Franz Walderdorff’s primary subject is beauty; he was on contract with Allure magazine from the day it launched and for the next 20 years, regularly contributing beauty pictures with the energy of a film-maker and the technical precision of a portraitist in an approach that precisely echoed the magazine’s ethos. That easygoing feel, combined with visual high definition, is also what Walderdorff brings to his other work, whether in fashion or portraiture. Every element—from the choice of lighting, location and model through his comfortable, respectful rapport with his subjects, to the loyal team of experts he prefers to work with—contributes to this way of seeing. It’s a truism that ultimately photographers only shoot their own personalities, but that is certainly the case with Walderdorff.
Walderdorff has shot striking behind-the-scenes images from all major women's fashion shows in New York, Paris and Milan. His work is always related to beauty, whether with a model in a studio, on location, in the locker room of a professional cheerleading team, or the dressing rooms of New York’s most famous strip clubs and cabarets. He was regularly published in Allure, Spanish and Chinese Vogue, Italian, British and German Glamour, and many other publications.
When at home in Southampton, German-born Walderdorff likes to spend time at the beach even in the winter months. It was here that his most recent projects, “Connections”, “Bathers”, and “Shared Horizons” were created. These series of photographs reflect the playful, ever-shifting movement of sand, water and sky and stays true to his love for the human form.
The abstract, contemplative images, at first viewing, make us wonder what we are looking at, at what scale and in what location.
While under contract with Allure Magazine Franz Walderdorff took portraits of many strong, intelligent, and beautiful women. He is now in the process of creating a new art series of portraits which are a mix of photography and painting although the painting is electronic. It’s an unintentional Warhol homage, but with a modern take.
Included in this series are new portraits of Paris Hilton, Emma Roberts, Paris Jackson, Kate Moss, Gemma Ward, Lily Donaldson, Karlie Kloss, Payal Kadakia Pujji and many others.
Clients include Allure, Artistry Cosmetics, Christian Lacroix, Cover Girl, Donna Karan, Garnet Hill, British Glamour, Italian Glamour, German Glamour, Fendi, J.Crew, L’Oréal Paris, Only Hearts, Talbots, Macys, Tommy Hilfiger, Spanish Vogue, Chinese Vogue, Arnell Group, Laird & Partners, Grey Advertising, Select NY and many more
© Copyright 2020 Franz Walderdorff. All rights reserved. All photographs and text included herein are the property of Franz Walderdorff. All materials are protected under the United States and international copyright laws and treaties which provide substantial penalties for infringement. The use of any images or other materials included herein, in whole or part, for any purpose, including, but not limited to, reproduction, storage, manipulation, digital or otherwise, is expressly prohibited without the written permission of Franz Walderdorff