"We bring brands and values to life with the power of authentic photography. We assist companies in communicating their brands and messages, show the values of NGOs, government organisations or foundations, and document their work. No matter what is required and where, we'll find photographers and video journalists from our worldwide network, suitable for (almost) every project."

'Challenging Chances - Escape in Pictures'. A common project of Bertelsmann Stiftung and laif core featuring a book and exhibition in Cologne, Berlin and Brussels.

Melissa Golden, based in Atlanta GA, USA, is the latest photographer to join laif core. 

Barbara Dombrowski travelled to Mongolia to take another step in continuing her long-term project 'Tropic Ice'.

Ralph Wentz is a photographer and art director based in Cologne, Germany. Ralph has a reputation for the clear and precise image, specialising in people and portrait and interior and exterior photography as well as kids and teens.

While photographing kids, Ralph really is interested in the true nature of the human being and the young character.

"Most often we see these superficial pictures of kids and teens in unreal surroundings. I try to get closer to them, try to see them as personalities in their own right. That’s why I love to take these straight portraits of kids and teens, because it is so honest and true. Their eyes are like windows to their soul and there is nothing they will hide from you, when you have their trust.“

Ralph recently shot promotional campaigns for a German kids TV-show and Alpenmilch, a key visual for Energiebau US, an awarness campaign for child abuse and a series of motion stills.

Christoph Papsch is an industrial and corporate photographer based near Cologne, Germany. He works in the fields of heavy industry, technology, shipping, transport and logistics for companies, advertising agencies and magazines. Among his clients are companies such as Arvos, Deutsche Post DHL, MAN Diesel &Turbo, Sandvik Coromant, Schaeffler, SolarWorld, Saudia Cargo, various shipping companies and others.

For Christoph, industrial photography is his passion: "I love the smell of cut metal, heavy oil and kerosene, the hiss of hydraulics, the rumble of machinery and the hum of engines. I am thrilled by large and noisy industrial complexes, technical equipment, large machinery and fine industrial production, and especially the interaction of people and technology.“

Anne-Marie Hochkeppler and Edith Schmitt have worked together in their photo studio in Cologne for over 20 years. During this time, the pair have acquired a vast amount of experience in many different areas and have become specialists in both still life and food photography.

Product affinity and the care taken to show as much detail as possible are the two most important aspects of their work. Through their pictorial language and composition, they regularly create impressive images that take into account client ideas from the very start.

Natural Born Explorers continues to produce high-end photo shoots and remains the indoor and outdoor expert for all kinds of production services.

“Our pictures tell stories, are unfussy and passionate. Our deep rooted motivation remains the undaunted enthusiasm to explore the world, with all its facets, indoors and outdoors!”

In this Showcase, Natural Born Explorers presents visuals from recent projects including new client BNS/NATCH! and a shoot that took place in bad weather in Cologne to get that "special mood" in both pictures and faces!

Also in Cologne, the company produced the new Tech Lab collection for outdoor brand Jack Wolfskin, while the sporty character of the Natural Born Explorers' team could be seen in a production for The Orginal Bootcamp, with photographer Philip Baske.

Ralph Wentz is a photographer and art director based in Cologne. Specialising in people and portrait, interior and exterior photography as well as kids and teens, Ralph has a reputation for delivering the clear and precise image.

He recently shot a campaign combining his vision for people and architectural photography. Earlier in the year, Ralph started working on a photo book project about the hidden architectural treasures of the past, visiting many old castles across Germany that are still owned by families who value their heritage.

In between, he went back and forth to France and Italy to shoot landscapes for several respected wineries. His latest project made him combine the essence of movement, motion picture looks and flying hair - a series of pictures that really benefits from Ralph's professional past as a sports and action photographer working mainly in the US covering the NBA, NFL and MLB as well as world championship boxing and winter sports.

Based in Cologne, laif core brings brands and values to life with the power of authentic photography.

"We assist companies in visually communicating their brands and messages, show the values of NGOs, government organisations or foundations, and document their work. No matter what is required and where, we'll find photographers and video journalists from our worldwide network, suitable for (almost) every project.

Book and exhibition projects, assignments in photo or film, and consulting during the conception, planning and realisation of projects are all part of our range of services. Workshops, seminars and individual consulting on photography-related subjects complete laif core’s offer."

Ralph Wentz is the head and eye of RAW, a studio for photography and design based in Cologne, Germany. Ralph works for interior designers, architects, furniture and floor manufacturers and agencies on commission all over Europe.

As the son of a famous German architect Ralph has been around great buildings and interiors his whole life and has wittnessed the process of creating space and structure first hand. As a result, he has developed a deep understanding for the cause and the effect of interior and exterior design and translates that understanding into his pictures.

On commissions Ralph works closely with his customers to get a feel for their vision and objectives. "I try to see what they see, try to understand what they envisioned. In the end it's not about my work, it's about theirs!“

Ralph has a reputation for the clear and precise image, having a long-lasting experience in large format photography. As a designer, Ralph handles most of the set design himself when needed.