Danish photographer Marc Hom, born in 1967 in Copenhagen, emerged during a period of postwar Scandinavian creativity and style. His father, Jesper, was also an accomplished photographer. Hom moved from Copenhagen to New York in 1989 after earning a degree in photography from the Danish Art Academy. He freelanced for over a year with some of the most established photographers in New York before spending six months in Vienna, where he was commissioned to create a book of images for the Vienna Ballet.
Upon completing this project, Hom returned to New York and began working with the late Liz Tilberis and Fabian Baron of Harper’s Bazaar. This collaboration introduced him to the world of fashion photography, marking a significant turning point in his career.
Marc Hom is recognized as one of the most iconic portrait photographers globally. He is renowned for capturing the essence of some of the most talented, influential, and innovative individuals of our time. His celebrity portraits include Alexander McQueen, Angelina Jolie, Faye Dunaway, Vanessa Redgrave, Taylor Swift, Wiz Khalifa, Glenn Close, Christopher Walken, and Samuel L. Jackson, among many others.
He regularly contributes to W Magazine, Vanity Fair, Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue, The New Yorker, Esquire, and The New York Times Magazine. Hom has also photographed numerous fashion campaigns for prestigious brands such as Gucci, Max Mara, Bottega Veneta, Patek Philippe, and Valentino. His entertainment clients include major platforms like Netflix, HBO, Showtime, and Amazon.
On June 1, the Fenimore Museum of Art opened Marc Hom's exhibition 'Re-Framed,' showcasing black-and-white and color portrait photographs taken between 1992 and 2023, spanning almost three decades. The photographs are beautifully printed in both small and huge formats, displayed not only in the white cube museum space but also outside in the lush nature near the Otsego lake. We are presented with the Who's Who of notable, creative, and influential personalities in the worlds of art, film, fashion, music, dance, high society, and even royalty. Examples include Johnny Depp, Sofia Coppola, Mickey Rourke, Lauren Bacall, Barbra Streisand, Amy Winehouse, Angelina Jolie, Louise Bourgeois, Wiz Khalifa, Alexander McQueen, and King Frederik X of Denmark, just to name a few.
In his portrait photographs Hom reaches the souls of his sitters. Most probably so because he is able to establish trust in the relationship between him and the sitter. One can see and feel that his subjects are comfortable and at ease. He creates an atmosphere where people enjoy being photographed, follow his vision, and immerse themselves in the process—often having fun at the same time. Many times, he and his sitters have become friends.
In most of Hom´s photographs, the viewer is confronted with intense gazes. In the introduction to his book "Profiles," the photographer states: "For me, it's all in the eyes. What I see in my subjects' eyes is immediately reflected on me, creating the energy and trust needed to create honest photography."
In the end, good portrait photography for Hom is about the human relationship and connection between the sitter and the photographer. It is apparent that Hom loves his subjects and aims to reveal their true selves, allowing intimacy and vulnerability to prevail. He seeks to uncover the real person behind the facade, rather than focusing on surface appearances.
Hom himself says that his images reflect his fascination with a person's innate beauty and character. He is passionate and calm when taking his photographs. According to Anne Hathaway, he does not push anyone; he listens and creates an atmosphere of stillness and gentleness. He does not make people into something they are not and does not judge who they are.
When looking at his works, we don't see a star album. Instead, we are faced with beautiful, elegant, powerful, magical, and often timeless pictures that stay with us for a long time, reflecting Hom´s own personality and inner nature.
To sum up, Hom is a master who moves from the outer to the inner, from the staged to the actual, from the illusion to the real, making visible the essence of a person's character. He excels at depicting human nature, life, and soul in an effortless and timeless way.
Marc Hom is currently based in New York City.
© Text by Ira Stehmann