The Mediterranean feels like a place where time slows just enough for you to notice everything — the shimmer of sunlight dancing across the water, the warmth of salt air on your skin, the gentle rhythm of waves carrying stories that have travelled for thousands of years.

At the northern heart of this timeless landscape sits 7 Seas Productions, based in Nice on the Côte d’Azur. From there, their work stretches across Italy and Spain — from Portofino to Menton, from St. Tropez to the stone-lined beauty of Peratallada in Catalunya.

For more than twenty years, they have explored every corner with care and curiosity — turning over every stone, discovering extraordinary villas and mansions, and searching cities, villages, and coastal towns for the perfect perspective, the ideal backdrop, the most welcoming town hall granting just the right permit.

Their locations have framed productions for Zimmermann, Massimo Dutti, Mercedes, Zara, Ducati, and Saks Fifth Avenue — to name only a few. With an exceptional and ever-growing location database, they are able to thoughtfully pre-select settings that bring creative visions to life.

Ben & Martin, aka BAM, are a Germany-based duo of photographers and directors specialising in lifestyle-driven automotive storytelling. Their images pulse with energy, light-soaked, and seemingly spontaneous, while quietly revealing the precision and planning behind every frame.

Movement and light are core tools in BAM’s visual language, paired with a strong affection for candid portraiture and a refined snapshot aesthetic that feels authentic and lived-in. Working worldwide, they collaborate with leading automotive brands including BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Kia, Volkswagen, Ford, Audi, or Mazda.

Most recently, BAM shot the global launch campaign for the Mazda CX-60e, set to release very soon. Upcoming projects also include the new visual identity campaign for MINI and a secret concert car shoot for Toyota.

Stay tuned.

Leo Rohrsetzer is an advertising photographer working globally. Beyond his work, he is known for creating a relaxed, human atmosphere on set where people feel comfortable and focused. Good tunes are always part of the shoot, helping teams find a natural rhythm and enjoy the process as much as the outcome.

He works with international brands and editorial teams, including Nivea, Avène, Wella, Calvin Klein, Mercedes-Benz, and Cosmopolitan, collaborating with diverse crews across cultures and locations worldwide.

Leo values trust, clear communication, and positive energy, believing that strong images stem from genuine connections between people.

Stefan Hobmaier is a filmmaker and photographer specialising in corporate and industrial storytelling. For more than 20 years, he has worked with agencies and companies to translate brands, technologies, and complex processes into clear, compelling visual narratives.

Based in Berlin and Munich, Stefan produces high-quality video and photography that work seamlessly across platforms - from corporate films and industrial campaigns to executive portraits and employer branding content. A key part of his work is collaborating with real employees in real working environments, creating an atmosphere where people feel comfortable, confident, and genuinely seen. This is how authentic company imagery is created: Visuals that teams identify with and organisations are proud to share.

Supported by a trusted creative network, he delivers seamless full-service productions from concept to completion.

His clients include Audi, BMW, Porsche, Siemens Healthineers, Siemens Energy, MAN, Bosch, Intel, Google, and numerous international B2B brands and agencies.

Frank Reinhold delivers visual storytelling for annual reports and strategic corporate communications. With an eye for clean lines and authentic portraits, he translates complex identities into a clear and high-end visual language.

Having worked on location in over 50 countries across all continents, Frank brings a global perspective and absolute reliability to every production. He supports agencies and organisations in making excellence visible – providing consistent quality regardless of the location.

Clients include: Ball Packaging, BASF, Canada Life, Commerzbank, Deka-Bank, Deutsche Bundesbank, DHL, Dorma, Elopak, eBay, Fidelity Investment, FLSmidth, GEA, Hapag-Lloyd, KHS, KGAL, Lanxess, OLB-Bank, RheinEnergie, Santander Bank, SGL Carbon, SMA-Solar, SMS-group, Tetra Pak, UPS, Vaillant, Villeroy & Boch, and Vodafone.

For nearly two decades, elbmodels has stood for a broader, more authentic vision of beauty and talent. For 19 years, they have been representing models whose age begins where other agencies draw the line. Today, elbmodels is proud to be Germany’s leading model agency for best agers and senior models, redefining standards and celebrating experience, character, and presence.  

"Our focus has always been on people — real personalities with real stories.
That’s why, three years ago, we launched elbcasting, our Casting & People division. Built on the strong values of the elbmodels brand, elbcasting expands our services to meet the evolving needs of modern communication and advertising."  

elbcasting represents real people. Faces with character. Individuals with a slightly crooked nose, a gap between their teeth, or an edgy look — just like life itself: imperfect, flawed, unpredictable, and therefore truly exciting.

With offices in Hamburg and Munich, elbmodels and elbcasting connect experienced professionals with outstanding newcomers. We provide tailored solutions for every production, offering access to exceptional talent from Germany and around the world.

elbmodels & elbcasting: Where every story finds the right face.

Schnabel is a singular voice in contemporary photography – and he keeps it that way.

Perfectly comfortable shooting high-end global campaigns, equally happy on editorial assignments, and just as likely to disappear on his own with a camera into places like Eastern Greenland. He follows curiosity, not convention. Instinct first. Formula never.

That freedom is exactly why his work keeps energising clients, collaborators and collectors who appreciate photography with space, stillness, and intention. Collaboration with him is enjoyable, rewarding, and refreshingly uncomplicated.

Lately, Schnabel has been focusing strongly on personal work and exhibiting extensively. In this issue, we’re showing a selection of what happens when nobody tells him what to do. For commissioned work, browse his website or our previous magazines.

Lürzer’s Archive lists him among the Top 200 Advertising Photographers worldwide. Recent accolades include an AOP Award and ADC Silver.

Have a brief that’s looking for a distinct point of view? Call Schnabel – or his agents. He’s very into that.

When you work with Andy Räsch, you're not just hiring a photographer—you're gaining a complete production partner dedicated to making your brand stand out. From his 600 m² studio in Karlsruhe, Andy transforms concepts into compelling visual campaigns that capture attention and drive results. Whether you need the controlled perfection of studio work or the authentic energy of on-location shoots, he delivers imagery that tells your brand's story with cinematic impact.

Andy's team handles everything—location scouting, permits, logistics, and on-ground management—so you can focus on your vision while they handle the complexity. With experienced crews and deep local knowledge across southern Germany, your project stays on schedule and on budget.

Working alongside skilled stylists and set builders, Andy creates campaigns that don't just look beautiful: they perform. His approach combines dramatic, scenic lighting with narrative-driven composition to create images that resonate with your audience and elevate your brand positioning.

"Let's discuss how we can bring your next campaign to life. Whether you're launching a new product, refreshing your brand identity, or need standout visuals that convert, I am here to make it happen."

Showcase Germany: the latest news from one of Europe’s leading centres for visual media and advertising.

Welcome to the latest edition of Showcase Germany, highlighting the talent and services shaping the country’s commercial creative industry. This issue features renowned artists’ representatives, photographers, directors, rental studios, a model agency and an AI creative studio.

Inside this edition, discover striking visuals for the new electric BMW, a fresh perspective on political campaigns, bold streetwear that energises the frame, two photographers’ rosters that underline Germany’s strength in the commercial sector, a model agency dedicated to best agers, the largest rental space in Düsseldorf, and more.

Our featured editorial was photographed by Hamburg-based Sophie Daum for KALTBLUT. Working with her team, she crafted an eyewear story that balances cool attitude with refined edge. You can explore more outstanding creatives in our extensive Germany Directory and in previous issues of Showcase Germany.

Don’t miss these events:

Smile! How the Smile Came Into Photography, presented at the Museum Ludwig Photography Rooms in Cologne, examines how our photographic faces have evolved, bringing together anonymous and artistic portraits from the nineteenth to the twenty first century.

The Triennial of Photography Hamburg, one of Europe’s leading photography festivals, returns in June 2026 with exhibitions, talks and site specific projects across the city.

At Gropius Bau in Berlin, Peter Hujar, Liz Deschenes, Persistence of Vision frames Hujar’s New York photographs from the post Stonewall years through the onset of the AIDS crisis, grounding the show in queer life, intimacy, and a community living through profound loss and urgency.

Now celebrating its 11th anniversary, Elegant Elephant is the largest rental space for photo and film in Dusseldorf, offering an irresistible blend of industrial aesthetics, functional spaces, and a vibrant atmosphere.

Spanning an impressive 2,800 square metres, the studio provides ample room for productions across a wide range of industries, from automotive and fashion to portrait photography. Studios range from 90 sqm to expansive areas exceeding 450 sqm.

For those not working behind the lens, there are generously appointed spaces that can be adapted as makeup or fitting rooms, production offices, or comfortable lounge areas, ideal for calls and meetings. In addition, ample space is allocated for catering services, complemented by a sizable coffee bar.

Facilities include a spacious parking area and a large roll up door, making deliveries easy and efficient, even for prototypes or bulky equipment. In short, the studio offers flawless infrastructure for professional photo and film productions.

The studio provides flawless infrastructure for professional photo and film productions, as well as events of all kinds.