When you look at photos of Carly Simon, you aren't just looking at a singer. You’re looking at the invention of the "confessional" superstar. Honestly, before Carly, female pop stars were often packaged as either pristine dolls or gritty rock rebels. She was something else. She was the tall, toothy, upper-crust girl from New York who looked like she’d just stepped off a yacht but felt like she was about to tell you her deepest, darkest secret.
Those images didn't just happen by accident.
They were a mix of high-fashion sensibility and raw, sometimes accidental, vulnerability. Whether it's the blurry London street scene of No Secrets or the controversial "teddy" shot for Playing Possum, her visual history is a masterclass in how to build a brand without ever looking like you’re trying.
The "No Secrets" Walk: A London Accident
Most people think the cover of No Secrets was a massive, high-budget production. It wasn’t. It’s arguably the most famous of all photos of Carly Simon, and it almost didn't happen.
The year was 1972. Carly was in London recording at Trident Studios. Photographer Ed Caraeff was there to capture some press shots. They were staying at the Portobello Hotel in Notting Hill. According to Caraeff, they were literally just leaving the hotel to catch a cab when he saw the light hitting the street on Stanley Gardens.
Carly was wearing a floppy hat, a blue shirt, and no bra.
He told her to walk. She walked. He snapped the shutter.
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The resulting image—Carly mid-stride, looking effortlessly cool—became a cultural touchstone. There was actually a huge debate at the label about whether to airbrush the photo because her nipples were visible through the shirt. Carly refused. She felt it was authentic. That decision solidified her image as a woman who was "sexy and smart" at the same time, a combo that wasn't exactly common in the early 70s.
When Yoga Became Scandalous: Playing Possum
If No Secrets was a casual stroll, the session for Playing Possum (1975) was a full-blown earthquake.
You’ve seen the shot: Carly kneeling in a black negligee, sheer stockings, and high boots. At the time, it was scandalous. Critics accused her of using sex to sell records. But the backstory from photographer Norman Seeff is way more interesting than just "marketing."
Carly showed up to the studio in a conservative cotton skirt and blouse. Seeff, known for pushing artists to "let go," basically asked her what she was wearing underneath. She stripped down to the black teddy and started dancing. She was listening to the Shaft soundtrack.
Surprisingly, the "kneeling" pose that looks so provocative was actually just a yoga stretch.
Carly had given birth to her daughter, Sally, only four months prior. She later admitted that looking at the photo made her feel powerful—it was her way of saying she hadn't "lost" her sexuality just because she was now a mother. It ended up being ranked by Rolling Stone as one of the 100 greatest album covers of all time.
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The Family Lens: Peter Simon’s Archive
Some of the most intimate photos of Carly Simon weren't taken by famous fashion photographers. They were taken by her brother, Peter Simon.
Peter was a brilliant photojournalist who lived on Martha's Vineyard. Because they were siblings, he had access no one else did. He captured:
- Carly on a commune in Vermont in 1970, looking like a total flower child.
- Candid moments with her then-husband, James Taylor, at their home on the Vineyard.
- The "Anticipation" cover shot, where she’s leaning against a gate at Queen Mary's Garden in London.
Peter’s photos strip away the "celebrity" and show the "Carly." You can see the slight anxiety in her eyes—the same anxiety that led to her famous stage fright. These photos are grainy, natural, and feel like a family album you’ve been invited to flip through.
The "Boys in the Trees" Surrealism
By 1978, the aesthetic shifted. For the Boys in the Trees cover, Carly worked with Deborah Turbeville.
Turbeville was a legend in the fashion world, known for a "moody" style that looked more like a dream than a portrait. They shot in a ballet studio. If you look closely at these photos, they are intentionally off-center. There’s a lot of empty space.
It wasn't about "look at me," it was about "feel this space."
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Turbeville took inspiration from painters like Edgar Degas. She wanted to capture the "backstage" feeling of a performer when they think no one is watching. It’s a stark contrast to the bright, sunny California vibes of her earlier work.
Why These Photos Still Matter in 2026
It’s easy to dismiss old celebrity photos as nostalgia. But with Carly Simon, the visuals are part of the songwriting.
Her music was about the complication of being a woman in a changing world. Her photos reflected that. She could be the girl next door on a Vermont farm one day, and a high-fashion enigma in a London hotel the next.
Actionable Insights for Collectors and Fans:
- Check the Back: If you’re buying original Peter Simon prints, look for the estate stamp. After he passed away, his estate began stamping and signing prints to verify authenticity.
- Look for the "Contact Sheets": Some of the best photos of Carly Simon aren't the ones that made the covers. Norman Seeff has released "contact sheet" prints that show the 20 shots before the famous one. They offer a rare look at her movement and process.
- The Martha’s Vineyard Connection: To understand the "real" Carly, look at the photos from the mid-80s on the Vineyard. This is where she finally settled, and the photos shift from "pop star" to "artist/mother/islander."
Carly’s visual legacy is about the refusal to be just one thing. She was a folkie, a pop star, a mother, and a sex symbol—often in the span of a single roll of 35mm film.
If you're hunting for high-quality archival versions of these images, the Morrison Hotel Gallery and the San Francisco Art Exchange often carry the original Seeff and Caraeff prints. They aren't cheap, but they are pieces of music history that changed how we look at women in rock.