In Focus: PRINCE BEFORE FAME
The First Photo Shoot

by Paula Hendrickson on Wednesday, May 25, 2016

A bittersweet side effect stemming from last month’s unexpected and untimely death of Prince was that billions of people simultaneously began re-experiencing his music and seeing photos of him as a child and at various stages throughout his career.

Prince Outside Of Schmitt’s Music by Robert Whitman
Close Up taken Outside Of Schmitt’s Music Store in Downtown Minneapolis, MN 1977

Watch a PRINCE BEFORE FAME video with Robert Whitman discussing his early photo shoot with Prince

In 1977 when Prince was still a teenager, Robert Whitman—who was also then at the start of a promising career—became the first photographer to do a professional photo shoot with the musician.  Whitman took both staged and candid black and white photos of Prince on the streets of Minneapolis, and at his manager’s home. Both were eager to try different ways to get striking, and sometimes somewhat personal, images—like seeing Price interacting with his manager’s dog.

 Prince Music Mural by Robert Whitman
Prince taken in front of the music mural outside of Schmitt’s Music in Downtown Minneapolis, MN 1977
During the photo shoot Whitman immortalized Prince in front of the iconic music mural at Schmitt’s Music in downtown Minneapolis, the perfect setting for someone who would soon become one of the most influential singer-songwriters in the world. But the most entertaining photo from the photo shoot may be a shot of a smiling Prince looking back and giving the photographer the finger.
Prince Giving The Finger by Robert Whitman
Taken in Downtown Minneapolis, MN 1977

Prince would go on to be the subject of countless photo shoots over the years, but these photos by Robert Whitman are special because it was the first.

Sign-up for our newsletter and get news, updates and special offers

For lovers of Vintage Posters, Photography and Art — Limited Runs!

Limited Runs, the premier destination for discovering and buying the best in original vintage posters, print art and fine art photography, continues to add new items to the site every day and each week we feature some of our latest additions of original vintage film, advertising and rock posters, art prints and photography.

Follow Limited Runs on:

Related Posts