people & lifestyle photography + motion Oct 2018

A12 Team is a photography and production company based in Poland, working internationally for clients and agencies. Founded by Marcin Biedroń in 2004, the company provides full production service from brief and budgeting to location scouting, casting, crews, equipment rental, photography and retouching of final images.

The small team specialises in advertising, fashion and commercial shoots giving clients full service production without big agency fees - but with the same results!

The portfolio speaks for itself.

Alicia Stepp is an internationally published and award-winning fashion, beauty and lifestyle photographer.

Her career in photography began in 2007 after 10 years working in graphic design, where she developed and honed her bold, clean and colourful design sensibility.

Alicia's energetic images are a reflection of her own fun and inspiring personality on set.

In this Spotlight, Christoph show us his images that have won recent awards, magazine editorials as well as this summer's campaigns.

Thanks to his series of portraits for BEEF magazine he has been selected by Lürzers Magazine as one of the 200 best Advertising Photographers worldwide in 2018/19. A title that was awarded to him already in 2012/13.

A film he made for the Loki Schmidt Foundation has won Christoph a golden palm at the International Deauville Green Awards. In just over 60 seconds, the film shows the work of the this environmental foundation, translated into symbolic scenes.

Christoph has also photographed the cover of the first issue for the new German magazine Gute Jahre.

Finally, he includes a personal project, "A day at the sea" which captures a couple as they spend a long beautiful summer on the beach in a series of emotive scenes.

Detlef Schneider is a freelance photographer based in Munich and London. He regularly works for sport and lifestyle fashion brands such as Adidas, On, Camel Active, Tom Tailor and Deichmann across both stills and moving images.

His latest film and photo projects were for Camel Active in Munich and Bowers & Wilkins in London.

Detlef is represented by Kathrin Hohberg.

Dominik Mentzos enjoys switching between different fields of photography: “I enjoy the challenge of having to adjust to the various locations my job provides me with.“

Having studied architecture, creating a sense of space and depth is an important part of his photography. Whether he is working with available or artificial light, Dominik enjoys developing the set to create a true stage for his performers.

Dominik continues to regularly work with dancers, as seen in the two images featurd in this Spotlight for the Dresden Frankfurt Dance Company. Also featured in this Spotlight are visuals from recent image campaigns for Deutsche Bank, Mercedes-Benz Rental, Enercity and Lufthansa, a long-term client for over 14 years.

Other recent clients include Condor, Emirates, Hoya, Hugo Boss, The Forsythe Company, ABB / Busch-Jaeger, Nespresso, Deutsche Bahn, ARD, Telekom, Sony, Nintendo, Leptien/Pesch, Commerzbank, MasterCard, PWC and SchumacherFashion.

Dominik is based out of his own studio in Frankfurt and is represented by Severin Wendeler in Hamburg.

Santa Barbara-based photographer Erin Feinblatt has been specialising in lifestyle, architectural, and food photography and videography for over 10 years. As a California native and life-long surfer, he has an authentic approach to documenting surf and beach lifestyles and a particular affinity for shooting in and under water.

Having worked as a wildlife biologist prior to graduating from Brooks Institute of Photography, Erin merges his acute observational skills with technical proficiency to produce images that are genuine and timeless.

Erin shoots for commercial, editorial, and advertising clients worldwide. Some of his clients have included Dwell Magazine, Fox Sports, The Great Big Story, Hollister Co., Lancôme, Men's Journal, Mini, National Geographic, Outside Magazine, Patagonia, Poler, Popular Mechanics, Reef, Roxy, Sanuk, Sonos, Teva, The Surfers Journal, Travel Channel, and Westways Magazine.

Visit his website and Instagram to see his most recent work and email him to discuss collaborating on your next project.

Henrik Knudsen is an award-winning photographer who was born in Denmark and studied computer science and mathematics before graduating from Art College and relocating to London.

Henrik’s client list include Canon, Samsung, Bombay Sapphire, Virgin HMI, BT, McDonald’s and HSBC as well as magazines such as The Smithsonian, Elle Decoration, Der Spiegel and Destinations. He has also shot many charity campaigns and projects for various UK Government departments. His most recent campaign is the high profile reveal of the new 'Doctor Who' for the BBC - Jodie Whittaker.

Henrik’s emotive use of light is inspired by his interest in film and cinema. He likes mixing natural and artificial light, always with the aim of telling stories of people and their environment.

Henrik has won numerous awards over the years including Association of Photographers, PDN, American Photography, Art Director’s Club and Campaign. He has also been a finalist in the National Portrait Gallery Photographic Portrait Prize.

Born in Mauritius, Ian and Erick found their passion for photography around the water and since then travelled around the world capturing amazing lifestyle, portraiture and action sport photographs. With their vast experience locally, abroad and overseas, they know what it takes to get the shots in a high pressure environment.

Ian and Erick love taking photographs of the youth culture, the cool people and the people with character. As Ian describes it, “ A great picture is a great team of people working together.” Their photos are all about great composition and clever lighting.

Clients include The Works, M&C Saatchi, Host, JWT, Cummins & Partners and others. They have worked on ad campaigns including Wild Turkey, Bolle Sunglasses, Sky Vodka, RAC, Red Bull, Decathlon, Rip Curl, Bankwest, Lululemon, Shell, Hurley and Woodside. Their photos have appeared in National Geographic, The New York Times, Free Sport (France), Action Asia, Tiger Airways Magazine and The Wall Street Journal, to name a few.

Their artistic work has ben exposed in galleries in NY, Paris, Hong Kong, Sydney, Perth and Mauritius.

Ian & Erick are represented by Flipp.

“I’m lucky enough to practice my passion for a living. Photography is something I was immediately drawn to when I was a child, and now as an adult I still get that child-like exhilaration from creating imagery that moves and inspires others.”

A commercial photographer since 1993, Jim Flynn mainly shoots advertising images across a number of different fields, including medical, technology, insurance, and finance. His work regularly appears in local, regional, and national publications, including Time, Newsweek, and The Wall Street Journal.

He has served on the National Board of Directors for the American Society of Media Photographers, and has been a member of the association since 1995. He was proudly elected to the Art Institute of Colorado Alumni Hall of Fame in 2002.

Johannes Knuth is a multi-award-winning photographer and director. His story-telling images are all about life, candid moments and people's dreams.

Johannes is driven by a passion for the decisive moment. Clients around the globe appreciate his unique emotional documentary style; all techniques and lighting skills he uses support a naturally distinctive look and feel.

Whether photo, film or both at once, Johannes teams up with the best experts to realize any great idea. Clients trusting his skills for national and global ad campaigns include Arena, Generali, Huawei, Volkswagen, Samsung, Philip Morris, Otto, E.on, Procter&Gamble, Siemens and Sony Music.

Johannes has received accolades at Paris Photo, American Photography and Latin American awards, Triennieal of Photography in Hamburg and is poised to become “One of the industry’s most talented artists and creatives” (American Photography jury).

He is represented by Nitrox Artists Management.

"When I was young, my sister taught me how to use her SLR camera, and I was instantly hooked. I loved the light meter moving as I changed aperture or shutter-speed. I loved the feel of cranking film through the camera and the sound of the shutter opening and closing.

Now I make lifestyle work, portraits, and all kinds of other pictures and moving pictures for clients all over the world. Every picture is a chance for the subject, audience, client, and myself to relate. That is my favourite part of doing this work.

When I am not making pictures, I am hanging out with my brilliant wife. We play cribbage, talk about the world, go for walks, make great food, work on our garden, and play with our two crazy cats. I also love running and biking and I still skate.

Thanks for making the time to look at my work. I enjoy any chance I get to talk to folks about this incredible work that we make. I am really lucky to have worked with such great collaborators, and I would love to work with you!

Clients Include Target, Belize Tourism, Politico, VSA, mono, Outside Magazine, Arnold Worldwide, US Bank, United Health Care, Colle + McVoy, BMO, Harris, Century Link, OLSON, Carmichael, Lynch, Sappi Fine Paper, Schells Brewing, Metropolis Magazine and Major League Baseball."

"I am a people and lifestyle photographer based in London and shooting around the world for global brands including Hilton, Four Seasons, Club Med, GSK and Unilever.

This year shoots have taken me to the ski slopes of Hokkaido, the beaches of Sydney, and the skyscrapers of Dubai. I work with professional talent and real people to create fresh and natural feeling pictures with a strong aesthetic.

On shoots I bring a great combination of professionalism and good humour to get the best out of everyone on the set and deliver great pictures and motion for my clients."

"My name is Lucian McAfee and I am a commercial still and motion photographer and director who adores people. I love collaboration, technical endeavors, and can uncover beauty in anything.

Working alone has so many rewards, but it's exciting to assemble a team of outstanding people with diverse backgrounds to accomplish what none of us could do alone.

My commercial photography practice draws upon a long background in advertising and acting. I put forth great effort into the planning and preparation for a project so that when the camera is out of the bag, we may freely harness spontaneity and the inevitable magic of the moment.

Let’s make big plans, have a great time, and wrap with images better than we imagined, it’s so much fun!

Clients include ESPN, AT&T, Speed Stick, Bic Razors, Patron and Weber, among others."

Michael Heinsen has once again worked for clients Miele and Lloyd.

Miele has introduced an innovative wine fridge with integrated Sommelier Set that satisfies the needs of every wine connoisseur. Michael realised the campaign using a high quality combination of photo, film and gif animations.

With the current autumn/winter collection, Lloyd celebrates 50 years of the red stripe. Michael realised the campaign through authentic and lively pictures and videos.

In both campaigns, Michael shows his specialty of credible, atmospheric and high quality lifestyle, people and portrait photography. His film lighting is well suited for the parallel realisation of videos.

Michael Müller is an international photographer, particularly renowned for working in only natural light situations without using any technical aids.

His customer base includes well known ad agencies and companies in the sports, people and lifestyle industries from across the globe. He accompanies clients from the initial idea and conception through to production and post-production in order to achieve the best results.

Michael is supported by a strong team of cinematographers and assistants who share the same passion for photography.

Nick Hall is a US and UK-based ‘big picture’ photographer and director. He is known for his panoramic, high definition landscapes and lifestyle images.

His career has seen him work on large-scale productions in the UK and abroad for clients including Canon, American Airlines and Citi Bank. His personal projects take him to the world’s rugged environments to document their impressive landscapes and the communities that live alongside them.

Nick’s captivating images have seen him feature in Luerzer's Archive's '200 Best Ad Photographers Worldwide', win an International Photography Award, and regularly appear in the PDN Photo Annual.

"It’s too bad that this side of you can’t be seen by everyone.“ These words, taken from the band Texas is the Reason, perfectly describe what Frankfurt-based photographer, Per Schorn, captures with his camera.

With more than 10 years' experience in people and lifestyle photography and his great passion for lighting set-ups, today Per works for clients including ZDF, Continental, Fitness First and Flyeralarm. He also realises his own personal projects.

Per knows how to show the special side of a person through portraiture as well as when to catch that perfect moment.

Per Schorn is represented by Marion Enste-Jaspers in Germany.

Ross Woodhall is a UK-based action and lifestyle photographer working on location globally. Here’s what some of his recent clients have had to say about working with him:

"I have worked with Ross on various projects over the years and he always goes above and beyond to make sure the end results are exactly what I need. The most recent job he did for me was an e-commerce shoot which he smashed out of the park. He is reliable, professional, creative and easy to work alongside, highly recommended!" Jim Adlington, Founder, Planks Clothing.

"Our first time working with Ross and we’re very satisfied with the handling and result of our shoot. We look forward to working with Ross again soon." Paul Coleman, Founder, Cab 9 Eyewear.

Stefanie Parkinson is a commercial and editorial photographer based in Los Angeles. Drawing on a fine arts background with an emphasis on painting and early photo processes, as well as years of experience as a model, Stefanie has cultivated a distinctive perspective that examines the duality of her subjects - the bold with the vulnerable, the expressive with the enigmatic.

Known for her technique, collaborative leadership, and creative intuition, Stefanie’s work delivers an elevated aesthetic focused on evoking a sense of human connection. Some notable projects include Google, Eddie Bauer, Verizon Wireless, Dannon, E! Entertainment for New York Fashion Week and The Limited. Her work has been featured in LA Magazine, The Hollywood Reporter, CBS Los Angeles, Elite Daily, US Weekly, Pop Sugar, and The Huffington Post.

Photographer Steve Mason has been shooting advertising, fashion, and travel since the 90s, delivering creative solutions to the world's largest advertising and branding agencies.

Specialising in lifestyle and active lifestyle, Steve's authentic and emotional images capture life as it should be: relaxed, honest and casual. Working in lifestyle photography is about storytelling. A career spent telling his clients' story in stills and motion has yielded fresh, colourful and natural images, elevating the brands he represents.

Splitting time between the US and Asia, Steve prides himself on creative collaboration. Projects with Steve have no drama, headaches, or raised voices. His sets are fun and creative environments that bring concepts to reality.

Clients include Holland America, Sunbrella, Pendelton, Woolrich, Wrangler Jeans, Eddie Bauer, REI, Home Depot, Fila and Fruit of the Loom.

Follow him on Instagram or visit his website.