Studio Harcourt

It is known in particular for its black-and-white photographs of movie stars and celebrities, but having one's photo taken at Harcourt a few times during one's life was once considered standard by the French upper middle class.

Initially, the company produced images for the press, at a time when prestigious photo studios like Nadar closed for lack of clients.

[3] The change in direction came when Cosette Harcourt started to specialize in black-and-white glamour photography of figures from French cinema and culture,[3] always using 24 x 30 cm prints immediately recognizable for their distinctive style and lighting.

During the occupation of France by the Nazis, German officers and many members of the Vichy regime visited the studios, just as the Americans did after the French Liberation.

However, a close-up traditional Harcourt portrait costs 1,995 Euros due to the extra makeup and lighting work needed to properly capture the subject's essence.