René Staud Vita “August 2023”.

René Staud was born in Stuttgart in 1951. For over 4 decades he was one of the most sought-after automotive photographers and is considered one of the most innovative in the industry. With the Magicflash® lighting system, he gave an important impulse not only to his art, but to studio photography in general. The Motor Presse Stuttgart once provided what is still the most apt description of his work:

“René Staud is a light photographer in the masterful sense of the word: his works of art are finely wrought compositions of light and color, contoured with flash. His views of ravishing body design have made striking marks in modern automotive photography.”

René Staud’s path to becoming a photographer was set early: At the age of 12, he was already earning awards in photography competitions. In 1966, he registered his business and laid the foundation for his brand “René Staud Photography”.

In 1975, at the age of 24, he opened his first photo studio in Stuttgart and increasingly specialized in automotive photography. Steady growth followed, which of course was also favored by the location advantage in the neighborhood of the big players Mercedes-Benz and Porsche. But it was above all the high quality and his own signature that made him and, from 1986, his Leonberg dream studio “Staud Studios” a seal of quality to this day as “Made in Leonberg”.

But not only the automotive industry appreciates the cooperation with René Staud. Publishers such as teNeues, DeliusKlasing and the Motorbuchverlag Stuttgart also appreciate his art and character. The result is now over 40 wonderful illustrated books such as The Porsche 911 Book, The Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Book, Black Beauties, and The Classic Cars Book, as well as collector’s editions such as My Porsche Book and Porsche Legends, and the Art of Aston Martin series and many other books and illustrated books that have become bestsellers.

René Staud still burns for photography and for the subject of automobiles, with his commitment to exhibitions, events and picture presentations in galleries, he always gives the subject of mobility a new accent. And with his shootings of collector and classic cars, he makes the subject of “automotive fascination” immortal and creates a legacy for eternity.