Slim Aarons
  • Biography
  • Artworks
  • Movements

Slim Aarons

United States • 1916 - 2006  582 followers

Photographing attractive people who were doing attractive things in attractive places. 

Biography

Aarons, a legendary American photographer, gained prominence for his unique approach to capturing the glamour and allure of Hollywood and celebrity life. Aarons' work remains a significant influence on celebrity photography and continues to be celebrated in exhibitions and retrospectives around the world. Recently, in December 2024, Vogue featured a curated selection of Aarons' après-ski photographs, highlighting his ability to capture the elegance and leisure of the Alpine lifestyle. These images continue to inspire fashion and travel enthusiasts, reflecting the enduring appeal of Aarons' work.

Enlisting in the U.S. Army at 18, he began his career as a photographer at West Point before serving as a combat photographer during World War II, where he earned a Purple Heart. Reflecting on his experiences, Aarons famously stated that combat had taught him that "the only beach worth landing on was decorated with beautiful, seminude girls tanning in a tranquil sun."

After the war, Aarons relocated to California, where his photography career flourished. He became renowned for his celebrity portraits and captured some of Hollywood's most iconic figures. His most celebrated photograph, Kings of Hollywood (1957), shows Clark Gable, Van Heflin, Gary Cooper, and James Stewart lounging at a bar on New Year's Eve, dressed in formal attire. His work appeared in prestigious magazines such as Life, Town & Country, and Holiday.

Aarons became known for his authentic, unstyled approach to photography, preferring to photograph "attractive people doing attractive things in attractive places." He never used a stylist or makeup artist, allowing his subjects' natural beauty to shine through. A prime example of this style is his 1970 Poolside Gossip photograph at Richard Neutra's Kaufmann House, which features Nelda Linsk, the house's owner, as one of the models.

In a 2002 interview with The Independent (London), Aarons shared, "I knew everyone. They would invite me to one of their parties because they knew I wouldn't hurt them. I was one of them." His relationships with his subjects were key to his success and candid approach. His personal influence even extended to film; the apartment in Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window (1954), where Jimmy Stewart's photographer character resides, is said to be based on Aarons' own apartment.

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All artworks

Photography

Print

Photography, Leisure And Fashion, Slim Aarons

Slim Aarons

Photography . 101.6 x 101.6 cm Photography . 40 x 40 inch

€3,550

Photography, Leisure In Antibes, Slim Aarons

Slim Aarons

Photography . 152.4 x 101.6 cm Photography . 60 x 40 inch

€4,750

Photography, Lord Of All I Survey, Slim Aarons

Slim Aarons

Photography . 101.6 x 101.6 cm Photography . 40 x 40 inch

€3,550

Photography, Mara Lane, Slim Aarons

Slim Aarons

Photography . 101.6 x 101.6 cm Photography . 40 x 40 inch

€3,550

Photography, Mustique, Slim Aarons

Slim Aarons

Photography . 101.6 x 152.4 cm Photography . 40 x 60 inch

€3,550

Photography, Mustique Tranquility, Slim Aarons

Slim Aarons

Photography . 76.2 x 101.6 cm Photography . 30 x 40 inch

€3,010

Photography, Nassau Beach Hotel, Slim Aarons

Slim Aarons

Photography . 101.6 x 101.6 cm Photography . 40 x 40 inch

€3,010

Photography, Nicholsons, Slim Aarons

Slim Aarons

Photography . 101.6 x 101.6 cm Photography . 40 x 40 inch

€3,550

Photography, Nirvana, Slim Aarons

Slim Aarons

Photography . 76.2 x 101.6 cm Photography . 30 x 40 inch

€3,010

Photography, On The Beach In Bermuda, Slim Aarons

Slim Aarons

Photography . 152.4 x 101.6 cm Photography . 60 x 40 inch

€3,550

Photography, On The Slopes Of Sugarbush, Slim Aarons

Slim Aarons

Photography . 101.6 x 152.4 cm Photography . 40 x 60 inch

€3,550

Photography, Paradise Island, Slim Aarons

Slim Aarons

Photography . 76.2 x 101.6 cm Photography . 30 x 40 inch

€3,010

Photography, Porto Rotondo, Slim Aarons

Slim Aarons

Photography . 101.6 x 152.4 cm Photography . 40 x 60 inch

€3,550

Photography, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, Slim Aarons

Slim Aarons

Photography . 152.4 x 101.6 cm Photography . 60 x 40 inch

€3,550

Photography, Scotti’s Yacht, Slim Aarons

Slim Aarons

Photography . 152.4 x 101.6 cm Photography . 60 x 40 inch

€3,550

Photography, Staying At The Carlton, Slim Aarons

Slim Aarons

Photography . 101.6 x 101.6 cm Photography . 40 x 40 inch

€3,550

Photography, Al Fresco Tea, Slim Aarons

Slim Aarons

Photography . 101.6 x 101.6 cm Photography . 40 x 40 inch

€3,550

Photography, Algarve Hotel Pool, Slim Aarons

Slim Aarons

Photography . 152.4 x 101.6 cm Photography . 60 x 40 inch

€3,550

Photography, Caped Skiers, Slim Aarons

Slim Aarons

Photography . 40 x 60 cm Photography . 15.7 x 23.6 inch

€3,550

Photography, Dolores Guinness, Slim Aarons

Slim Aarons

Photography . 76.2 x 76.2 cm Photography . 30 x 30 inch

€3,690

14/23

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