Born and raised in Germany, Tim Petersen’s first introduction to photography was in his father’s studio, which was part of Germany’s young and emerging fashion photography industry of the 60’s and 70’s. It was during an internship there, while waiting for his spot at University, when he got completely hooked on fashion photography.
At the age of 22, after a brief period of assisting, he started his own studio in Hamburg, Germany. Even back then, his classic but innovative and beauty oriented style was obvious and recognition came fast. Petersen’s ambitions quickly pulled him towards the action and in 1994 he moved to New York City.
New York was love at first sight and he got deeply engaged in the underground fashion magazine scene of the 90’s, which did not exist in Germany at the time. The likely turning point of his career was the publication of his version of a fashionable Tamara De Lempicka in Blackbook Magazine in 1998. After the stunning story hit the newsstands Petersen got calls from top fashion magazines as well as major fashion houses, Italian Vogue, Vanity Fair US, Bottega Veneta, Sak’s Fifth Avenue, Tiffany’s and the likes, and he continues to work for them ever since.
Petersen still lives in New York City and is currently working, along with his commercial assignments, on several fine art and book projects as well as a full feature movie about a stunning life of fashion a legend – known to the world.