Dan Martensen

Bio

Dan Martensen is a distinguished photographer whose fashion and portrait work captures the essence of natural beauty through a lens of spontaneity and genuine connection. With a penchant for shooting on location in rural settings, Martensen's relaxed and collaborative style allows him to evoke authentic moments that resonate with viewers. A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, Martensen approaches his commercial photography with the insight of an observational artist, skillfully discovering meaning in the narratives that unfold before him. His talent for framing these experiences has led to regular contributions to prestigious publications, including i-D, Self Service, The Last Magazine, American Vogue, British Vogue, Vogue Germany, Vogue Paris, and WSJ. Magazine. Martensen's commercial portfolio showcases collaborations with renowned brands such as H&M, Mango, Jimmy Choo, Maybelline, Mugler, Nike, Prabal Gurung, Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, and Zara. He has also undertaken special projects for fashion icons like Alexander Wang and David Yurman. Since the early 2000s, Martensen has traveled extensively across the United States, particularly in the Southwest, where he explores the region's visual paradoxes and rich histories. Drawing inspiration from legendary chroniclers of the American vernacular—such as William Eggleston, Joel Sternfeld, and Stephen Shore—he published a collection of sixty photographs in his book, *Photographs from the American Southwest*, designed by Berger + Wild. In addition to his landscape work, Martensen completed a five-year photographic collaboration with the Angulo siblings, whose story is chronicled in Crystal Moselle’s acclaimed documentary, *The Wolfpack*. This project was published in the fall of 2015 and designed by Dean Langley. Dan Martensen currently divides his time between London and New York, continuing to create compelling imagery that bridges the worlds of fashion, portraiture, and documentary photography.