Guys In Uniform Studio

Article Incomplete

It will be updated from time to time 

 

 

Guys In Uniform - Sailor in the Rigging

 

Guys in Uniform Studio* set up in the mid 1970s producing sexy pictures with a strong flavour of military discipline. It was much inspired by the example set by Royale Studio, and the personnel involved reputedly had connections of some sort with Basil Clavering's set-up. 

 

The photo above directly references the 'Sailor in the Rigging' images of Royale Studio and Hussar. 

 

 

Guys In Uniform - Double Discipline

 Guys In Uniform created Gym Discipline scenarios which mirrored Royale storyettes 

 

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Ever since the release of the British Photographers' collection of Royale and Guys in Uniform images, this Studio has suffered from being called 'Men in Uniform' in some quarters. However, it always used the 'Guys in Uniform' label in its short existence, see image above. There was never a Studio called 'Men In Uniform'  

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The pictures of both studios pushed at the boundaries of acceptability for their respective times. Royale's beefcake images flirted with homosexual innuendo and sadism which was strictly taboo in 1950s Britain. By the late 70s when Guys in Uniform was formed, gay lifestyle magazines were a fact of life and even frontal nudes were permissible (if flaccid). However, the combination of nudity and discipline scenarios' was problematic.

 

Guys In Uniform - Double Discipline

 This image is similar to Royale discipline scenarios but they did not show their subjects undressed like this.

 

 

Guys In Uniform - The Investigation

Both Studios openly used genuine servicemen (in their uniforms), particularly Royal Guardsmen, as models, which shocked the establishment and provoked police raids to seize the material. In Royale's day, anything to do with homosexuality was hushed up by the press, but in the case of Guys in Uniform there was a full-blown scandal when a tabloid 'exposed' that real Guardsmen were posing for nude photographs in homosexual magazines. 

 

There used to be an interesting article at milism about the history and the connections between the two studios, but the link no longer works. I am presently seeking the permission of the author to reproduce it here. PENDING

 

Guys In Uniform - Uniform Magazine, Issue 2

 

Like Royale and Hussar, Guys in Uniform supplied their images to the Gay Magazines of their time - Him, Playguy and Zipper. Many of them were in colour. They also published 3 issues of their own 'Uniform Magazine'. Surprisingly it only had black and white photos.

 

Guys In Uniform - The Harness

Guys in Uniform ventured into one area where Royale and Hussar did not dare. This leather apron was part of a daring (for its time) exploration of leather and rubber, which formed a major part of their output. Recent imagery suggests Royale/Hussar had a similar harness, but it was never published. Royale did publish a series of images with models wearing chain pouches, but the Dolphin set 'Leather Merchants' seems the full extent of their published work in this area.

 

Dolphin Photography - Leather Merchants

 

More to come

watch this space!