Staged Photography

The "staged photography movement" refers to the practice of intentionally constructing scenes for a photograph, becoming a recognized artistic genre in the 1980s, though its roots go back to the 19th century. It contrasts with documentary photography by asserting that the photographer's vision, rather than a "decisive moment," is the primary creative force. Key characteristics include elaborate planning, control over all elements (lighting, props, models), and the goal of creating a narrative or concept, with artists like Jeff Wall, Cindy Sherman, Gregory Crewdson and Erwin Olaf being prominent modern examples. More recently, artists like Alex Prager, Tania Franco-Klein and Kourtney Roy have contributed to the genre by providing more cinematic images and psychological landscapes, many including self-portraiture in the vein of earlier Sherman's photographs.