PORTRAITS
SELECTED CAMPAIGNS • Art Direction / Creative Direction
Design Temple, a creative agency based in Mumbai, invited Laurent Elie Badessi to create a campaign and a high-end collectible calendar to be displayed across all of their Hotels, Resorts, and Palaces. Working closely with the agency Creative Director, Badessi was entrusted to both art direct and photograph a series of images exploring the concept of - extreme luxury on a flat world. For this very prestigious project, he collaborated with some of the most renowned luxury houses, including Bulgari, Cartier, John Galliano, Dior, Chanel, Rick Owens, Louis Vuitton, Baccarat, Lanvin, Armani Casa, Norma Kamali, Giambattista Valli and many others.
French luxury house Anne Fontaine has entrusted Laurent Elie Badessi on multiple occasions to art direct and photograph its brand campaigns. Guided by the Maison’s DNA, Badessi crafted compelling visual narratives that highlighted each collection’s unique theme, while ensuring the garments were showcased at their finest - capturing the intricate design details and timeless elegance for which Anne Fontaine is renowned. With over 80 boutiques worldwide, Anne Fontaine continues to be a global reference for French luxury and sophistication.
Laurent Elie Badessi created this campaign for Porsche North America in close collaboration with Splashlight Studios in New York. Working directly with Porsche’s U.S. Director of Marketing, he oversaw the launch of the new GT3 RS, timed to coincide with the prestigious New York International Auto Show held at the Javits Center. For this project, Badessi served as both creative director and photographer. In addition to the campaign visuals, Badessi also conceived the design concept for the booth and private lounges. Rather than presenting the car at the Javits Center, Porsche unveiled the GT3 RS in a more exclusive setting - an immersive showroom experience he designed across the entire ground floor of Splashlight Studios.
Diva Diamonds, a distinguished family-owned brand in the U.S. diamond industry, entrusted Laurent Elie Badessi to craft a visually striking campaign. Known not only for exceptional diamonds but also for creating exquisite, original designs, the brand was looking for a fresh, bold approach. With a concept centered on a single “punch” - symbolized by a boxing glove - Badessi brought a daring, contemporary edge to the traditionally conservative world of diamonds, merging elegance with unexpected audacity.
Aubade, the Parisian lingerie house celebrated for its elegance, sensuality, and masterful use of lace, collaborated with Laurent Elie Badessi for a photographic series capturing the essence of the brand. Having worked extensively with artistic nudes in his personal work, Badessi brings a deep understanding of the human form to his lingerie photography, allowing him to highlight both the delicate craftsmanship of the lace and the natural elegance of the body. Each image reflects a harmonious fusion of artistry and the timeless sophistication that defines Aubade’s creations.
Raymond Matts, former Vice President of Corporate Fragrance Development Worldwide at Estée Lauder, launched his own company and line of fine fragrances, AURA de Parfum. Recognizing his unique expertise, Matts entrusted Laurent Elie Badessi to create a series of abstract visuals - one for each perfume - to capture and translate the individuality and essence of every scent. Badessi was the perfect candidate for this collaboration, having developed numerous campaigns for the fragrance industry and bringing an artistic dimension to the world of scent through large-scale installations with Christophe Laudamiel, then Master Perfumer at IFF New York. This dual experience - blending commercial creativity with artistry - positioned him to create visuals that resonated with both the brand’s luxury identity and its unique vision.
In a collaboration that bridges fashion and haute joaillerie, Laurent Elie Badessi was invited to capture the essence of the gallery’s exquisite collection of extraordinary collectible jewelry for Le Petit Echo de l'Art et de la Mode. Through his lens, Badessi highlighted not only the intricate craftsmanship and timeless elegance of the gallery’s masterpieces but also the brilliance and artistry of the exceptional jewelry they carry, translating each piece into compelling visual stories that resonate with both art connoisseurs and casual admirers. This partnership underscores the gallery’s commitment to showcasing and preserving the artistry of the past while engaging contemporary audiences.
The New York–based jewelry designer Jordan Schlanger, celebrated for his sculptural, nature-inspired creations, entrusted Laurent Elie Badessi to create a series of photographs to reflect the artistry and DNA of his work. Deeply inspired by sculpture and the human form in his own practice, Badessi immediately connected with Schlanger’s vision, fully understanding the creative foundation behind each piece. Drawing on Schlanger’s unique design language - a balance of organic gestures, bold sculptural forms, and refined craftsmanship - Badessi translated the essence of the jewelry into striking visual compositions. The resulting images highlight not only the elegance of Schlanger’s pieces but also the innovation and timeless vision that have established him as a distinctive voice in the world of fine jewelry.
Anne Fontaine’s casual line, AF, frequently asks Laurent Elie Badessi to art direct and photograph their campaigns. For each project, Badessi has crafted vibrant and contemporary visuals that captured the brand’s relaxed, modern spirit. His work emphasized the versatility and effortless style of the collections, showcasing the playful details and casual elegance that make AF unique. With over 80 boutiques worldwide, AF continues to bring French style to a global audience.
Laurent Elie Badessi shot this still life series for Porsche North America in close collaboration with Splashlight Studios in New York. Working directly with Porsche’s U.S. Director of Marketing, he oversaw the launch of the new GT3 RS, timed to coincide with the prestigious New York International Auto Show held at the Javits Center. For this project, Badessi served as both creative director and photographer. He chose to create visuals of the car as if he were photographing the human body -highlighting its curves, details, and power. This unconventional artistic approach, strikingly different from the standards of the conservative car industry, proved to be a great success with both Porsche’s clientele and the brand itself. In addition to the campaign visuals, Badessi also conceived the design concept for the booth and private lounges. Rather than presenting the car at the Javits Center, Porsche unveiled the GT3 RS in a more exclusive setting -an immersive showroom experience he designed across the entire ground floor of Splashlight Studios.
The renowned French footwear company Charles Jourdan granted Laurent Elie Badessi full creative freedom to infuse his vision into their advertising campaign, for a collection designed by Karl Lagerfeld and Patrick Cox. Drawing inspiration from Greek and Roman mythology, Badessi’s photographs intricately weave symbolism and fetishism, elements often associated with shoes. Building on the iconic imagery created by Guy Bourdin for the brand over two decades, Badessi continued Charles Jourdan’s legacy of visual storytelling. This campaign was widely acclaimed, reviewed in numerous publications including The New York Times, and was included that same year in the permanent collection of Le Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris at Le Louvre.
L’OFFICIEL MEDIA INC. selected iCube New York, a New York–based creative agency, to manage the U.S. launch of their newly introduced French magazine, JALOUSE. The agency was co-founded by Laurent Elie Badessi, who served as Creative Director. Under Badessi’s supervision, the agency’s creative team developed a bold, attention-grabbing campaign in an already saturated magazine market. The launch coincided with New York Fashion Week and featured an integrated out-of-home (OOH) strategy with bus stop posters, bus banners, newspaper banners, and phone booth. iCube New York was responsible not only for the creative direction and production of all visual assets and collateral but also for the full media planning strategy, ad space buying, and execution across all channels, ensuring a cohesive and high-impact launch campaign for the premiere issue.
Veuve Clicquot commissioned Laurent Elie Badessi to create a series of campaigns for their prestigious “La Grande Dame” collection, the house’s top-of-the-line cuvée. Drawing on his cinematic approach and mastery of light, Badessi crafted visuals that celebrate the elegance, refinement, and distinctive character of this iconic champagne. Each image highlights the luxurious details of the bottle and the ritual of enjoyment, translating Veuve Clicquot’s heritage and sophisticated identity into a captivating visual experience.
Laurent Elie Badessi shot the evocative image “Sunset on Air”, featuring one of the most celebrated creations by the late French designer Claude Montana. Set against the breathtaking landscape of the Aïr Valley in Niger, the photograph captures the garment at sunset, translating Montana’s elegant design onto the female form like a living sculpture. A collaboration with Fuji Color - the project fuses high fashion, natural grandeur, and sculptural sensibility, resulting in some striking visuals that celebrates both the artistry of major french fashion designers and Badessi’s cinematic vision.
Inspired by the fashion designs of Alejandra Burguette, Laurent Elie Badessi created this commercial for American Express OPEN. Shot in studio and outdoors, Badessi co-directed this film, showcasing the couture clothes of the talented, up-and-coming New York–based fashion designer. The commercial blends interviews with Burguette, who explains how she benefits from using her AMEX OPEN card, with behind-the-scenes footage of her garments being photographed during a specially staged shoot. Celebrity fashion stylist Freddie Leiba put the looks together, adding a distinctive neo-punk edge to the commercial’s sci-fi–inspired aesthetic.