BSFA-1 Limited edition 1 of 50 Photograph

Like many successful photographers, Bruce Smith achieved his first big break as a fashion photographer by setting up a test shoot with a model. Inspired by the iconic images of great photographers from the decades past, such as Cecil Beaton, Norman Parkinson, David Bailey, Barry Lategan, Horst P Horst, Irving Penn and Richard Avedon, he borrowed some 'fifties’ style couture gowns from a top fashion designer who sold her clothes through exclusive London stores. Such was the impact of these images on the designer, she commissioned Bruce for her next collections and what started as a test, became a spread in one of the UKs leading fashion magazines, at the time ‘Avante Guard’ also the beginning of years as a commercial, editorial and advertising fashion photographer traveling all over the world shooting some of the worlds top models and celebrities. Confident and adventurous, he developed his own unique style of fashion photography and has built a reputation for creating stylish, ‘classic’ images in couture and bridal wear. The next big break followed soon after. Catherine Raynor, a leading UK bridal wear couture designer, who had previously worked with such iconic photographers as Norman Parkinson, Terrance Donavan and John Swanell, commissioned Bruce to shoot for her. Her status within the bridal wear industry, and the success of the images that he had produced for her, created a chain reaction which brought a queue of top bridal wear and couture designers to his studio door to shoot their collections. By now, Bruce was becoming established as a leading fashion photographer. A commission from a leading UK bridal wear consumer magazine to shoot two editorial stories on location in Tobago led to many years of shooting high fashion for some of the top designers and manufacturers of couture and bridal wear, including Margaret Lee, Lyn Ashworth and Eleni Costi. Bruce’s classic fashion images inspired a long list of lingerie, hosiery and swim wear commissions from brands including, Charnos, Lapel, Silhouette and Miss Kini and Panache. Shooting advertising campaigns, image brochures and fashion catalogues, producing fashion shoots in some of the world most beautiful and exotic locations from Alaska to Kenya, Bruce had by now learned to arrange complete productions for major fashion shoots.