Bio for photographer Liz Von Hoene, commissioned by
Stockland Martel, 2009
Photograph by Liz Von Hoene
With most photographers, you can pretty much tell what their personality is like from their images. Their style is directly related to their sensibility as people. But in Liz Von Hoene’s case, her photographs do not tell the whole story. The elegance and whimsy you see in them—yes, that comes from Liz. But unless you’ve worked with her, you can’t possibly know about her willingness to try new things creatively. Her generosity and open-mindedness as a collaborator. Her enthusiasm.
Liz shoots for luxury brands like Stuart Weitzman and Neiman Marcus, as well as for companies that have mass appeal but are distinctly style-driven: Target, L’Oreal, Macy’s, and others. To the luxury brands, she brings a touch of playfulness, resulting in images that are both sophisticated and warm. To the mass-appeal brands, she delivers a level of polish that elevates them above the fray. Technically, she is a fashion and beauty photographer, though that’s not how she thinks of herself. “I do not consider myself a fashion shooter.
I am more a conceptual people shooter,” she explains.
In the past year, Liz has been experimenting with video, to great success. While shooting a photo campaign for Neiman Marcus using a Canon 5D Mark II, she decided to explore the camera’s video capabilities. The result was the beguiling short video piece “On Cloud Nine,” which Neiman Marcus promptly posted on its website to announce the arrival of its spring dresses. (The video can also be seen on YouTube.) Liz has been savoring the creative possibilities that moving pictures offer, even as she approaches her filmmaking with the same magic, simplicity, and elegance she brings to her print work.