Who we are

laif Agentur für Photos & Reportagen, based in Cologne, is one of the leading photo agencies for photojournalism, magazine and travel photography. Around 300 freelance national and international photographers make their commissioned and independent works available for sale by laif. These visual resources are supplemented by collaboration with 32 international agencies and publishing syndications represented exclusively by laif in Germany.

Together with the archives of our partner agencies, laif’s image portfolio comprises a pool of over five million images. laif offers individual photos and complete features to clients around the world, including editors of daily papers and weekly and monthly magazines (print and online), publishers of books and calendars, companies, associations as well as corporate clients and advertising agencies both nationally and internationally.

Our agency provides a wide range of photographic material on topics as diverse as travel, national and international politics, business, science, medicine, lifestyle, food and drink, sport and leisure, beauty, wellness, nature and portraits, among others. We are also continually expanding the range of material we have in the field of creative photography. An additional service provided by laif is the organization and coordination of photographers for editorial and advertising/corporate assignments thanks to our extensive global network.

We don't just see photography as a service but a passion. laif warmly invites you to take a trip through our creative resources and discover all that we have to offer.


E-Mail: mail@laif.de
Internet: www.laif.de


How we work

laif’s photographers and employees share the same ambitious approach towards photography. We are also determined to satisfy our customers’ creative demands on a daily basis. We believe that helping our clients search for new forms of expression in photography is a must. In an age in which the borders of traditional genres have long been crossed, we like to keep our eyes peeled. We are constantly on the lookout for fresh talent, new topics and an unconventional approach. Artistic photography, photo-journalism, magazine and travel photography are all equally important to us.

laif is a visual pool of ideas which is open to new developments without discarding conventions. We are happy to accompany our clients in their search for creative solutions. With each new research assignment we view our stock in a new light. We are also pleased to help with any administrative problems. Please call us any time.


How we got here

laif – founded as a photographers’ office in 1981 – was turned into the agency laif – Agentur für Photos & Reportagen in 1993. Since then, laif has been continually expanding and the pool of photographers and partner agencies growing steadily. Faced with the challenges of digitalization and structural changes in the photography market, laif has been able to reposition itself on the market at just the right time. We have been consistently working to increase our photographer and image portfolios as well as the range of services we can offer. With worldwide sales, we have long been a truly international agency.