Hello all,
I wanted to ask experienced people here - whether you know famous photographers that created very nice portfolios of classical portraits/retro style?
I do not know how to explain it better, but I certainly do not refer to fashion/beauty.

I will use some 1x.com examples to help expressing what I mean:

http://1x.com/v2/#photos/member/431/2831/

http://1x.com/v2/#photos/member/1312/21370/

http://1x.com/v2/#photos/member/3116/17395/

http://1x.com/v2/#photos/member/4701/13748/

I wanted to know who are the masters and find their portfolios to learn from.

Thanks a lot.
Alex.

I guess we can all learn a lot from Douglas King (3rd example). Personally I like what Rafael Guarino does, but not really sure if it's the style you're looking for

Alex,

Are you asking for very famous portrait photographers ?

Can be famous or just very good and talented photographer.

Indeed, very interesting photograph. I am checking...thanks a lot.

Hi Alex,

You probably know all of these but I admire the work of;
Yousef Karsh
Mary Ellen Mark
Annie Leibovitz
Steve Schapiro

Also,
Dan Winters (amazing work in LF but you may not regard his work as 'retro'; see http://www.danwintersphoto.com/)

If you're into portraiture and looking for some inspiration check out the annual photographic portrait prize held by the National Portrait Gallery in London.

http://www.npg.org.uk:8080/photoprize/site09/index.php

If you get the opportunity to go to London there is a current exhibition by the late great Irving Penn.

http://www.npg.org.uk:8080/irvingpenn/index.htm

Cheers,
Song.

I quite like the work of Melodie McDaniel and Diane Arbus though not quite sure its what you're looking for.
Have you seen Angela Vicedomini's gallery? http://1x.com/v2/#member/4701/

Very nice examples, folks:-) I am wondering sometimes what makes a photographer so famous? Annie Leibovitz, for example...her photographs are really nice, but she became famous because of Rolling Stones. Every photo session that she had was organized by a huge team of professionals and they always carried a track full of equipment:-)
Maybe this is the same thing as famous paintings....I do not always understand what is so special with them:-)

What do you think?

Alex..
I realize you did not ask for fashion ...and yet..vintage and later retro from the 30's on through the 50's at least, are often seen in fashion work. These images could be called fashion or not..they are from Life Magazine I think..all different photographers..

There is something about them which sets them apart from fashion work today...it is probably the film...which leaves some details..and that they are covered up more of course....and then often in b/w....I found some of them interesting...because today we sometimes try to create this look..and back then it was just the everyday norm..
I hope this link works.
http://myvintagevogue.com/now_thats_a_hat

I would also say..though it is much earlier that Man Ray has done some magnificent work..he is one of my personal favorites as far as creativity goes. In order to eat he took portraits of people, and so he has photographed so many famous people I could not count them.. One of my favorites of his - feels vintage to me. I had a very large print of it in the entrance of my flat in Athens..and I am sorry I left it behind. I hope you can see it here..you have to enlarge it..
http://www.manray-photo.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=32&products_id=644&osCsid=789cbc182448f2426631943d994a517b

My best,
Phyllis

May be the following and more:

* personality (e.g. energy, communication skills)
* networking (contacts)
* marketing
* professional competence (mostly)

Frank

may be of your interest: http://1x.com/v2/#member/6783/jeanpaul-kowitz/

I sign your points, exactly wih this ranking, immediately.
Maybe as the last point - far away at the end - "photographic talent / vision" - but often hard to find at our pro-collegues ...
There are exceptions of the rule, of course ...

here's another great one:
http://1x.com/photos/latest-additions/31794/