Naylor, Genevieve (1915–1989)

American photographer who specialized in fashion, advertising, and photojournalism. Born in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1915; died in Dobbs Ferry, New York, in 1989; attended private elementary schools; graduated from Miss Hall's School, Pittsfield, Massachusetts; attended Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, New York; studied at the Art Students League and the New School for Social Research, New York City; married Misha Reznikoff (a painter), in 1946; children: Michael (b. 1947); Peter (b. 1950).

One of the first female photojournalists employed by the Associated Press, Genevieve Naylor was inspired by Berenice Abbott , whom she studied with after coming to New York in 1935. Naylor spent four years with the Associated Press beginning in 1937, and then worked for the U.S. State Department from 1941 to 1943, photographing Brazilian life under the aegis of the "Good Neighbor Policy." A solo exhibition of her Brazilian photographs was held at the Museum of Fine Arts, New York, in 1943, after which Naylor went to work for Harper's Bazaar (following in the footsteps of Louise Dahl-Wolfe ). Crediting art director Alexey Brodovitch as a mentor, she remained at the magazine until 1958. In the meantime, she married Russian painter Misha Reznikoff, with whom she had studied painting while she was in high school in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. The couple had two sons, Michael and Peter.

While at Harper's, Naylor also freelanced for McCall's, Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Holiday, and Fortune, and produced a number of serious photojournalism stories for Look. From 1953 to 1965, she also created advertising layouts, including some for Revlon and Coca-Cola. Naylor, who retired in 1975, died in Dobbs Ferry, New York, in 1989.

sources:

Rosenblum, Naomi. A History of Women Photographers. NY: Abbeville Press, 1994.