Howell Conant

Howell Thomas Conant, Sr. (March 13, 1916 – March 11, 1999) was an American fashion photographer noted for his portraits of the American actress and later Princess Consort of Monaco, Grace Kelly.

Life Conant's father was a professional photographer who owned a studio in Marinette, Wisconsin. Conant studied photography at the University of Wisconsin and at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. During World War II Conant was stationed at Pearl Harbor and was part of the Naval photographic team operating under Admiral Chester W. Nimitz. The resulting photographs were published in the June 24 issue of Collier's magazine, with a celebrated photo of Kelly rising from the water with wet hair making the cover.

Conant wrote that he thought that Grace Kelly's sole flaw in her appearance was her jaw, which he considered too square.

In September 1982, Conant was preparing for a trip to Monaco to capture the family's official Christmas portrait. However, upon learning of Princess Grace's tragic death in a car accident, he departed for Monaco without his photographic equipment.