Dating back as early as the 1850s, Photography was being exposed to the public as a method of visual advertising. During this period, Fine art and illustrations were the popular methods of advertisement. Photography managed to become more popular during the 20th Century; where magazines such as Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar, both incorporated more photography-oriented advertisements, more specifically fashion related. It was at this time that Fashion Editorial Photography was being showcased to a wider audience; allowing people to become exposed to the unique and creative visuals fashion photography has to offer.

It is important to look back in time to the people who created the foundations for fashion photography, and those who pathed the road to where we are today. One of those artists who allowed fashion photography to move forward into the editorial side of the industry was Edward Steichen (1879-1973). Looking back on his work in the early periods of Fashion Editorial photography, he is considered one of the pioneers behind the rise of fashion photography and created the foundations for those who thrived in that career. As time progressed, the late 1900s saw the age of photography moving more into mainstream media. The fashion industry caught onto the trend of photography moving forward through the art world, therefore incorporating that style into marketing and advertisement.