In February 1982, photographer Jack Mitchell had a shoot with an 18-year-old Whitney Houston in his Manhattan studio. It was "a routine thing," he said.
In February 1982, photographer Jack Mitchell had a shoot with an 18-year-old Whitney Houston in his Manhattan studio. It was "a routine thing," he said.
Jack Mitchell/Corbis Outline
Mitchell took 13 rolls of film on his medium-format camera, and the session lasted roughly two hours.
Mitchell took 13 rolls of film on his medium-format camera, and the session lasted roughly two hours.
Jack Mitchell/Corbis Outline
Someone who managed Whitney's mom, gospel singer Cissy Houston, had arranged the shoot and was running late. Whitney asked if she could do her homework, and Mitchell said he didn't mind.
Someone who managed Whitney's mom, gospel singer Cissy Houston, had arranged the shoot and was running late. Whitney asked if she could do her homework, and Mitchell said he didn't mind.
Jack Mitchell/Corbis Outline
Mitchell, who said he was used to photographing stars that were "highly glazed like Donna Summer," was surprised to see that Houston had no one to do her makeup and hair.
Mitchell, who said he was used to photographing stars that were "highly glazed like Donna Summer," was surprised to see that Houston had no one to do her makeup and hair.
Jack Mitchell/Corbis Outline
"The pictures I made of her were not her subsequent polished image," Mitchell said. "Mine were just simple images."
"The pictures I made of her were not her subsequent polished image," Mitchell said. "Mine were just simple images."
Jack Mitchell/Corbis Outline
Mitchell said at times the shoot was a difficult, "uphill situation" because Houston was neither camera-ready nor savvy.
Mitchell said at times the shoot was a difficult, "uphill situation" because Houston was neither camera-ready nor savvy.
Jack Mitchell/Corbis Outline
"She responded well to direction," Mitchell said. "I certainly didn't see that stardom; it was not written all over her face. She didn't have the glitz she had later in her career. But what do you expect of a high school student?"
"She responded well to direction," Mitchell said. "I certainly didn't see that stardom; it was not written all over her face. She didn't have the glitz she had later in her career. But what do you expect of a high school student?"
Jack Mitchell/Corbis Outline
Mitchell suspects these were some of the first photographs Houston had sat for professionally.
Mitchell suspects these were some of the first photographs Houston had sat for professionally.
Jack Mitchell/Corbis Outline
These images were taken at a time when Houston was singing in the church choir and taking the stage occasionally with her mother.
These images were taken at a time when Houston was singing in the church choir and taking the stage occasionally with her mother.
Jack Mitchell/Corbis Outline
The negatives sat in Mitchell's files for about 30 years until he heard about the entertainer's death and decided to release them. Houston died February 11, 2012, at the age of 48.
The negatives sat in Mitchell's files for about 30 years until he heard about the entertainer's death and decided to release them. Houston died February 11, 2012, at the age of 48.
Jack Mitchell/Corbis Outline