These examples of sleep photography depict humans in an extremely vulnerable state. Whether they were meant as an artistic expression, or an eye-catching print advertising campaign, slumberous captures are becoming increasingly popular.
Some of these photographic series use long-exposure techniques to create a blurry effect, while others require creative ladder use to get the perfect shot. On the artistic end of things, one of these trends involves an award winning actress in a glass box as a part of an exhibit. These are often candid and realistic images of real people asleep.
On the other hand, many of these sleep photography finds are marketing campaigns. Sleeping Beauty editorials are prevalent, but few feature models who feign sleep in every shot. Other ads promote libraries, mattresses and hotels. Sleeping infants are also commonly used to amp up the adorable factor.
13 Sleep Photography Finds
From Fictional Morning-After Ads to Candid Slumber Captures:
Alyson Wyers — Oct 15, 2013 — Marketing
13
Sleeping Pregnancy Photography
Jana Romanova Captures Expecting Couples Asleep in 'Waiting'
12
Sleeping Newborn Photography
Sweet Bambini Studio Captures Calmly Smiling Infants
11
Quirky Narcoleptic Editorials
The Tush Magazine 'Sekunden Schlaf' Photoshoot Stars Dempsey Stewart
10
Sleeping Long-Exposure Photos
A Photographer Shot a Timelapse of Beloved Couples' Movements
9
Blurry Entangled Photography
Paul Schneggenburger's The Sleep of the Beloved Series is Clouded
8
Fictional Morning-After Ads
This Series of Book Ads Shows Readers Sleeping with Iconic Characters
7
Religious Sleeping Positions
The Chapel Bar & Bistro Ad Celebrates '7 Years of Almighty Nights'
6
Snoozing Celebrity Installations
Tilda Swinton Sleeps in a Glass Box as a Pop-Up MoMa Exhibit
5
Bodacious Sleeping Beauties
The Madame Figaro China April 2013 Issue Boasts Fairy Tale Inspiration
4
Candid Slumber Captures
Michael Cinque's 'Sleeping in Public' is Sweet, Dreamy and Honest
3
Anti-Aging Sleepvertising
This Comforta Mattresses Campaign Markets Sleeping Like a Baby
2
Contorted Sleeping Captures
The 'Thought I Was Awake' Photos by Ting Cheng are Surreal
1
Exhausted Subway Captures
Nicholas Barker’s Sleeping Video Showcases Human Vulnerability
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Morbid Mischief Ads
This Campaign for Danone Densia Features Skeletal Wayward Youth
Cumulus-Consumed Snapshots
The Cloudy Photography of Lissy Elle has a Diaphanous Delicacy
Delicate Bedroom Photography
The Alison Arbroux Ones2Watch 'Motel Paris' Shoot is Ultra-Feminine
Flying Baby Photography
Rachel Hulin Mysteriously Captures Little Henry in Mid-Air
Femme Fatale Action Photography
This Colorful Action Photography Series Features Swords and Guns
Glamorous Performer Editorials
Vogue Mexico 'Figura de Mujer' Stars Starlet Karolina Kurkov
Elegant 1920s Editorials
The Madame Figaro April 2012 Japan Issue Oozes Old School Glamour
Intimate Hipster Photography
Jody Rogac Takes an Unconventional Approach to Portraiture
Wildly Curly Editorials
The ELLE Mexico 'Heide' Photoshoot Stars an Unruly Heide Lindgren
Elizabethan-Inspired Fashion
The Alexander McQueen Fall 2013 Lookbook is Regally Dramatic
Gender-Switched Pregnancy Ads
Thses Ads for the City of Chicago Show Impregnated Teenage Boys
Graffiti Character Editorials
The ELLE Belgium 'Art Power' Photoshoot was Illustrated by Kid Acne
Blurry Minimalist Lookbooks
The KAMENSKAYAKONONOVA Spring 2013 Catalog is Full of Movement
Submerged Baby Photography
London Baby Swim Offers Swimming Classes for Newborns
Bejeweled Mermaid Editorials
The Vogue Spain 'El Canto De La Sirena' Photoshoot Stars Juju Ivanyuk
Couture Beach Bum Captures
The Madame Figaro 'Tee-Shirt Show' Editorial Stars Siri Crafoord
Badass Baby Photography
Ruadh DeLone's 'James and Byron' Portfolio Pays Tribute to Icons
Prehistoric Creatures Light Photography
Darren Pearson Dinosaur Light Photography is Amazing
Quirky British Fashion
The L’officiel Paris June/July 2012 Editorial Has Some Rocker Attitud
Motion-Filled Fashion Ads
The Lane Crawford Fall 2012 Campaign is Actively Blurry
Multiple Exposure Floral Photography
These Double Exposure Photos by Sarah Byrne are Beautiful
Vampire Child Photography
Toystory By Oleg Duryagin Inspired by Twilight?
Surreal Slumber Scenes
Pete Revonkorpi Illustrates Pictures Straight Out of Dreams
Retro Polaroid Pictorials
Davis Ayer Captures Explosive Beauty
Cry Baby Photography
The Jill Greenberg 'End Times' Collection is Adorably Heart-Wrenching
Bikini-Clad Corn Campaigns
These Oral-B Dental Floss Ads Show How Food Follows You
Provocative Vixen Editorials
The Style Singapore June 2012 Photo Shoot is Subtly Seductive
Ancient Headgear Editorials
The Vogue Hellas 'Greek Pride' Photoshoot is Hellenic
Monochromatic Fishnet Editorials
Natasha Poly for Madame Figaro Spices Up Drab Black Apparel
Dazed Dreamlike Editorials
The 'Sleeping With Ghosts' Shoot is Ethereal
Age-Exposing Eyewear
These Mitchell Eye Centre Ads Suggest a Younger Look
Hyper-Emotive Baby Photography
Evan Kafka Captures the Not-So-Fun Part of Parenthood
Safari-Style Swimwear
The Vogue Latin America 'Un Traje de Diosa' Photoshoot Stars Alyssa Miller
Creepy Toy Comeback Ads
The Duracell 'Some Toys Never Die' Campaign is Dark and Disturbing
Iconic Art-Inspired Photo Collages
The Shutterstock Ad Campaign Makes Masterpieces from Scratch
Time-Lapse Space Photographs
The ‘Star Trail’ Captures by Astronaut Don Pettit
American Icon Editorials
The Madame Figaro May 2012 Jovovich Photoshoot is Modeled After Monroe
Candid Model Maternity Captures
The Yo Dona April 2012 Shoot Stars Pregnant Alessandra Ambrosio
Vintage Sci-Fi Shoots
Marjolein Audrey Banis Shoots a Historical Vision of the Future
Crude Alcohol Advertising
This Bundaberg Five Campaign has an Edgy Sense of Humor
Psychedelic Streetography
'Urban Nights & Crazy Lights' by Rafael Andrade is like an Outdoor Rave
Deathly Companion Campaigns
These Staff Jeans Ads Market a Laid Back Lifestyle
Socialite Baby Photography
The Photography of Frank Uyttenhove is Incredibly Imaginative
Gallant Gladiator Marketing
This Toyota Tacoma Campaign Celebrates Masculinity
Neon Light Graffiti
The Long Exposure Photography of Jasper Geenhuizen is Incredibly Bright
Fiercely Foggy Photography
The Julia Saner by Solve Sundsbo for Vogue Italia Shoot is White Hot
Cabaret Couture Captures
The Madame Figaro Japan ‘Portrait of a Showgirl’ Editorial is
Sleepy Sultry Shoots
The Magnus Osterhult 'Bedtime Stories' Series is Dreamy
Natural Watered Down Editorials
The Figaro Japan July 2012 'Sensual Exposure' Photoshoot is Fluid
Wealthy Pig Ads
The Karlstad Energi Campaign Urges People to "Learn How to Avoid the Worst Pigs"
Artistically Surreal Editorials
Lucid Dreams by Ina Jang is Full of Minimalism and Color
Miniaturized Fantasy Captures
Zev’s Miniature Photos Showcase a World of Fantasy
Partied Out Sunscreen Prints
These Australian Surfer Sunblock Ads Discuss Protection
Insect-Covered Head Ads
The Yunnan Baiyao Yang Yuanqing Campaign Focuses on Itchy Scalps
Surreal Saturated Fashion Stories
The Roberto Cavalli 'Psychotic Love' Photoshoot is Cinematic
Origami Sketch Paper Ads
The Ad Pad Campaign Targets Advertising Creatives
Headache-Transferring Ads
The Crocin Pain Relief Tablets Campaign Helps to Alleviate Pain
Small Town Photography
Jo Ann Walters Captures Odd Family Moments
Sacred Animalistic Captures
Karen Knorr Represents Indian Fables and Myths Through Photography
Spinning Star Shoots
Lincoln Harrison Captures Spectacularly Color Scenery
Moving Sleep Photos
Claire Sloan's Sleep For Days Project is of a 6 Hour Exposure of Bed Activity
Sizzling Indigo Editorials
The Schon! Magazine 'Miami Blue' Photoshoot Stars Bregje Heinen
Automated Rural Roadmap Photography
Aaron Hobson Finds Beauty in Google Street View
Window War Photography
Photojournalist Lars Lindqvist Captures Grim Third World Realities
Slumber-Painting Robots
The Ibis Hotels Sleep Art Robot Makes You a Masterpiece
Fat Erasing Ads
The 100 Rokiv Weight Loss Clinic Campaign Encourages Healthy Food Options
Opulent Asian Fashion
The Madame Figaro September 2012 Editorial Stars Ling Ling Kong and Gao Ying
Eerie Floating Captures
The David Nemcsik Levitation Project Takes Flight
Effortlessly Steamy Editorials
The Camille Rowe Madame Figaro Photoshoot is Casually Cozy
Urban High Rise Editorials
The Vogue China 'Shear Heights' Photoshoot is Excessively Elevated
Stunning Acrophobic Photography
Karim Nafatni Shows Off Adventurous Birds-Eye View Scenery
Seductive Celebrity Couple Covers
The Kimye Cover For L'Officiel Hommes Gets Leaked
Bodacious Sleeping Beauties
The Madame Figaro China April 2013 Issue Boasts Fairy Tale Inspiration
Sleeping Beauty Editorials
This Benjamin Kaufmann Series Stars a Languid Flaviana
Landmark-Dismissing Ads
This Lonely Planet Ad Takes a Shot at Famous Landmarks
Blooming Babies
Anne Geddes Explores the Function of Flowers With Infants
Target Practice Prints
These Columbia Sportswear Ads Remind You of the Rays' Risks
One-Click GIF Apps
The Stilly App Adds a Fun Twist to Text Message Photos
Jubilant Baby Photography
'Capturing the Little Moments' from Kyle Barnick is Adorable
Muted Geometric Images
Stefan Giftthaler's Colored Mood is Playfully Blurry
Licence Plate Address Plaques
The AVTOTravel.com Ad Campaign Promotes Permanent Motor Homes
Surreal Victorian-Inspired Fashion
'Last of the Few' Showcases Eerily Aristocratic Floral Fashion
Dirty Domino Effect Ads
The Skay Cleaning Wipes Roll Campaign Promotes Easy Clean-Ups
Blurry City Subway Shoots
Ondria Hardin is Simply Dashing in 'Rush Hour' for Fashion Gone Rogue
Turntable Painting Photographs
Tamir Sher 'Masters on 45s' Collection Fuses Music and Art
Fading Forest Photography
This Hasse Linden Series is Disorientating
Eyeglasses Funeral Ads
The Bausch & Lomb Pure Vision 2 Campaign Gives Eyes New Life
Sleeping Infant Supervisors
Angel Care Monitor Constantly Scritunizes Baby's Bedroom Environment
Unfurled Freeway Advertising
This OHL Highway Concessions Campaign Makes the Job Look Easy
Active Commuting Campaigns
These Sustrans Ads Encourage Sporty Means of Transport
Celeb Baby Bump Photography
Karl Lagerfeld Photographs Kim Kardashian Pregnant
Alarm Clock Cushions
The Sony Pillow Wakes People Up Depending on What Sleep Cycle They Are In
Food Baby Ads
The Fabio Nutritionist Campaign Focuses on Unappetizing Ultrasounds
Somber Slumbering Snapshots
The Robert Knight 'Sleepless' Photo Series is Eerily Peaceful
Gender-Broadcasting Baked Goods
These 'Sweet Sugar Belle' Cookies Reveal If It's a Boy or a Girl
Forgiving Cookie Ads
The Bakers Romany Creams Choc Biscuits Campaign is Deliciously Charming
Globe-Trotting Bestie Photoshoots
The Glamour Spain Jet Set Editorial is Fashionably Friendly
Slumbering Kitty Bed Covers
The Sleeping Cat Print Blanket is a Snuggly Companion
Photographic Evolution Infographics
The Picture Perfect Infographic Examines Mobile Captures
Body Part Partier Ads
The Galapagai Festival 2013 Campaign Encourages a Sensory Experience
Mesmerizing Torontonian Timelapses
The City Rising by Tom Ryaboi Video Blurs the Canadian City
Fashionably Blurry Photography
Drew Kelly Moves Fast For David Wang
Contorted Sleeping Captures
The 'Thought I Was Awake' Photos by Ting Cheng are Surreal
Dotted Facial Graphics
Chad Wys' 'Arrangement in Skintones' is Speckled
Anamorphic Ballerina Pictorials
Leon Neal Creates Painting-Like Images Through Long Exposure
Sci-Fi Sleeping Spaces
The AT-AT Walker Bed Will Keep Your Child Safe
Fetal Heartbeat MP3s
‘Beforme' Baby Eavesdropping Device
Daydreaming Pinhole Photography
Sheila Boccine’s Dreamy Vintage Photography Beautifies Hotel
Sectioned Nap Packs
The Zippered Vents Sleeping Bag Caters to Individual Sleepers
4D Baby Scans
Echographic Ultra-Sounds Reveal Facial Expressions
Baked Bun Baby Ads
This Warburtons Ad Congratulates Princess Kate on Her Fresh-Baked Bun
Insect Musical Note Ads
The Westone Earphones 'No Buzz' Campaign Focuses on Sound Quality
Fluorescent Long Exposure Lamps
The Fluorescent Glow Light Can Last Up to Five Hours
Squished Entertainer Battery Ads
The Philips Power Station Campaign Focuses on What Will Be Missed