Barbershops of America

A photo series from Rob Hammer:

In America especially, the barbershop is one of those unsung heroes of social cohesion. But these venerated institutions are changing fast and, in many areas, dying out.

That's why photographer Rob Hammer has spent seven years travelling across the country to capture the life and work of barbers with his lens. And his photobook, Barbershops of America: Then and Now, provides an enlightening glimpse into the people and physical spaces that foster community, storytelling and connection.

"A lot of people will never get to experience for themselves what it's like to be in an old shop," says Rob. "But looking through these pages can help them imagine. And as time goes on and the industry changes, so will barbershops. So what this book as a whole also shows is barbering during what could be its largest boom ever, and the trade's very specific place on the American timeline."

Nate's Barbershop, Atascadero, California