This Photographer Traveled the World to Document the Beauty of Redheads and Here’s What He Captured

By: Riley Brown | Published: Oct 25, 2022

Only one percent of the world population is blessed with red hair, caused by the gene mutation called MC1R. Photographer Brian Dowling made it his mission to showcase this captivating beauty of redheads from around the globe in his portrait photobook project titled “Redhead Beauty Book,” published in 2017.

Brian traveled to more than 20 countries to capture the naturally gifted women highlighting their vibrant red hair and freckles. Here are a few breathtaking snapshots from his project.

Ethereal Beauty of Alina From Kyiv, Ukraine

Ukrainian women are known for their captivating beauty. So, we aren’t surprised photographer Brian Dowling captured the ethereal magnetism of the country’s redhead Alina Kovalenko for his Redhead Beauty photobook project. She is a talented actress who landed her first significant role in the 2015 movie The Tree of Us and has been booked and busy since.

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In the photograph, the chic charm of her white lace dress against the white and baby-blue backdrop makes Alina’s gorgeous red hair pop even more. Her natural beauty is the kind that makes people fall in love with her instantly and her face dotted with freckles is a sight to behold.

USA's Madelaine Petsch and Her Fiery Red Tresses

The driving force behind Brian’s project was his need to end the stereotyping that redheads the world over were subjected to and, in its place, show everyone how utterly gorgeous these women are. To this effect, actress Madelaine Petsch from Washington State, with her reddish-brown hair, fit the bill perfectly.

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This beautiful shot of Madelaine pays homage to her vibrant curly red tresses, and her winning smile brightens the photograph a thousandfold. She is incredibly proud of the fiery color and takes extra care and precautions to maintain her mane. Even on-screen, her red hair is central to her character as Cheryl Blossom on the hit CW drama Riverdale.

Kirstie's Gorgeous Red Mane in the Scottish Highlands

Redheads are often associated with the Scottish Highlands, and what better place for Brian Dowling to be to add to his vast collection of photographs for this unique project? The moment he met Kirstie May, the photographer in him wanted to capture her and her fabulously thick and curly red tresses.

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We are glad that Brian, unlike the other images in his collection, chose to use a wide-angle shot to include the glorious highlands of Glencoe in the background. The scenery does not take away from Kirstie’s naturally glowing persona but enhances her striking figure; her flowing mane gathered to one side of her shoulder remains the highlight.

The Stunning Picture of Carmen From the Netherlands

In one of his best close-up shots yet, Brian has captured the natural beauty of Carmen from Best, Netherlands, in all her glory. While her eyes mesmerize us with their intense gaze, her dark red tresses seem to hide many secrets; we cannot look away from this photograph.

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For this project, Brian has chosen to shoot the models without makeup or filters, which shows. Carmen’s no-makeup look brings out her freckles, and we appreciate the photographer’s angle so much for giving us that spectacular sight. A sales manager by profession, she steals a heart for every freckle she has.

Striking Image of German Redhead Krissy

The photo of Krissy from Stuttgart, Germany, has us in awe of her glowing beauty and the photographer’s skill in setting up the riveting frame. No matter how much you are pulled in by her stunning pose on the lush green grass, her light freckles, and her sparkling blue eyes, her spectacular ginger hair is the hero of the shot.

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Kirstin Kohler, or Krissy in short, is a fashion model in her mid-twenties who is also a student. We are not at all surprised that she has considerable modeling experience because of how confidently and with utmost ease the beautiful girl has posed for Brian’s camera for his Redhead Beauty collection.

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Alisha Is a Redheaded Beauty From Ukraine

To capture the beautiful shade of Alisha’s red hair, Brian Dowling picked a picturesque background of a cloudy sky meeting the Black Sea at the horizon. The water is not still but looks peaceful, just like the beauty standing in it.

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Alisha is wearing a loose turquoise top, which seems to be a brilliant idea because it’s another shade of sea that does not clash with the background. With varying shades of blue in the picture, the contrast from Alisha’s red locks captures viewers’ attention quickly.

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Ellie, the Londoner with Long Red Waves

It seems the photographer picked the right redhead in London, England, to capture the breathtaking beauty of red hair. With long waves framing her beautiful face, Ellie looks confident and stunning in this picture.

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The green wooden door in the background is perfect to enhance the beauty of Ellie’s hair. If it had been any other color or shade of green, it might have dulled the effect of the photograph. Her black, full-sleeved t-shirt provides an ideal background for this redheaded beauty as well.

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Elias Is a Redhead In Northern Ireland

Did you know that Ireland has the highest percentage of redheads in the world? If you ever visit Northern Ireland, you’re more than likely to come across beautiful redheads, men and women alike. Still, let’s first talk about the beauty in this photograph who looks stunning with her natural curls.

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Elias lives in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and even though there might be more redheads around her with varying shades and textures, we bet there aren’t as many who match her dazzling blue eyes!

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Meet this Gingerhead, Maria From Russia

Russia and redheads are not an uncommon combination for the rest of the world. In fact, the country has a significant population of redheads with brilliant shades like that of Maria from Moscow, Russia. Here, the photographer captured her beauty by focusing on the long straight hair framing her face.

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Her off-the-shoulder floral dress and a hint of greenery in the background make her red hair look even more stunning. Although the expression on her face looks sensational, we bet a smile would have added more charm to this photograph!

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Gracie Is A Young Redhead From Ireland

We love how the photographer, Brian Dowling, has picked his locations for the photographs. Everything perfectly balances out in his redhead beauty pictures, from the background to the clothes and the hair. The photos have managed to capture the essence of the women’s personalities through their natural locks.

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Here, Gracie is standing on a cliff with splashing waves in the background. Her hair is slightly wavy and the only red color in the entire photograph, just like the rest of Dowling’s masterpieces on this list!

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Aoife – a Stunner From Longford, Ireland

Aoife is from the country associated with carrying the ‘ginger gene’ more than any other in the world. So, it was obvious for Brian Dowling to stop in Ireland for almost two weeks to capture as many redhead models as he could to showcase the raw beauty of redhaired-women for his collection.

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This red-haired beauty’s picture is no different from the others on this list but unique in a way that makes you think twice about the naturally-born ginger heads who don’t even need makeup to look stunning! Aoife’s effortless beauty is captured just as brilliantly by the photographer.

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The Green-Eyed Beauty, Ruby From Essex, England

Brian Dowling did not use makeup artists or camera equipment to capture beautiful redheads around the world. He relied on the natural beauty of these women to make the viewer go, ‘Wow!’ And for Ruby from Essex, he didn’t need a special background either.

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Like many redheads on this list, Ruby carries her hair long. A closeup shot of her doesn’t only make you appreciate her red locks, but those green eyes and raw beauty make you wish you’d know this woman in real life!

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Alina – Another Redhead Beauty from Odesa, Ukraine

Alina is not the first or only woman from Odesa, Ukraine, for Brian Dowling’s ‘Capture the Beauty of Redheads’ project. He shot another one in the almost-still Black Sea, wearing her long red hair proudly.

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Alina is no different from the other redhead captured by Dowling in Odessa. She keeps her ginger hair long and parted sideways to frame her makeup-less face and stunning eyes. This closeup shot of Alina’s red locks enhances her beauty in a white knitted sweater.

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Tara, A Liverpool Beauty Wearing Glasses

Taking a break from closeup shots or maybe finding Tara’s beauty more appealing and entwined with a landmark in Liverpool, England, Brian Dowling went with a long shot. With Tara sitting on the Suitcase Art Sculpture wearing her black spectacles, black heels, and brown coat, she looks like a goddess sitting on her throne!

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The perfection of this photograph is in the details. Except for the bright red hair of the model, everything else in the picture has a dull shade, including Tara’s clothing that matches the color of the suitcases she’s sitting on.

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Elainna, A Rare Beauty from Modesto, California

The United States does not have a high population of people carrying the ‘ginger gene,’ but Brian Dowling managed to find a select few and capture their beauty through his camera lens. Elainna is from Modesto, California, where she proudly wears her long curly red locks.

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For this photograph, she’s wearing a green top and minimal makeup to highlight the color of her hair over anything else. Although the background is blurred out, the colors do not clash with the highlight of the photo–a certain red-haired beauty!

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Kim Looks Like a Beautiful Viking Princess

Every country in the world has its fair share of redheads and Germany is no exception. Kim, who comes from Hamburg, appears very elegant as she stands to pose in front of the camera.

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Her red hair blends perfectly with her porcelain-colored skin, making her look like a beautiful actress straight from the set of Vikings. Besides, Kim’s perfectly trimmed eyelashes, which took after the red color of her hair, stand out majestically against the background of her light skin. Indeed, the lady’s redhead is nothing to hide as she’s all the more beautiful because of it.

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Model Nastya Pindeeva in Ukraine

Despite being a redhead, Nastya Pindeeva still chose to be a model, and though her kind is in the minority, she seemed to have turned a seeming disadvantage into a profitable career.

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As she turns her back on the camera and overlooks the sea, she displays her radiance most uniquely. Pindeeva’s red hair matches perfectly with her ivory complexion and together, they contrast against the black, overflowing dress she’s wearing. Nastya is putting her beauty to work and seems to be very good at what she does.

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Beata's Beautiful Red Hair and Striking Posture

With her back to the camera and her face turned towards downtown Warsaw, Beata seems to be enjoying the morning breeze as it wisps through her beautiful red hair. Her white, loose top and thigh-high shorts ensure that her spotless skin is also caressed by the wind as it blows past the balcony. The feeling is soothing, calming, and reassuring and appears to be what she needs at that moment.

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Beata’s curly hair runs down her back freely, adding another layer to her charm. It is wavy and long, and appears well-kempt so that it throws more weight behind her already-captivating posture.

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Masha from St Petersburg, Russia

As Masha grabs fistfuls of her hair and looks straight into the camera, one cannot but notice the calmness and control in her beautiful, blue eyes. Her thick eyebrows stand out perfectly on her forehead and seem to keep watch over her charming eyes.

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Masha’s freckled face and red hair radiate from the sunlight and remind us of the few people who are blessed with these unique characteristics. As Masha stands under the tree, her floral dress blends elegantly with the amazing flowers behind her.

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A Beautiful German Model In A Snowy Park

Models sign contracts because of their amazing beauty and striking posture. This charming model has all it physically takes to be successful in her field. Her red hair may be one of the first things people notice about her, and it’s most likely her unique selling point. It matches her immaculate skin to a degree of perfection and also blends beautifully with the woods behind her.

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The model’s overflowing gown does justice to her great pose and traces her wonderful and majestic outline. Notice how uniquely her blue dress seems to flow lazily into the snow-covered ground. This lady has indeed mastered the fine art of modeling.

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Shannon, a Fairy From Sydney

Did you know redheads in Australia are called Bluey? As you can guess, the next destination in Dowling’s redhead beauty project was Australia, and Shannon represented the country.

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The photograph offered a beautiful combination of baby pink and light green hues, with Shannon looking quite ethereal in her pretty, flowy pink gown. As she stood with her back to the bright sun, the edges of her beautiful and untied locks lit up in a vibrant red shade, giving the picture a spark of color.

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Kirstie Basking in the Highlands of Glencoe

With less than 2% of the world population having red hair, Scotland houses a high number of redheads. Maybe its redheads have an irresistible pull, as Dowling featured Kirstie a second time in this list.

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Looking over the Scottish Highlands Of Glencoe, Kirstie sits with her back to us, giving us a full view of her bushy and bright copper hair. She is in the same olive green shirt, and the hair color in the predominantly green background adds a beautiful contrast to this picturesque photograph.

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Sophee, the Chic Stunner From California

So we have another American on the list here. This time we have a beautiful lady named Sophee from California. Standing against a pink wall with a simple outfit, she has still managed to bring an alluring charm to the picture.

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Sophee decided to go for a grey shirt, a black mini skirt, and a denim jacket for Dowling’s project. While daintily holding strands of her long and straight auburn tresses, her minimal makeup look gives off a fresh vibe. Undoubtedly, red hair has the power to make you stand out even in the most basic get-up and settings.

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Russian Enchantress Daria From St. Petersburg

While we love a vibrant color palette in photographs, the uniform tone in this picture, however, elevates Dowling’s click. Looking at us here is lovely Daria, a model from Russia.

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The photograph exudes quite a mystical appeal as Daria stares at us with her haunting grey eyes. Her pretty, pink lips add just the right amount of tinge the picture needs. Even with the straw hat covering almost her whole head, the beauty of Daria’s long, red locks can’t be tamped down as they rest elegantly against her white top.

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London Beauty Natasha's Freckles

We just love the burst of red in this particular photograph, taken by Dowling. Here his camera captures a perfect portrait of Natasha, another pretty redhead from London.

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Perhaps, the most striking feature of this picture is Natasha’s gorgeous freckles. She isn’t facing us directly, and with closed eyes and a small smile, it seems she perfectly knows how mesmerized we are by her beauty. She has styled her scarlet hair in a messy half updo, and we can see a gentle wind caressing her wild strands.

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Sophie – A Beauty Living in Stirling, England

When we look at a redhead walking down a street, we automatically assume that she should be Irish or Scottish, but the natural redheaded beauties in this list have shown us how wrong we can be. Especially the ones Dowling found in England. From London to Sussex, he was able to capture the red locks of different women through his camera lens without special effects.

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Sophie, in this photograph, is one of his masterpieces created for his redheaded beauty collection. With hills in the background and Sophie’s hair moving with the wind, the photo looks effortless, and we can’t help but appreciate its charm!

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Benedette, The Italian Redhead From Sydney

Red hair does not need any help to look stunning, but when you witness its beauty at sunset, with hair basking in the setting sun, you cannot ignore the perfection. Benedette is an Italian woman in Sydney who looks peaceful while watching the sun go down in a foreign country.

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Although we can’t see her face in this photograph, her demeanor is relaxed enough to assume that she is enjoying the moment, capturing the beauty of the sunset through her eyes, just as the photographer captured her beauty with his camera.

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Wavy-Haired Judith From Breda, Netherlands

The wavy-haired beauty with her gray-green eyes and sweet smile makes it difficult to take our eyes away from her face. Yet, we have to because her hair is supposed to be the highlight of this picture.

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Judith, a woman from Breda, Netherlands, is not going for an elaborate pose in this photograph. She is standing near a sidewalk, wearing a pretty dress and letting her hair loose to pose for a photo that puts her among the top 30 redheaded beauties captured by Brian Dowling.

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Redheads, Vanessa and Bridget From South Africa and the USA

We’ve already established that redheads are rare in this world. Still, if this picture tells us one thing, it’s that you can find two stunning redheads in one location if you try hard enough. They have an effortless beauty, and no matter the shade of their hair color, they don’t need special accessories to make themselves look pretty.

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Vanessa is from South Africa and Bridget hails from San Francisco, USA, but they look like they have known each other for a while. The blue and white combo looks different yet perfect for both women, and the pink background only enhances the beauty of their natural locks.

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A Model Strikes a Casual Pose in Berlin, Germany

Posing at the East Side Gallery for Brian Dowling, this model looks as if she was just stopped to pose for a photo because the photographer couldn’t resist capturing those red curls through his camera lens.

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We don’t know the name of this beautiful woman in Berlin, Germany, but maybe the anonymity makes her look more stunning! Wearing black jeans, a top, and a jacket with headphones around her neck, she looks straight at the camera to let the world know that redheads are proud of their natural appearance!

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