These black and white portraits, taken in 1968 during a promotional photo session for Joni Mitchell’s debut album ‘Song to a Seagull,’ showcase the iconic singer-songwriter in a classic studio setting. The photographs were captured by Ed Thrasher, who served as Chief Art Director at Warner Bros. / Reprise Records during the late 1960s and 1970s. Thrasher was responsible for designing and art-directing hundreds of iconic album covers for legendary artists including Frank Sinatra, Jimi Hendrix, Neil Young, and Joni Mitchell herself. The session occurred around the time of Mitchell’s debut album release, which marked her transition from a Florida-based musician to a key figure in the Laurel Canyon folk scene. The images feature stark backlighting and a wind machine to create dynamic motion in her hair, a technique common in promotional photography of the era. These photographs were widely used for Reprise Records’ promotional materials, press releases, magazine features, and album gatefolds for early pressings. The photos provide a rare glimpse into Mitchell’s early career, capturing her at a pivotal moment before she became one of the most influential voices in folk and popular music. The session reflects the collaborative relationship between artists and record label art directors during the 1960s, highlighting how visual presentation played a crucial role in shaping an artist’s public image. These images remain significant as historical artifacts that document the visual culture of the music industry during a transformative period in American music history.