Socialist realist photography is a unique phenomenon in the history of world photography. It produced incomparably powerful symbolism and new mythology, glorifying achievements of the new Soviet state and idealizing the socialist lifestyle.

The diversity of artistic styles of the 1920s were curtailed with the Communist party's 1932 resolution that proclaimed the reorganization and unification of artistic and literary organizations. The reshaping of Russian culture was completed with the adoption of the policy of socialist realism at the First Congress of Soviet Writers in 1934. Photography became the most important artistic and propaganda tool in shaping the collective consciousness with the purpose of creation of a New Soviet Man. This resulted in a multitude of commissioned works featuring beautified images of heroic men and women, cheerful pioneers, abundant produce as well as glorified depictions of the Soviet military might and achievements of new economic policies that led to prosperous future under the leadership of the Great Stalin. Socialist heroes became the stars of Soviet publications and cinema; they were loyal to the regime and exhorted the audience to emulate their example.