Geri Halliwell's Pre-Fame Barbarella Photoshoot Captured by Soulla Petrou
In a fascinating glimpse into pop history, photographer Soulla Petrou has revealed details of a rare 1994 photoshoot featuring Geri Halliwell, long before her rise to fame with the Spice Girls. The session, which saw Halliwell dressed as the sci-fi character Barbarella, offers a unique insight into the early days of both the artist and the photographer's careers.
From Fashion to Music: Petrou's Career Shift
Petrou, who initially studied fashion, transitioned to music photography in 1994, driven by a passion for capturing people and musical culture. Her breakthrough came after approaching the magazine Touch, where the editor challenged her to make "boring DJs look as interesting" as her fashion models. This led to her first commission photographing drum'n'bass DJ General Levy, which landed on the cover and opened doors to further work with publications like DJ Mag.
Her early projects included capturing clubbers at London's Ministry of Sound, where she unknowingly photographed the influential artist Goldie in the crowd. This period marked the beginning of her journey into the vibrant music scene of the 1990s.
The Barbarella Shoot: A Collaborative Effort
Only a month into her music photography career, Petrou was contacted by a stylist friend about shooting a girl who was set to join a "really huge girl band." Despite initial scepticism, Petrou arranged a shoot at her home, styled around 60s and 70s TV shows and movies featuring strong women, such as Wonder Woman and Charlie's Angels. The Barbarella theme, inspired by Jane Fonda's role in the 1960s sci-fi film, was realised with outfits designed by Paco Rabanne.
Most shots were taken against a large white wall near Petrou's house, using film techniques like cross-processing E6 slide film to achieve a supersaturated, grainy quality. Petrou emphasised the lack of PR interference at the time, allowing for a genuine collaboration between photographer and subject. She described Halliwell as "really lovely" and noted her laser-focused demeanor, predicting she was "going to go somewhere."
Tarot Cards and Unpredicted Fame
At the end of the session, Halliwell noticed tarot cards on Petrou's table and asked for a future reading. Petrou humorously admitted she "predicted absolutely nothing," but reflected on Halliwell's evident drive. The shoot occurred two years before the Spice Girls released their debut single "Wannabe" in 1996, with Petrou suggesting the images hint at the evolution of a future pop icon.
Six images from this shoot appear in Petrou's book Rewind, which showcases her music photography from the 90s and 00s. Unpublished shots include themes based on St Trinian's, such as one of Halliwell climbing out of a window.
Legacy and Recognition
Years later, Petrou saw Halliwell holding one of her prints in a documentary, and when she shared the images on Instagram, Halliwell reposted them with a comment celebrating "GIRL POWER 1994" and encouraging others to follow their dreams. Petrou's career highlights include having her image of Mis-Teeq acquired by the V&A Museum for its permanent collection and being selected for the Taylor Wessing prize 2025.
She advises aspiring photographers to "always keep learning and experimenting," emphasising adaptability in the face of technological changes from film to digital. Exhibitions featuring her work, including Rewind at Photo North in Leeds and the Taylor Wessing Photo Portrait Prize in Sheffield, continue to showcase her contributions to photography.
