Stefan Hobmaier is a freelance photographer based in Berlin and Munich, focusing on portrait, corporate and documentary photography. Agencies, corporate clients and magazines appreciate his authentic, natural and modern imagery that gets people’s attention.
His national and international clients include Audi, BCG, BMW, Osram, Bosch, Hornbach, Intel, Google, H&M, Porsche, Mazda, Siemens or Condé Nast as well as various international clients, agencies, B2B and B2C magazines.
Portrait of a German musician Michael von Muecke titled “Portrait of a blacksmith”, has won Stefan the Corporate & Industrial Photography category of this year’s Spotlight Awards.
Production Paradise: Tell us about the winning image – the idea behind it, how was it shot?
Stefan Hobmaier: The image is part of a reportage which again is part of a series of photo documentaries about young craftsmen who decided to pick up a traditional craft as their profession. They all have a very creative and modern approach and hence make their products successful in our fast moving times.
Production Paradise: How do you feel about winning the Category Prize of Spotlight Awards 2022?
Stefan Hobmaier: I was so very happy when I heard about winning this years Corporate & Industrial award. Besides my deep interest in crafts, I try to support young craftsmen with my images and this kind of appreciation for my work means a lot.
Production Paradise: What makes your photographic style stand out?
Stefan Hobmaier: I try to create honest, authentic and lively images, whether it is a portrait, reportage or recruiting campaign. I like to think that through this natural approach I get people to imagine to be part of the images.
Production Paradise: Where do you draw your inspiration from?
Stefan Hobmaier: From movies, documentaries and photo books mostly. Depending on the task and project I also like to scroll through my collection of links to other photographers websites for inspiration.
Production Paradise: How did you end up behind the lens? Tell us about your career path.
Stefan Hobmaier: After graduation I started working in the film industry as a production assistant and runner in Munich / Germany. At one of my jobs I got to know a photographer who needed an assistant and that’s where my passion to photography started. I have been studying photography and working as an assistant in Barcelona for four years and in 2010 I went back to Munich to start my career as a professional photographer.
Production Paradise: What do you think is necessary to become a successful commercial photographer?
Stefan Hobmaier: Tons of passion, stamina, staying open-minded, working on personal projects, a great team and of course a well planned self-promotion strategy.
Production Paradise: If you weren’t a photographer, what would be your alternate career path?
Stefan Hobmaier: Definitely a carpenter. Or an architect.
Production Paradise: We believe you are not resting on your laurels – what are you working on now?
Stefan Hobmaier: Right now I am working on a personal project containing of a series of documentaries again. This time it won’t only be craftsmen, but also artists and designers. Also, the focus will be on film not photography.
Production Paradise: Spotlight Awards had a judges’ panel composed of potential clients for commercial photographers – did that influence your choice of image(s) selected for your entry?
Stefan Hobmaier: I was quite amazed by the great panel, but I didn’t specifically look for a good fit to the judges’ potential as a future client. In the end I just chose to enter one of my favourite images of the past few years and hoped it would convince the judges too.
Production Paradise: What made you want to participate in these Awards?
Stefan Hobmaier: Usually there are some great photographers participating at the awards and I was curious if I some of my images were good enough to compete.
We would like to thank Stefan for having a time to talk with us and congratulate once again on winning 2022 Spotlight Awards’ Corporate & Industrial Photography category. To know more about his winning image, see his feature in our Awards Spotlight Magazineand make sure to check out his website for more of his great work!
