And I mean that literally. Back in the 1970s and 80s Reid Miles made a name for himself creating photographs that conjured up the very distinct, iconic style of artist/illustrator Norman Rockwell. His photographs for advertisers such as Polaroid, Best Products, Kellogg’s, Raleigh, and Honda told the story of products and services through idyllic images composed using a wide-ranging company of characters and a thoughtfully assembled collection of props and sets. In addition to conventional big brands Miles also shot album covers for musicians such as The Band, Bob Dylan, Chicago, and Harry Chapin.
As popular as his work was back then, there is very little online. Even a couple of folks who knew him personally, who I tracked down and trade emails with, don’t know what happened to his archive of work. In fact, to find the images I’ve shared here, I resorted to looking through old magazines at my local ephemera shop, Whiting’s Old Paper.
I dearly wish I could show you better examples because his work was highly detailed, masterfully lighted, and beautifully composed. (One source said, for some projects, he actually shot some of individual characters/scenes separately and created the final composition by assembling a number of different prints.)
First, from a 1986 article in Step-By-Step Graphics Magazine, some representative samples of his style…
Step-By-Step Graphics Magazine…
Three more examples…
Example 3…
Here, for comparison, is work by iconic artist/illustrator Norman Rockwell…
In his heyday, according to People Magazine, Reid Miles was making over $1 million a year…
Another mention of Reid Miles…
In 1975 Reid Miles photographed an album cover for Bob Dylan & The Band’s “The Basement Tapes” at the Hollywood YMCA. In 1978, John Scheele documented the shoot here:
About “The Basement Tapes” album cover…
More about “The Basement Tapes”…
A few years back when I first mentioned Reid Miles, author/speaker Gary Schwartz, told me he was a model for Miles and shared this videotape of a photo shoot they did for Philippines Airlines…
Haha… all that said, believe it or not, historically, Reid Miles is better known for his earlier work as the designer/art director of a collection of album covers for Blue Note, some of which included artwork by a then, yet to be famous, Andy Warhol…
More on the Blue Note covers from a 1990 issue of Eye Magazine…
Posted in MARCH 2020 / Chuck Green is the principal of Logic Arts, a design and marketing firm, a contributor to numerous magazines and websites, and the author of books published by Random House, Peachpit Press, and Rockport Publishers. All rights reserved. Copyright 2007-2019 Chuck Green/Logic Arts Corporation. Contact.
I did the art for a hometown store front for Charmin at Reid’s studio in Hollywood. He had his own chef and kitchen so no one had to leave the shoot to eat. He was a genius photographer with a loud voice and used it
Thanks for that Joe. I’d love to find more of his work. Is this the image? https://www.flickr.com/photos/studioz7/33310628876/sizes/l/
I have “Advertising Photography” by Allyn Salomon published by Thames and Hudson in 1982 ISBN 0-8174-3503-4 that has an article on him including “Gas station” shot for Kawasaki, “Christmas Eve” for a Japanese department store and “Accountant” for Ciba Pharmaceutical and a couple of his Coca Cola shots.
Thanks for that Murray. Very interesting there isn’t more about Miles easily available.
Hope others will check out your work and blog…
https://murraylaidlawphotography.com/blog
I had the Reid Kawasaki Ad as a HUGE poster as a kid. My dad Dennis Plansker and Al Schacherer did a lot of work with him when they were at FCB LA in the 70’s. I think they had the Kawasaki account – or if not – the reps gave them these posters that they passed onto to others. Paul Dorman repped him in the midwest – maybe Ron Street on the coast……
PS – Freddy Anzures in SF and I in LA have been discussing doing a Reid pop up show somewhere and of course a book is long overdue. The Bluenote work is known but also not deeply and then the Stills and Commercials less so. If we get any motivation I’d love to invite all of you to join in……
While scouting a job, a friend Will Regan took me to Reids studio (closed) to meet w his former studio manager. Stories galore. Much work to do to survey his genius.
Thanks for the update Jeffery. Have any idea who manages his portfolio?
Not really – if you can find Will Regan in Pasadena he may know. Try Facebook or Insta.
As a child, I posed for a handful of ads that Reid shot in the 70s and appeared in a commercial he directed. His work was phenomenal and I can’t believe there’s not more of it available on line. I have a wonderful framed piece of his stationery, which is a collage of his shots. I’d be happy to send you a photo.
I would love to see the stationery. May I share it here?
I worshiped Reid Miles when I was in school and was lucky to work as a 2nd assistant on a few sessions in the early 80’s. His first assistant, that had long worked for Reid was very much in the loop and I believe continued to run the studio for many years. First name was Wayne, but I just can’t remember his last name. He had been 2nd assistant for many years before being tasked with 1st assist. duties. Wayne was very much a trusted and important part of Reids staff and my guess Wayne knows what happened to the assets including a very cool vintage car originally owned by a Hollywood star that was always parked inside the studio.
Thanks for that Robert. I’ll see if I can track him down. Any idea where to start?
Wayne Adams was first assistant at the time of Reid’s passing
I worked at a dye transfer lab in Los Angeles and handled work for Reid Miles . I was in his studio often. He was a very high energy talent and genius . It’s a travesty his work is not compiled online. Nobody has come close to his level of visual play.
I worked with Reid on many of his projects as a second assistant along with Wayne Adams his main assistant.
I would light most of his sets.
Thanks for connecting Marcus.
I’m wondering if you might know where his portfolio (or a record of it) ended up. His (your) work was so distinctive I’m sad there isn’t more written about it and that there does not seem to be a significant collection of it online.
I was friends with a now deceased gentleman named Olin Hunt who lived in Woodland Hills and was a model in some of Reid Miles’ Rockwell photographic reproductions. He modeled a man sitting on a scaffold painting a flagpole. It was a clever reproduction. Mr. Hunt also did commercials that Reid may have produced. Amazing talent whose work was brilliant! I wish someone could compile this man’s work in a book or some other display.
I wish I could identify if and where a portfolio of his work is maintained. Though, as you can see, I’ve traded information with folks who knew him, I’ve had no luck thus far finding family members or other officials who might know more.
I have 7 signed concept photographs by Reid Miles. My father was director of Marketing for Code-A-Phone answering machines in 1980. According to my dad, Reid was very kind. He really captures the image of his subjects. Would live to share but not sure how to upload photos here?
I and I’m sure others would love to see them…