Tony Ward first threw himself into erotic art by photographing his wife and first muse, Sandy. Ward soon began branching out, looking for models who would travel to his Philadelphia studio to pose for his camera and indulge their own exhibitionism. As he discovered that "Philadelphia may have been founded by the Quakers but is currently occupied by hedonists" new models were soon arriving in droves. Ward’s reputation as a practitioner of erotica grew and grew, but America’s Puritan past took notice and his corporate clients trickled away. Undaunted, Ward pursued his passions, finally meeting the legendary photography agent Henrietta Brackman. Although unable to take Ward on, Brackman was impressed by his powerful images and recommended him to the German agent Ursula Kreis. After a whirlwind of attention in Europe, Ward’s distinctive brand of erotic art found another eager patron, but this time back in the U.S with Penthouse publisher Bob Guccione. With his no-holds-barred approach to sex, Guccione quickly became Ward’s biggest fan and patron, publishing numerous portfolios in his magazine and bringing Ward international renown.