Jerry Avenaim (born August 21, 1961) is an American
photographer best known for his
fashion and
celebrity images.
Early life
Avenaim's Jewish parents left Egypt and went to
Paris, France, during the
Suez Canalcrisis in the 1950s and later emigrated to the United States where he was born.[1] As a teenager, Avenaim got his first
camera – an all-manual
35mmExakta that his father had brought over from Paris.[2] He was raised in
Chicago,
Illinois.[3]
In 2003 Avenaim produced a piece for ZugaPhoto.TV discussing "lighting techniques for photographing celebrities".[10] Avenaim appeared on the ZugaPhoto.TV DVD How to Take Great Pictures which was released in 2004.[11] In 2003, Avenaim was at work on a compilation book project of nude portraits titled Naked Truth.[12][13] In 2004 Avenaim led a live photoshoot and workshop at the PhotoImaging & Design Expo (PIDE) in
San Diego, California,[14] and at the 2005 PIDE conference he gave a two-part seminar on his celebrity portrait work and lighting techniques.[15]
J. Walter Thompson agency chose Avenaim to photograph
country music singer
Toby Keith for their 2005 advertising campaign for
Ford trucks and
sport utility vehicles.[16] Avenaim's photograph of
Donald Trump appears on the cover of the 2005 book Donald Trump: Master Apprentice by
Gwenda Blair.[17]Naked Truth was not yet published in 2006, and at the time Avenaim was also working on a book project titled LUMINOSITY: The Fine Art of Photographing Celebrities.[18] Photographer
Rolando Gomez cited a lighting technique he learned from Avenaim in his 2006 book Garage Glamour: Digital Nude and Beauty Photography Made Simple.[19] Avenaim is sponsored as an "Elite Photographer" by
Lexar Media. And a "Master Photographer" by
Mamiya cameras and
Profoto lighting.[20][21][22]
^Gary Bernstein, Gary Ignotofsky (directors) (January 19, 2004). "The Photography Network presents: How to Take Great Pictures". ZugaPhoto.TV. Bela Media.
^Record News Services (February 4, 2003). "Looking Snappy In The Buff". Waterloo Region Record. p. E8.
^"PhotoImaging & Design Expo 2005 Gears Up, Builds on Success of Debut Show: Annual Photo and Imaging Expo Raises the Bar on Industry Conferences and Expositions". Business Wire. Business Wire, Inc. August 9, 2004.
^Studio Photography & Design staff (February 1, 2005). "Conference schedule: Calendar". Studio Photography & Design. Cygnus Business Media.