Louise, Ruth Harriet (1906–1944)

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Louise, Ruth Harriet (1906–1944)

American photographer who was the first woman to manage her own portrait gallery at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Born Ruth Harriet Louise Sandrich in Brooklyn, New York, in 1906; died in 1944; married Leigh Jason (a film director), in 1930.

A photographer to the stars, Ruth Harriet Louise Sandrich opened a portrait studio in New York City at age 17, while simultaneously dropping her surname. In 1925, she moved her operation to Los Angeles, where she became a contract photographer at MGM. She headed her own portrait gallery at MGM until 1930, and was the exclusive photographer for Greta Garbo through 1929. Known for her ability to bring out the best in her subjects, Louise photographed such notables as Lon Chaney, Marion Davies, Joan Crawford , Ramon Novarro, and Anna May Wong . After leaving MGM, she continued to photograph performers on a freelance basis until her death in 1944, at age 38. The photographer was married to film director Leigh Jason.

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Louise, Ruth Harriet (1906–1944)

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