7 Shocking Details About Ariana Grande's 'Positions' Unreleased Photoshoot And The Aggressive Takedown

The visual era of Ariana Grande’s *Positions* album, released in late 2020, holds a fascinating secret: a trove of unreleased, high-quality photoshoot outtakes that have become an obsession for fans and a source of contention for her team. As of late 2024, the conversation around this "lost" imagery remains highly active, fueled by brief leaks and the aggressive legal action taken to scrub them from the internet. This deep dive uncovers the complete story of the *Positions* photoshoot, the creative team behind it, the specifics of the leaked content, and why these images remain a highly protected asset years after the album's debut.

The *Positions* album itself, which debuted on October 30, 2020, marked a shift in Grande's musical and visual aesthetic, focusing on themes of romance, domesticity, and political power (as seen in the "President Grande" music video). The official album cover was a close-up, washed-out shot that many fans felt didn't do justice to the full photoshoot, leading to intense curiosity about the unused material.

Ariana Grande: Biography and The Positions Era Profile

Ariana Grande-Butera is an American singer, songwriter, and actress who has become one of the most influential pop artists of her generation. Her career trajectory from Nickelodeon star to global music icon is marked by consistent chart success and a distinct visual evolution.

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• Full Name: Ariana Grande-Butera
• Date of Birth: June 26, 1993
• Place of Birth: Boca Raton, Florida, U.S.
• Studio Albums (Prior to Positions): *Yours Truly* (2013), *My Everything* (2014), *Dangerous Woman* (2016), *Sweetener* (2018), *Thank U, Next* (2019).
• The *Positions* Album: Released October 30, 2020, via Republic Records.
• Album Theme: A blend of R&B, pop, and trap, focusing on themes of love, sexuality, and domestic bliss, contrasting with the more introspective tone of *Thank U, Next*.
• Key Collaborators on *Positions*: Tommy Brown, Shintaro Yasuda, Murda Beatz, and The Rascals.

The *Positions* era began with the title track and its accompanying music video, which presented Grande as a fictional President of the United States. The official album photoshoot, which is the source of the unreleased images, was reportedly shot on September 12, 2020, at Smashbox Studios in Los Angeles. This session laid the groundwork for the entire visual identity of the album cycle.

The Unreleased Photoshoot: What Was Leaked and Why It Caused a Stir

The core of the controversy and fan excitement revolves around a specific set of images—the raw, unedited outtakes from the primary album cover session. Unlike the heavily filtered and cropped official cover, the leaked pictures offered a candid, high-definition look at the artist.

1. The "Unphotoshopped" Outtakes

The most significant detail about the leaked content is that it consisted of "unphotoshopped" outtakes. These raw images revealed the intricate details of the styling, hair, and makeup that are often smoothed over in final, commercially released photos. For dedicated fans, these unedited shots are considered a treasure, offering a more authentic glimpse of the star’s look during the era.

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2. The Highly Sought-After "Green Outfit" Set

Discussions among the fan community, particularly on platforms like Reddit, frequently reference a particular set of images known as the "green outfit" photos. While the official cover featured a neutral-toned look, the unreleased set is rumored to contain vibrant, full-body shots, showcasing a distinct, stylish ensemble that was ultimately left on the cutting room floor. This specific outfit has become a legendary, almost mythical piece of the *Positions* visual puzzle.

3. The Creative Team Behind the Visuals

The quality and detail of the unreleased photos highlight the work of the elite creative team assembled for the era. Identifying these entities adds topical authority and context to the visual style:

• Styling: The overall wardrobe and aesthetic were handled by celebrity stylist Mimi Cuttrell, known for her sophisticated and modern approach to celebrity fashion.
• Makeup Artist: The signature *Positions* makeup look—often featuring a sharp eyeliner and a defined lip—was crafted by Michael Anthony.
• Hair Stylist: The iconic ponytail, a staple of Grande's look, was meticulously executed by hair artist Alyx Liu.
• Photographer: While multiple photographers work on an album cycle, the album design credits often point to Dave Meyers for the photography, a highly respected name in music visuals.

The unreleased photos provide a clearer, unfiltered view of the combined efforts of this high-profile team.

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The Leak Context and Ariana's Aggressive Response

The excitement surrounding the unreleased material is directly proportional to the difficulty in finding it, due to a swift and aggressive response from Ariana Grande’s management and legal team.

4. The Source of the Leak and Fan Speculation

The initial leak of the unphotoshopped outtakes was not a simple file dump. Fan speculation suggests a few possibilities, including a dedicated collector or fan who somehow "bought the pics album," leading to their circulation. There were also reports of a private Instagram account briefly sharing some of the unreleased visuals, including videos.

5. Aggressive Legal Takedowns

The most current and significant piece of information is the artist's proactive stance on protecting her intellectual property. Reports indicate that Ariana Grande's team is "aggressively pursuing anyone who posts the *Positions* photoshoot outtakes." This is not a typical, passive takedown request; it’s a high-priority effort to ensure the images do not remain public. This aggressive pursuit is a key reason why the content remains so elusive years later, despite its initial leak.

6. The Difference in Aesthetic Intent

The existence of the unreleased content highlights a creative decision. The final, official *Positions* album cover was minimalist and slightly blurred, a stylistic choice that contrasted sharply with the vibrant, detailed, and full-body shots rumored to be in the outtakes. The aggressive suppression of the outtakes suggests a strong desire to maintain the specific, curated aesthetic that the team chose for the official era, preventing the "raw" images from undermining the final product.

7. The Long-Term Impact on Topical Authority

Even years after the album's release, the "unreleased *Positions* photoshoot" continues to generate significant search traffic and fan discussion. This sustained curiosity acts as a form of "topical authority" for the *Positions* era, keeping the album relevant in pop culture discourse. The mystery surrounding the visuals ensures that every time the album is mentioned, the search for the forbidden photos is reignited, proving that sometimes, the unreleased content can be more captivating than the official release.