Slim Aarons

Slim Aarons

United States • 1916 - 2006 • 588 followers
Featured in: Famous Artists

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

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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.

Explore all artworks (1333)

Photography, Clifftop Pool (M), Slim Aarons

Photography . 40.6 x 50.8 cm Photography . 16 x 20 inch

€2,687

Photography, Neo-Classical Pool (XXL), Slim Aarons

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

€3,762

Photography, Neo-Classical Pool (XL), Slim Aarons

Photography . 50.8 x 76.2 cm Photography . 20 x 30 inch

€3,493

Photography, Neo-Classical Pool (L), Slim Aarons

Photography . 50.8 x 61 cm Photography . 20 x 24 inch

€3,224

Photography, Neo-Classical Pool (M), Slim Aarons

Photography . 40.6 x 50.8 cm Photography . 16 x 20 inch

€2,687

Photography, Droulers And Daughters (XL), Slim Aarons

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

€3,762

Photography, Droulers And Daughters (L), Slim Aarons

Photography . 50.8 x 50.8 cm Photography . 20 x 20 inch

€3,224

Photography, Droulers And Daughters (M), Slim Aarons

Photography . 40.6 x 40.6 cm Photography . 16 x 16 inch

€2,687

Photography, Hotel du Cap Eden-Roc (M), Slim Aarons

Photography . 50.8 x 40.6 cm Photography . 20 x 16 inch

€3,493

Photography, Hotel du Cap Eden-Roc (S), Slim Aarons

Photography . 40.6 x 30.5 cm Photography . 16 x 12 inch

€2,794

Photography, Cortina d'Ampezzo (XL), Slim Aarons

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

€3,762

Photography, Cortina d'Ampezzo (L), Slim Aarons

Photography . 61 x 50.8 cm Photography . 24 x 20 inch

€3,224

Photography, Cortina d'Ampezzo (M), Slim Aarons

Photography . 50.8 x 40.6 cm Photography . 20 x 16 inch

€2,687

Photography, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (L), Slim Aarons

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

€3,762

Photography, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (M), Slim Aarons

Photography . 50.8 x 61 cm Photography . 20 x 24 inch

€3,224

Photography, Polo In Buenos Aires (XL), Slim Aarons

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

€3,762

Photography, Polo In Buenos Aires (L), Slim Aarons

Photography . 50.8 x 61 cm Photography . 20 x 24 inch

€3,224

Photography, Polo In Buenos Aires (M), Slim Aarons

Photography . 40.6 x 50.8 cm Photography . 16 x 20 inch

€2,687

Photography, Swimming In Spain (L), Slim Aarons

Photography . 61 x 50.8 cm Photography . 24 x 20 inch

€3,224

Photography, Swimming In Spain (M), Slim Aarons

Photography . 50.8 x 40.6 cm Photography . 20 x 16 inch

€2,687

Photography, Skiing Holiday, Slim Aarons

Photography . 50.8 x 76.2 cm Photography . 20 x 30 inch

€3,350

Recommended by Artsper
Photography, Staying at the Carlton, Slim Aarons

Photography . 50.8 x 50.8 cm Photography . 20 x 20 inch

€3,100

Recommended by Artsper
Photography, Summer Picnic, Slim Aarons

Photography . 50.8 x 76.2 cm Photography . 20 x 30 inch

€3,350

Recommended by Artsper
Photography, Snowmass Village, Slim Aarons

Photography . 50.8 x 76.2 cm Photography . 20 x 30 inch

€3,350

Recommended by Artsper
Photography, St Tropez Garden, Slim Aarons

Photography . 50.8 x 76.2 cm Photography . 20 x 30 inch

€3,350

Recommended by Artsper
Photography, Sir Run Run Shaw (XXL), Slim Aarons

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

€4,836

Photography, Eden-Roc Pool (XXXXL), Slim Aarons

Photography . 182.9 x 121.9 cm Photography . 72 x 48 inch

€5,463

Photography, Eden-Roc Pool (XXXL), Slim Aarons

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

€4,836

Photography, Elisabetta Catalano (XL), Slim Aarons

Photography . 76.2 x 50.8 cm Photography . 30 x 20 inch

€3,493

Photography, Elisabetta Catalano (L), Slim Aarons

Photography . 61 x 50.8 cm Photography . 24 x 20 inch

€3,224

Photography, Elisabetta Catalano (M), Slim Aarons

Photography . 50.8 x 40.6 cm Photography . 20 x 16 inch

€2,687

Photography, Cortina d'Ampezz (XL), Slim Aarons

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

€3,762

Photography, Cortina d'Ampezz (L), Slim Aarons

Photography . 76.2 x 50.8 cm Photography . 30 x 20 inch

€3,493

Photography, Cortina d'Ampezz (M), Slim Aarons

Photography . 61 x 50.8 cm Photography . 24 x 20 inch

€3,224

Photography, Cortina d'Ampezz (S), Slim Aarons

Photography . 50.8 x 40.6 cm Photography . 20 x 16 inch

€2,687

Photography, Rhode Island Surfers, Slim Aarons

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

€3,690

Photography, Coming Ashore (XXL), Slim Aarons

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

€4,836

Photography, Pool On Amalfi Coast (XXXL), Slim Aarons

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

€4,836

Photography, Poolside Catwalk (XXL), Slim Aarons

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

€4,836

Photography, Poolside Dreams (XXXL), Slim Aarons

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

€4,836

Photography, Palm Springs Pool (XXXL), Slim Aarons

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

€4,836

Photography, Poolside In Arizona (XXXL), Slim Aarons

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

€4,836

Photography, Poolside Poodle (XXXL), Slim Aarons

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

€4,836

Photography, Positano Beach (XXXL), Slim Aarons

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

€4,836

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