JEAN-DANIEL LORIEUX

Jean-Daniel Lorieux: Iconic French Fashion Photographer

Jean-Daniel Lorieux, one of the most renowned French fashion photographers of the 20th century, was born in Paris in 1937 into a family of industrialists. Escaping the strict confines of Jesuit education, he found solace in theater and attended drama lessons with René Simon.

However, his cinematic aspirations were interrupted by the Algerian War, during which he was mobilized as a photographer for his military service. This experience of capturing the horrors of war profoundly impacted him, inspiring a desire to create joyful, sunlit photographs filled with love. And he indeed achieved this vision.

Discover the captivating works of Jean-Daniel Lorieux on IGWT.

Jean-Daniel Lorieux, Holidays, Djerba, 1980

Jean-Daniel Lorieux: Capturing Paradise and Elegance in Fashion Photography

Jean-Daniel Lorieux transports us to paradisiacal exteriors with his vibrant photography. Starting as an assistant at Studio Harcourt in 1964, he soon became an independent artist, pioneering the use of color in his work. The idyllic islands of the South, from the Maldives to the Seychelles, became his open-air studios, where he sought out sun, light, and joy.

At a time when models were emerging as stars, Lorieux directed them for leading fashion magazines. Esteemed fashion houses like Cardin, Lanvin, Céline, Dior, and Paco Rabanne enlisted his talent.

The Lorieux style is characterized by its sensuality, a hint of provocation, and an element of chic. His photographs are idyllic, often unexpected, blending eroticism with happiness. The joyful sensuality and provocative humor in his work, combined with his use of vibrant colors, elevate his exceptional models. Iconic figures such as Claudia Schiffer, Stéphanie Seymour, Sharon Stone, and Frank Sinatra have all posed for his lens.

Jean-Daniel Lorieux, Givenchy, Hôtel du Cap, 1992

Jean-Daniel Lorieux: Beyond Fashion Photography

Jean-Daniel Lorieux’s talents extended beyond fashion photography, as he created numerous portraits of notable personalities who sought his compassionate perspective. His close friendship with Jacques Chirac, whom he met in Antibes in 1987, led to Lorieux conducting Chirac’s visual campaign for the 1988 legislative elections. Additionally, inspired by his encounter with Andy Warhol, he experimented with pop-art painting.

In 2008, Lorieux embarked on an ambitious project: narrating Bulgakov’s The Master and Margarita through photography, featuring Isabelle Adjani.

Today, Jean-Daniel Lorieux is celebrated for revolutionizing fashion photography. His joyful, positive, and unexpected images have left an indelible mark on the industry.

Jean-Daniel Lorieux, Dior, 2009

Jean-Daniel Lorieux: Exhibitions and Recognitions

Exhibitions:

Nag Gallery, Paris, France, 2019
Cannes Film Festival, Cannes, France, 2016
Fashion & Celebrity by Willy Rizzo and Jean-Daniel Lorieux, Shanghai, China, 2016
Photofairs Shanghai, Shanghai, China, 2015
French Institute Alliance Française (FIAF), New York, United States, 2014
Shanghai Photo, Shanghai, China, 2014
Palais des Festivals, Cannes, France, 2012
Le Maître et Marguerite, Moscow Museum of Modern Art, Moscow, Russia, 2007
Festival of International Fashion Photography, Jean-Daniel Lorieux, Cannes, France, 2005
Palais des Congrès de Paris, Paris, France, 2003
Hotel de Ville, Paris, France, 1991

Photographic Awards and Decorations:

First Prize at the Festival of International Fashion Photography, Cannes, 2005
Knight of the Legion of Honour, 2003
Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters, 1997

Selection of Books:

Sunstroke, 2014
Coconuts, with Jean-François Leroy, Love Me Tender, 1982
Total Screen, with Irène Frain, Éditions du May, 2001
Portraits, with Marc Lambron, Éditions Michel Lafon, 2004
Confidences d’un Voleur d’Instants, preface by Marc Lévy, Éditions Michel Lafon, 2008

Museums and Collections: