J. KONRAD SCHMIDT

Konrad, a professional photographer & visual consultant, was born in the same year George Orwell famously wrote about and Steve Jobs introduced the groundbreaking “Macintosh.” Raised in a family of architects in Germany, he was immersed from an early age in a world of design, structure, and creativity.

After finishing school, he seized the opportunity to unite his greatest passions: compelling photography, refined aesthetics, and meaningful collaboration. He completed his photography studies with distinction and, since 2010, has been working as an independent photographer based in Berlin.

His work takes him across the globe, capturing images for international clients as well as pursuing his own artistic projects.

photo by PER SCHORN

Konrad’s work is recognized for its unique blend of timeless elegance, raw perfection, and an unflinching eye for the human experience.

In his personal projects and published books, J. Konrad Schmidt often turns to analog black-and-white photography—a deliberate choice that allows him to tell powerful, intimate stories through imagery.

Away from the lens, Konrad surrounds himself with the quiet rituals of fine tea and piano-based music.

 

 

photo by Christian Klant on 8×10 Inch Film

Current Show: “POWERFUL” at LEICA Gallery, Munich

“Konrad ist ein Kerl, der das, was er macht, gerne richtig machen will und nicht nur mit dem halben Arsch!”

Eva Padberg

Books

  • “HÔTEL NOIR II”
    All analog, all black and white & strictly limited.
    Published in September 2024.
    ORDER HERE: https://shop.jkonradschmidt.com
  • “HÔTEL NOIR”
    All analog, all black and white & strictly limited.
    Published in November 2019.
    Won the German Photo Book Award 2020 in Gold.
    ONLY A FEW COPIES LEFT
    ORDER HERE: https://shop.jkonradschmidt.com

German Photo Book Award 2020 in Gold for “HÔTEL NOIR” • Photo by Klaus Mellenthin

Solo Exhibitions

  • CURRENTLY ON VIEW:
    “Powerful” at LEICA Gallery
    Maffeistraße 4, 80333 München

    April 17th, 2026 till July 18th, 2026
  • “HÔTEL NOIR II” – La grande Soirée
    at “Chaussee36 Photography Foundation”

    Berlin · 2026
  • “HÔTEL NOIR” · Capitis Gallery
    Hamburg · 2022
  • Wunderwelten Festival · Open Air Exhibition
    Friedrichshafen · 2017
  • Fotogipfel Oberstdorf 2017
    “The modern woman image of Europe”
    Festival patron is Ellen von Unwerth

    Oberstdorf · 2017
  • Art After Work #10 at prolab Stuttgart
    Stuttgart · 2016
  • Solo show for “Mercuri Urval”
    Not public · Dresden
    Dresden · 2016
  • “Just one Shot”
    M6 Gallery “Farbwerke”
    Hamburg · 2012

Hôtel Noir II • La Grande Soirée • The opening night film • Berlin 2026

The opening night of the LEICA Gallery show in Munich

Back-to-Back with film

Film and still photography are increasingly converging, blurring the lines between motion and moment.

In recent years, I’ve worked closely alongside film productions, contributing to major projects in Los Angeles, Barcelona, Cape Town, Scotland, Las Vegas, Switzerland, Johannesburg, Slowenia, Venice, Norway, Vienna, etc.

During these productions, I created ATL campaigns, artwork stills, CGI-images, social media assets, classic film stills and audio interviews

Some of the film production companies, I worked with in the past:

2.0 Film
24/7
27km
27lis
ANORAK
Chelsy
e+p Films
Hochkant
Knitterfisch
Mandarin
media.monks
The Mill
The Shooting Gallery
Simply Stellar
Sterntag
TPFilm
Weird Pictures
…and many more

TISAX® assessment result is available on the ENX Portal

photo by PER SCHORN

Group Exhibitions

  • “HÔTEL NOIR II” · Art Photo Salon IV
    UNESCO® World Heritage “Mathildenhöhe”
    Darmstadt · 2026
  • “HÔTEL NOIR II” · Art Photo Salon III
    Heussenstamm Galerie
    Frankfurt/Main · 2025
  • “HÔTEL NOIR II” · Art Photo Salon II
    Barlach Halle K, Hamburg

    Hamburg · 2025
  • “HÔTEL NOIR II” · Art Photo Salon I
    UNESCO® World Heritage “Mathildenhöhe”

    Darmstadt · 2025
  • Fotosommer Stuttgart · Galerie Schacher
    Stuttgart · 2024
  • BFF Aufschlag 15 
    Hamburg  · 2024
  • BFF “Triebwerk 5” Berlin
    for the European Month of Photography at “Chaussee36”
    Berlin  · 2023
  • 37th AOP Photography Awards Exhibition
    London/UK · 2022
  • BFF “Triebwerk 4” Berlin
    Open Air at Brandenburger Tor, Berlin
    Berlin · 2020
  • 36th AOP Photography Awards Exhibition
    London/UK · 2020
  • BFF “50 years anniversary exhibition” in Hamburg, Berlin & Stuttgart
    Hamburg, Berlin & Stuttgart · 2019
  • “Black”· BFF exhibition at photokina 2018
    with Walter Schels, Uwe Düttmann, Christian von Alvensleben and others
    Cologne · 2018
  • “Triebwerk 3” Berlin X Polaroid Originals
    Galerie Albrecht, Berlin-Mitte
    Berlin · 2017
  • 34th AOP Photography Awards Exhibition
    London/UK · 2017
  • JUMP#4 at the Düsseldorf PhotoWeekend 2017
    with Peter Lindbergh, Oliviero Toscani among others
    Düsseldorf · 2017
  • “Black”· BFF exhibition af photokina 2016
    with Peter Lindbergh and others
    Cologne · 2016
  • L’homage to F. C. Gundlach
    presented at the “Spinnerei Rundgang” in Leipzig
    Leipzig · 2016
  • Pre-Exhibition for the CHRISTIE’s charity auction
    Timmendorfer Strand · Neustadt/Holstein · 2016
  • fotofever
    MUSÉE DU LOUVRE · Paris
    Paris/France · 2015
  • 32nd AOP Photography Awards Exhibition
    London/UK · 2015
  • “The day will come, when photography becomes slow again”
    at the Bucerius Law School Hamburg as part of the triennial of photography 2015 in association with the ZEIT Stiftung
    Hamburg · 2015
  • Mercedes-Benz me Store
    “Month of Photography”
    Hamburg · 2015
  • fotofever
    MUSÉE DU LOUVRE · Paris

    Paris/France · 2014
  • Fujifilm trade show exhibition
    Photokina fair
    Cologne · 2014
  • PHOTO-SOIREÉ “Highlights” at “Das weiße Haus”
    in association with AUDI, Hasselblad and Sutor Bank
    Hamburg · 2013
  • DAS WESENTLICHE · LEICA exhibition
    Photokina
    Cologne · 2012
  • LEICA “COZY UP!” · Berlin Fashion Week
    Exhibition at RECOM ART showroom
    launched by LEICA Camera AG
    Berlin · 2011
  • Photography in a time before the film
    together with his BFF colleague
    Esther Haase at the triennial of photography
    Hamburg · 2011
  • LEICA trade show exhibition
    Photokina
    Cologne · 2010
  • ADC Junior Award exhibition
    Munich · 2008
  • the perfect shape
    atrium of the IHK Munich
    Munich · 2008
  • 7th international photo-triennial
    Franciscan church
    Esslingen / Stuttgart · 2007

photo by LEILA IVARSSON

A rare making of from the “HÔTEL NOIR” project shot by Leila Ivarsson

Content Authenticity Initiative Member

Awards

  • IPA Awards · Honorable Mention · Professional · 2024
  • Prix de la Photographie Paris · Professional Portraiture / Personality · Silver · 2024
  • ADC Awards · Auszeichnung · Photography · 2023
  • 2x Prix de la Photographie Paris · Professional Advertising & Fashion · 2x Gold · 2022
  • AOP Awards London · Best Lifestyle · 2021
  • German Photo Book Award · Gold for “HÔTEL NOIR” · 2020
  • AOP Awards London · Best Fashion · 2020
  • IPA Awards · Honorable Mention · 2019
  • Preis für Popkultur · For the work with musician Sam Vance Law · 2018
  • 2x AOP Awards London · Best Fashion · 2017
  • 1x AOP Awards London · Best Portrait · 2017
  • Prix de la Photographie Paris · Self-Portrait · Bronze · 2017
  • BFF-Magazine Award “Merrit” · 2017
  • AOP Awards London · Best Fashion · 2015
  • 200 Best Ad Photographers Worldwide · 2015
  • Adobe® Influence Partner · 2014
  • BFF Jahrbuch Award “Silver” · 2011
  • Lazi Academy Award · 2009
  • Hasselblad Masters · Semi-Finalist · 2008
  • Rodenstock Photoaward · 2008
  • Lazi Academy Award · 2008
  • Photo Competence Partner Award · 2008

Member of the honorable DGPh – Deutsche Gesellschaft für Photographie e.V.