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John Engstead (1912–1984) was an American photographer.

Engstead began his career in 1926, when he was hired by Paramount Pictures Head of Studio Publicity, Harold Harley, as an office boy.

In 1927, he arranged an innovative photo session for actress Clara Bow with photographer Otto Dyer that pleased Harley. Engstead's creative direction of photographs of actress Louise Brooks led to a promotion to Art Supervisor, overseeing the production of Paramount's publicity stills.

In 1932, due to a photographers' strike, Engstead assumed the position of Studio Portrait Photographer despite having never photographed anyone previously. Actor Cary Grant posed for his practice shots.

In 1941, Paramount Pictures fired Engstead, and Harper’s Bazaar hired him for freelance advertising and portrait photography assignments. From 1941 to 1949, he took fashion photography assignments from many magazines in addition to Harper’s Bazaar, including Collier’s, Esquire, House Beautiful, Ladies Home Journal, Life, Look, Mademoiselle, McCall’s, Vogue, and Women’s Home Companion.

In the 1940s, Engstead also photographed celebrities, including Joan Crawford, Bette Davis, Maureen O'Hara, and Shirley Temple. Unlike other photographers, he often shot his subjects at home or outdoors, and his photographs of a young Judy Garland in Carmel, California, were particularly successful. During this decade he built a studio in Los Angeles that became a gathering place for Hollywood stars.

Engstead continued to photograph movie stars and other celebrities through the 1970s. He produced promotional material for many television personalities, including Pat Boone, Carmel Quinn, Donna Reed, Ozzie and Harriet, Eve Arden, and Lucille Ball. He also shot cover photos for albums recorded by singers such as Peggy Lee and Connie Francis, as well as society portraits. Engstead closed his studio in 1970 and continued to accept special portraiture and television assignments until his death in 1984 at age 72.

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 '''John Engstead''' (1912&ndash;1984) was an [[United States|American]] [[photographer]].
-He began his career in 1926 when he was hired by [[Paramount Pictures]] as an office boy who would attend to the needs of the Studio Publicity Head.
+'''Engstead''' began his career in 1926, when he was hired by [[Paramount Pictures]] Head of Studio Publicity, Harold Harley, as an office boy.
-In 1927, he arranged a photograph session for the actress [[Clara Bow]]. The resulting photographs were considered to be the actresses best images. During the years 1929 to 1941 he was an Art Supervisor, who was charged with promotional of photograph stills. This appointment was based on his creative direction in the photographs of [[Louise Brooks]] in [[The Canary Murder Case]] (1929).
+In 1927, he arranged an innovative photo session for actress [[Clara Bow]] with photographer Otto Dyer that pleased Harley. '''Engstead's''' creative direction of photographs of actress [[Louise Brooks]] led to a promotion to Art Supervisor, overseeing the production of Paramount's publicity stills.
-In 1932, due to a photographers' strike, '''Engstead''' assumed the position of Studio Portrait Photographer despite the fact he had never actually  photographed anyone previously. The actor [[Cary Grant]] posed for his practice shots.
+In 1932, due to a photographers' strike, '''Engstead''' assumed the position of Studio Portrait Photographer despite having never photographed anyone previously. Actor [[Cary Grant]] posed for his practice shots.
-In 1941, he was fired from [[Paramount Pictures]] and he became involved with freelance advertising and portrait photography assignments "on spec" for [[Harper’s Bazaar]]. During the period 1941 to 1949, '''Engstead''' continued to work in the fashion industry.In addition to continuing assignments for [[Harper’s Bazaar]], he worked with [[Collier’s]], [[Esquire]], [[House Beautiful]], [[Ladies Home Journal]], [[Life]], [[Look]], [[Mademoiselle]], [[McCall’s]], [[Vogue]], and [[Women’s Home Companion]].
+In 1941, [[Paramount Pictures]] fired '''Engstead,''' and [[Harper’s Bazaar]] hired him for freelance advertising and portrait photography assignments. From 1941 to 1949, he took fashion photography assignments from many magazines in addition to [[Harper’s Bazaar]], including [[Collier’s]], [[Esquire]], [[House Beautiful]], [[Ladies Home Journal]], [[Life]], [[Look]], [[Mademoiselle]], [[McCall’s]], [[Vogue]], and [[Women’s Home Companion]].
-Throughout this period '''Engstaed''' photographed numerous celebrity clients at their homes, including:  [[Joan Crawford]], [[Bette Davis]], [[Maureen O'Hara]] and [[Shirley Temple]]. His photographs of a young [[Judy Garland]] in Carmel, California were particularly successful and became innovative in fashion photography as it transferred the subject to a actual outdoor setting. He also photographed annual Spring and Fall fashion collections for teh studio designer [[Adrian]]. His Los Angles studio became a gathering place for celebrities through the 1950s.
+In the 1940s, '''Engstead''' also photographed celebrities, including [[Joan Crawford]], [[Bette Davis]], [[Maureen O'Hara]], and [[Shirley Temple]]. Unlike other photographers, he often shot his subjects at home or outdoors, and his photographs of a young [[Judy Garland]] in Carmel, California, were particularly successful. During this decade he built a studio in Los Angeles that became a gathering place for Hollywood stars.
-During the decades of the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, '''Engstead''' continued to photograph ‘movie stars’ and celebrities. He was involved in producing promotional work for the renowned television personalities of the era including [[Pat Boone]], [[Carmel Quinn]], [[Donna Reed]], [[Ozzie and Harriet]], [[Eve Arden]], [[Lucille Ball]] among others. Finally Engstead, expanded into more commercial work and society portraiture. He closed his studio in 1970 and continued to accept special portraiture and television assignments until his death in 1984 at age 72.
+'''Engstead''' continued to photograph movie stars and other celebrities through the 1970s. He produced promotional material for many television personalities, including [[Pat Boone]], [[Carmel Quinn]], [[Donna Reed]], [[Ozzie and Harriet]], [[Eve Arden]], and [[Lucille Ball]]. He also shot cover photos for albums recorded by singers such as [[Peggy Lee]] and [[Connie Francis]], as well as society portraits. '''Engstead''' closed his studio in 1970 and continued to accept special portraiture and television assignments until his death in 1984 at age 72.