MICHEL HADDI "The King of Snappers"

About Michel Haddi:

Michel Haddi, born in Paris in 1956 is a French artist who has been practicing since the 1970s. He is the only child of a French soldier he has never met and his mother Halima Haddi, an Algerian of Turkish, Moroccan and Berber origin. Michel spends several years in a Catholic orphanage, the Sisters of St. Vincent de Paul in Paris while Halima is employed in a chic Parisian hotel. The hotel guests often leave fashion magazines behind and Halima gives them to Michel. The copies of Vogue magazine fascinated him; the lives of the rich and famous fascinated him and photography, always photography fascinated him. Michel's career began at the age of 18 when he fell in love with a photo by Helmut Newton that was on the cover of Vogue. He then had two jobs: the first, as a waiter in a famous gay restaurant, gave him the opportunity to see all the stars of the moment when they came to have a drink, and the second, as a night watchman at the Hotel des Bains gave him a lot of free time to think about what he really wanted to do with his life. His dream is to leave Paris and become a photographer.

His dreams will come true and Michel ' The King of snappers" will dedicate himself to photography for more than 40 years. He will also be an illustrator, editor and director. Hundreds of collaborations with the most renowned magazines and the biggest brands and a book retracing his career published in 2020: ''Anthology'' immortalizing 400 mythical portraits. Michel Haddi is part of the small number of photographers who manage to transform simple photos into true artistic creations. He distinguishes himself by the complicity and intimacy he creates with his subjects. His photos are intense and poetic and adorn the walls of many collectors.