CHRISTOPH GROTHGAR photography

Based in Munich, I work internationally across editorial, advertising, and documentary photography. My focus is on visual storytelling around people, food & drinks — often in dynamic environments such as restaurants, on set, or behind the scenes. I’m less interested in staged perfection than in the real moments in between, where stories naturally unfold. A central part of my work is what I call Gastrostorytelling: combining people, atmosphere, and culinary culture into authentic visual narratives for brands and publications. My approach is very hands-on. I like to stay close to the situation and work with what is actually happening rather than over-directing it. The strongest images often emerge when you are part of the moment, not observing it from a distance. I have been working as a freelance photographer for over 20 years, creating work for international brands and publications including Campari, Bacardi, Grey Goose, The Times, Esquire, and Vogue Promotions. I studied photography at the London College of Printing and at Bournemouth & Poole College of Art and Design. Alongside commissioned work, I develop personal projects such as The Fifth Season, a photographic book about Oktoberfest in Munich, offering a personal and observational perspective on one of the world’s most iconic festivals.