Today we’d like to introduce you to Francois Robert.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
In 1979, I decided to switch career from graphic designer to full-time professional photographer. I open immediately my own photo studio and started to photograph for Fortune 500 company (IBM, Coca-Cola, Herman Miller, The Chicago Board of Trade, Chicago Magazine, BP, The Medical School of Yale) Those companies gave me the great opportunity to travel the world. In 1988, I received a phone call from Deborah Rethemeyer (Catalogue director of Crate&Barrel) asking me if I would be interested to photograph the 1989 Summer Catalogue on location in Florida. We end up developing a great relationship as well with Sandro Franchini, (design director) and Barbara Turf (second in command) that lasted until the end of 1999 after photographing many more catalogs and ads. In 2000, I close my studio because I find out it is easier to rent a space when you needed one. In 2006, I received another interesting phone call from an outstanding company call Unison Home run by a dynamic couple Alicia Rosauer and Robert Segal (Robert who happen to be the son of Gordon & Carole Segal who started Crate&Barrel), we work together and their great team until the end of 2016. During that period, I also had the great pleasure to work with Interface Americas and Bentley PrinceStreet with Russ Ramage creative art director and Troscan Design & Furnitures with Deirdre Jordan creative director and co-owner.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has been a smooth road because I have been very lucky with all the assignments I received with the creative community between New York, L.A., and Chicago.
What else should we know about your work?
Being a professional and fine art photographer gives me an extra edge when I have to solve a visual problem. My clients come to me because they trust my creative experience in term of composition and lighting. I am also represented as a fine art photographer by Hammer Gallery in Chicago, Etherton Gallery in Tucson and Sherry Leedy Contemporary Art in Kansas City. Received best of fine art from the Lucie Awards in 2008 out of 18.000 entries for my series: “Stop the Violence”
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I grew up in Switzerland in a medium size town for my country and I am the youngest of three boys. I was always surrounded with creative people (painters, actors, photographers, activists). The Robert brothers were well known among the teachers to be a bunch of jokesters and to watch after them. My first job after art school was for Pirelli company in Milan Italy.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.francoisrobertphotography.com
- Phone: 602-617-2867
- Email: icuc@me.com
- Instagram: @francoisrobertphotography
Image Credit:
© Francois ROBERT
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
