laif Agentur für Photos & Reportagen

laif Agentur für Photos & Reportagen is an independent German photography and reportage agency founded in 1981 as a photographers' office in the Cologne district of Südstadt. Over more than four decades it has grown into an internationally positioned agency with a dense partner network, representing around 400 photographers worldwide. Its core business is the production and licensing of documentary, reportage and portrait photography, alongside corporate assignments, visual storytelling, portrait shoots and event photography for companies, institutions and foundations. The agency operates a picture archive that combines current reporting, long-term documentary projects and historical image holdings from Germany and around the world, serving editorial desks, publishers and commercial clients. laif positions itself as a premium brand in reportage and portrait photography, with numerous awards won by its photographers, including World Press Photo Awards and Pulitzer Prizes. It works with more than 40 international partners, including publishing syndication for The New York Times and Société du Figaro. laif is owned by the laif Genossenschaft, a cooperative with around 400 members, and its work, together with that of the non-profit laif foundation, supports independent, opinion-forming photojournalism. The agency also runs laif academy and offers full-service photo, video and multimedia production from planning to delivery.

laif was founded in 1981 as a photographers' office in the Cologne district of Südstadt. Over the following decades the agency grew continuously and, after more than 45 years, is now internationally positioned with a dense partner network. It describes itself as an independent agency that makes an important contribution to freedom of opinion and the press, working for an informed society and a strong democracy. Its work and that of the non-profit laif foundation are made possible by the laif Genossenschaft, a cooperative with around 400 members. The agency focuses on photojournalism, capturing people and social, political and historical events, and has become a premium brand in reportage and portrait photography. Its photographers have won numerous awards, including World Press Photo Awards and Pulitzer Prizes. Today laif works with more than 40 international partners, including publishing syndication for The New York Times and Société du Figaro, and offers access to over 400 renowned photographers worldwide for corporate communication as well.

• 1981

  Founded as a photographers' office in the Cologne district of Südstadt.

• Grew continuously over the following decades into an internationally positioned agency.

• Reached more than 45 years of visual storytelling experience.

Premium brand in reportage and portrait photography; independent agency contributing to freedom of opinion and press.

• laif Bildarchiv

  Picture archive combining current reporting, long-term documentary projects and historical image holdings from Germany and around the world.

• laif academy

  Educational offering by laif.

• Photo assignments

  Full-service photo, video and multimedia productions worldwide.

• Image research

  Research service for editorial desks, publishers and commercial clients.

1. 1Homepage - laif Agentur für Photos & Reportagenlaif.de
2. 2About - laiflaif.de
3. 3Service - laiflaif.de
4. 4Wikidata - laif Agentur für Photos & Reportagenwikidata.org