Martin Betz was born in Berlin, Germany in 1975. He grew up in the large social housing estate of Märkisches Viertel in the borough of Reinickendorf where he was raised by his two hard-working parents and shared a three bedroom apartment with his three other siblings. In his teens Martin discovered and experimented with his father's twin lens camera and he started photographing his friends and surroundings. Thanks to his art teacher’s support he was able to use the school’s darkroom to develop and print the film and his passion and love for the medium only grew. After finishing the then mandatory draft service for the German government, he immidiately enrolled at Lette-Verein, a well-known German school for fine arts in 1997 to solidify his craft.
While being a photography student, a close friend and colleague helped him land a job at Camera Work, which ranks among the world’s leading companies for photographic art. During his time at the gallery he was able to meet and assist people like Peter Beard and Helmut & June Newton exhibit their art work. At Camera Work he was able to engage up close with fine art photography from Richard Avedon, Henry Cartier Bresson, Man Ray, Patrick Demachelier, to name only a few. This was a pivotal moment for him and the exposure to these amazing photographers expanded his understanding and appreciation for his craft.
After graduating in 2000 and returning from a comprehensive trip to Tokyo, Japan, Martin found work in the local music industry, photographing artists for Berlin’s up and coming record labels and Indie magazines. That same year he would meet a Miami based photographer who offered an opportunity to move to the United States. Being young and restless he knew he wanted to see more of this planet and decided to start out new abroad.
During his early years in the US he was able to travel extensively domestically and across the globe, assisting a variety of photographers. With his accumulation of knowledge and experiences he gained a reputation to be diligent, precise yet innovative. It was this combination of creativity and integrity that helped him start producing work for Vogue En Espanol where he would meet and photograph fashion designer Zac Posen, Dean and Dan Caten and other designers, CEO’s and socialites. He later reconnected with his roots photographing musicians and would start collaborating with emerging reggaeton artists in Miami and the Caribbean for the creative agency Elastic People and Record Label Sony Music Latin.
It was in Miami where he would meet his future wife Shannon. Shortly after they got married, they both decided to make the jump to New York City where they still live and raise their two children in the heart of Brooklyn, NY.
Martin now works for many beauty & fashion labels, department stores and designers and continuously applies the same passion, creativity and integrity to life and work.
Bloomingdales • Macy’s • Amazon Fashion • Nike • Ralph Lauren • Nautica • Mara Hoffman • Zachary Prell • Lancôme USA • LOREAL • Cartier USA • Vogue En Español
Elizabeth Arden • Client Magazine UK • Style & Family Tunes • Elastic People • Ula Sport • AGB Magazine • Brigitte Magazine • What Magazine UK • Sony Music