work that I could browse through, either here or off site. Thanx, Shannon

Ya, I know what you mean, subtlety is not often a first consideration here. Could you help clarify "fantasy"? All glamour is fantasy. I do like what you've done here with the high key lighting and blue hair. Just enough unusual to be unusual.

Misha, because photography is so new to me I can't quite define exactly what I'm looking for. I just want to add some flare to some portraits but keep it classy. I included the above photo to help everyone understand a bit of what I'm after. Feel free to throw any artists names my way and I will check them out. The more I see the more it will help define my taste, I supppose. Sorry I can't be more specific :/

I've been doing some searching on-line, using the phrase "fantasy photography". It has brought up a vast variety of sites, but most are fetish and erotic. I can appreciate some of it as great art and some as trash, same as any form of art, you will always find different levels. Neither of those are what I am looking for, though. I'll continue searching and see of I can find a proper title of the style I'm looking for. If anyone has any idea what you would classify the above photo as (other than fantasy), please let me know :)

Attached Link: http://www.pdnonline.com/legends/archive/lachappelle/lachap1.html

First one off the top of my head would be David LaChapelle.... He's inspirational to me....whimsical, sexy, and a little over the top sometimes.....but never too much....if you know what I mean.... If I had models and expensive equipment at my beck and call this would be the kind of portrait photography I would like to experiment with.... I don't know what do you think...

I am, therefore I create.......
--- michelleamarante.com

Attached Link: http://www.staleywise.com/classic_collection.html

This is a classy gallery and there a bunch of links here to some of the best photographers in the Collections link....maybe some of these are what you are looking for?

I am, therefore I create.......
--- michelleamarante.com

Those lachappelle photos are wonderful, 'Chelle.

One of my favourites is Marc Collins, a photographer in Germany.(http://www.marccollins.de) Mostly he does very fine erotic shots...me,I like most his beautiful and expressive "Faces" as well as his "Model"-photos. Thanks Chelle, your links are great... wonderful photos!

@Michelle, thanx for both the links. David LaChappelle has a wonderful gallery full of imaginative pieces. I especially liked "Burning Down The House". That type of creativity is a great inspiration! I gotta completely agree with you about wanting to play around with that style of photography...that would be a darn fun job! :D Hate how money has to spoil everything...hmmmpphhtt! Your second link is very classy and I liked it a lot. Truly some excellent portraits in there!! Gave me some great inspiration for lighting, poses and much more. Thanx again for some direction. @Monika, I appreciate the link to Marc Collins' site. I definitely see the attraction to his work, very professional and tasteful. I checked out the links he has and instantly fell in love with Andreas H. Bitesnich photography...there is man who knows how to portray the human body as an art form :P

Id call it surreal (don't know how to spell it) or call it "new age" they call everything else "new age" may as well start a photography genre around it. If there isn't one already.