PORTFOLIOS: Mangini Studio Series

This series is still in progress. 

For the three years and some, Gordon Stettinius, a man of average appearance, has been going to Mangini Studio in Richmond, Virginia to have his photograph taken. Terry Brown, a fine art photographer as well as a commercial portraitist, is Mangini's studio photographer. The first of these styled portraits was the result of Stettinius’ disquieting need to experiment with the proud but oft-maligned hairstyle known to some as the permanent wave. The perm has a vibrant heritage, despite the unsettling lingering smell, and it remains a noble player in the coiffurial tradition. 

It wasn‘t long after this perm, in the spring of 2007, that Stettinius sensed a sea change in people’s general attitude toward him. After a little social experimentation around town and an abundance of hard-core introspection, the conclusion was indisputable. His friends had begun to crave his attention. His loved ones were loving him even more than before. And, more impressive yet, colleagues even had begun to defer to his opinions and wishes on matters of every description. 

The idea which then took shape was more a question than brainstorm really… What if, with careful stylistic manipulation, a man might possibly engineer, for himself, an existence completely realigned to ensure success and good fortune? And after only a few of these transformative Dementi sessions, the answer was a resounding yes! Stettinius was indeed able to throw open the doors of opportunity by changing his hair! The bigger question then is why had this simple truth never occurred to anybody before? All of his life he had hoped that the future might throw open its big futuristic arms and clutch him to its opulent future bosom. And now, finally, the future is now!