I am a freelance photographer specializing in fine art and advertising, often fusing the two. I am frequently asked to combine creative visions with commercial assignments, this makes me a versatile professional in various disciplines, especially in conceptualization and high quality and creative photography.
I live with my family in Cologne, Germany, and am always ready to embark on global assignments and adventures, regardless of the size of the project or the composition of the team. Sharing and talking about photography and my way of working is a passion of mine, be it on my podcast Shuttertalk, by speaking at events or by leading workshops.
Photography has been a part of my life since I got my first camera at the age of six from my father. If you’re interested, it was this one. Nowadays I am an internationally booked, exhibited, awarded and published photographer who is happy when a client wants to do something that hundred photographers haven’t done before.
When I’m not behind the lens or in the editing room, I like to cook (on search for the perfect Pasta Amatriciana recipe, if you have one, mail me), brew beer, play guitar, take my old dog for a very slow walk and think about future projects.
WHAT THEY SAY
“Florian W. Mueller’s works are an emotional, spontaneous and intelligent reaction to the overflowing and rich imagery of the present. But that’s not all: his pictures – packed in very aesthetic and beautiful pictures to look at – are commentary, zeitgeist and point of view at the same time.”
Edda Fahrenhorst, curator
“New Era fortifies Porsche’s vision of the future. We highlight the complexities between reality and dreams through the works of commissioned artist, Florian W. Mueller. His series, Multivision, applies his signature abstract style to create multi-layered pieces of superimposed Porsche cars against Shanghai’s cityscape, engaging viewers to unravel the endless possibilities of Porsche.”
Porsche China, Press Release
“… And exactly these blind spots and impossible moments are the essential field of work of Florian W. Müller. All in all, his work is a challenge for the mind and the subconscious. They can be located somewhere between digital collages and conceptual art and make an amazing contribution to contemporary photography.”
Johann Schulz-Sobez, Prince House Gallery
“Photographer Florian W. Mueller has been shuttling around the world through the lens of observation, his passion for art has never receded. Through his works, we can peek into the phenomenon of the re-occurring eternal dynamics… … It is because of this perseverance towards photography art, that he has created masterpieces through his lens.”
Precious Magazine, Hong Kong
“Mueller obliges in revealing the emotional heart of his work, as he skillfully melds moments of mystery and intrigue with flourishes of contrasting colors and the intersecting lines of his superimposed structures.”
Agora Gallery, New York
AWARDS &
RECOGNITIONS
AOP Awards London
3x Gold, 1x Silver, 8x Finalist
BFF Magazine
3x Gold
A’Design Awards Italy
3x Gold, 6x Silver, 2x Bronze
PR Awards Singapore
Silver
AIA LA Awards (American Institute of Architects, Los Angeles)
Honor Award (Highest Category)
200 Best Advertising Photographers worldwide by Luerzer’s Archive
17x Selected
Prix de la Photographie Paris (PX3)
2x Silver, 3x Bronze
Gregor Calendar Awards
Gold (Best Photography Calendar)
Japan Calendar Awards
Bronze
Spotlight Awards
Category Winner (Architecture & Interior)
Sony World Photography Awards
Finalist
Behance
8x Featured (+ 29x featured in “Photography”, etc…)
and maybe some more…
EXHIBITIONS
2024
- “Fauna”, group-exhibition at the 17th “horizonte zingst” environmental photo festival, Zingst, GE
- “Ansichtssache”, group-exhibition, Sep. 6 – Oct 31, Leica Gallery Düsseldorf GE
- “CŪ”, at the YEAST photo festival, Sep 19 – 23, Matino, IT
2023
- “EQUILIBRIUM”, Leica Gallery, solo, Wetzlar, GE
- “Open Space Gallery”, group, Kasernenstraße / Flingerstraße, Duesseldorf, GE
- “Touché – Politiken der Berührung”, group, Chaussee36, Berlin, GE
- “California Dreaming”, group, Porsche Brand Store, Stuttgart, GE
2022
- “Icons of Porsche”, group, Event by Porsche Middle East, Dubai, UAE
- “Von seltenen Wesen und seltsamen Winkeln”, solo, Leica Gallery Stuttgart, GE
- “Drive2Extremes & more”, solo, Deutsches Automuseum, Schloss Langenburg, GE
2021
- “Icons of Porsche”, Event by Porsche Middle East, Dubai, UAE
- “Neglect”, solo, LEICA Gallery, Zingst, GE
- “Look of the City”, group, Photo Beijing, CH
- “FUTURE PERFECT”, group, BFF, Hamburg, GE
- “HOPE”, group, AOP (Association of Photographers), London, UK
- “Aufbruch”, Prince House Gallery, Mannheim, GE
2020
- “Close By” (BFF), European Month of Photography, Berlin, GE
- “Bilder einer Ausstellung”, Prince House Gallery, Mannheim, GE
- “ArtFair Mannheim”, virtuell, online
2019
- “BFF Progressiv – State of the Art”, Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten, Zingst, GE
- “50 Years BFF, Das bleibt”, Stuttgart, Berlin, Hamburg GE
- “AOP Awards”, One Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London, UK
2018
- “Curator’s Choice”, Prince House Gallery, Mannheim, GE
- “Triebwerk: Reverse Forward”, BFF group, Berlin, GE
- “Timeless”, Porsche Exhibition, Shanghai Photofairs, Shanghai, CH
- “Shifting Elements”, Solo-Show, Prince House Gallery, Mannheim, GE
- “Cityscape”, Gallery Blankwall, Athens, GR
- “Utopa International Design Exhibition” in Zhuzhou, CH
- “Portfolio ShowCase”, Center for Fine Art Photography, Fort Collins, CO, USA
RULES I FOLLOW
① Teamwork makes the dream work ➁ Risk it for the Biskit ➂ Let the creatives be creative ➃ Take it easy (stolen from Peter Lindberg) ➄ We’ll get it done!
QUESTIONS I’M ASKED
Yes! With pleasure!
I sell most of my free works in small and strictly limited editions. Some also as NFTs.
You can find out more here.Well, it depends of course.
It depends on the size, of course, and therefore on the print run. The larger, the rarer and therefore more expensive. Some framings are also somewhat more expensive.
Just get in touch, then I come with an offer around the corner…Thank you, that’s a very good question!
I am in the very fortunate situation that clients like to orient themselves on my free and artistic work and commission me to incorporate this artistic and creative touch into their projects. For example, I developed a concept for Porsche China, Multivision Porsche Shanghai with multiple exposures of city views of Shanghai and a vehicle, based on my MULTIVISION series.
The images were shown at Photofairs Shanghai to celebrate Porsche’s 70th anniversary and were a great success.
I often work on these projects as creative director and usually with a small and agile team.Indeed!
It is a so-called “Ensō”, a symbol from Japanese calligraphy. It symbolizes enlightenment, strength, elegance, the universe, but also emptiness.
In Zen Buddhist philosophy, painting the Ensō represents a moment in which consciousness is free and the body and mind are not restricted in their creative process.For me, these are perfect parallels to intuitive and creative photography. It enables serendipity, the finding of motifs that you might not even have been looking for.
Sometimes the circle is closed, sometimes painted open. For me, it is open, as a symbol of the fact that the ensō is not stand-alone, but part of something bigger. Furthermore, the opening can mean that fallibility is an essential and inherent part of existence, or that movement and development as well as the perfection of all things belong together.
Again, a wonderful mirror for photography in my eyes.I painted the Ensō myself with ink on washi paper and it was indeed a long and contemplative process. It took several days and about 150 attempts to paint a circle!
I have a large network of professional, creative and helpful people. From assistants to accompanying filmmakers, production companies or CGI artists. But of course I am also happy to meet new professionals or to work with a crew in another country. They often know their way around better and have good contacts.
I prefer to work in a small team, which helps me to be more agile and work quickly.
In the end, that’s what counts: Teamwork makes the Dream work!
No. Since I rarely need a studio, I don’t need one. I usually work “on location”, mostly with existing light, although lighting can of course also be possible. I also have access to a wonderful network of colleagues and can rent a studio anywhere if necessary.
The answer is a classic “it depends” 😉
It goes without saying that larger advertising jobs, more elaborate productions and intensive preparation cost money.
Before every job, I make a fair calculation and talk transparently about costs.
In the end, photography is not only my passion, but also my profession to earn a living.
So let’s talk about it!
