From an early age, Dirk Bader immersed himself in the pages of Vogue, captivated by the world he discovered within. The desire to create and be part of it led him to study design. After graduating as a communication designer, he focused on photography, learning from the best.

He trained alongside legendary photographer David LaChapelle for nearly three years, as well as with Peter Lindbergh, Albert Watson, and Patrick Demarchelier, before launching his own career. His passion for beautiful light and bold colours was shaped during those formative years.

Dirk’s work has been published in magazines and has attracted clients from around the world. He is a five-time ADC Annual Award winner and was awarded Gold at the Prix de la Photographie, Paris. With his personal work, he held his first art show at the Leica Gallery Salzburg.

After developing his skills as assistant of legendary photographers like David LaChapelle, Peter Lindbergh, Albert Watson and Patrick Demarchelier among others, Dirk Bader started his own path.

Having trained with analog photography under those legends, his impeccable lighting certainly is a result of those early years. Also his sensible use of color and careful composition can be traced back to his defining years in New York.

Since then his beauty and fashion work has been appreciated by clients around the world including Saatchi&Saatchi, Grey, Leo Burnett, Braun, Gillette, Betty Barclay and Ferrari among others. Recent editorial publications include Vogue, Elle and Marie Claire.

Title: Part of an editorial titled 'Merry Me', for Viva Monaco Magazine.

Location: The Dolder Grand, Zurich.

"The Dolder Grand in Zurich is known for its extraordinary art collection. Some of these art pieces were used as background or location, but we mixed it with other more common spots in and around the hotel.

Our intention was to make these 'regular' spots look like they were art as well, simply by how we orchestrated the model around them.

This image is one of those self-created art pieces."

Dirk's admiration for classical paintings can frequently be seen in his work. He believes in approaching each project individually, finding the visual language it needs to express and speak to its audience, while still letting his own artistic DNA shine through. This reflects in the wide range of clients he has attracted around the world.

His work has been published in magazines like Vogue (India, Arabia, Mexico), Harper's Bazaar, Elle and L'Officiel. His commercial clients include Procter&Gamble, Braun, Gillette, Pantene Pro V, Astor, Head&Shoulders, Oral-B and Ferrari.

Dirk is a five-times ADC Annual Award winner and was awarded silver at the Prix de la Photography Paris. With his personal work he had his first art show at the Leica Gallery in Salzburg.

From an early age Dirk immersed himself in the pages of Vogue, amazed by the world he found in there. The wish to create and be a part of it led him to study design.

After graduating as a communication designer he focused on photography learning from the best. At first as assistant of legendary photographer David LaChapelle for nearly three years before working alongside Peter Lindbergh, Albert Watson and Patrick Demarchelier among others. After that Dirk launched his own career. 

He believes in approaching each project individually, finding the visual language it needs to speak to its audience while still letting his own artistic DNA shine through. This reflects in the wide range of clients he has attracted around the world.

His work has been published in magazines like Vogue (India, Arabia, Mexico), Harper's Bazaar, Elle, and L'Officiel and his commercial clients include Grey, Saatchi & Saatchi, Leo Burnett, Procter&Gamble, Braun, Gillette,  Pantene Pro V, Astor, Head & Shoulders, Oral-B, and Ferrari.

Dirk is represented by Avenger Photographers.

Dirk Bader is a beauty and fashion photographer based in Munich. He started his career with David LaChapelle, Peter Lindbergh, Albert Watson and Patrick Demarchelier and still profits from this experience when handling large productions and working under pressure.

His work shows technical perfection with attention to detail, without losing the sensitivity to the moment he captures. Dirk is passionate about lighting and it shows in each of his flawlessly composed images. It comes without surprise that beauty is one of his strengths although his work does not stop there.

He recently discovered a love of shooting on location which he is happy to explore for editorial and advertising clients alike. Those include Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, L’Officiel, Pantene, Head and Shoulders, Misslyn, Harvey Nichols and others.